Welcome to this complete tutorial on how to include a sitemap using Yoast SEO. If you are using WordPress and in need of a dependable tool to enhance your search engine optimization tactics, then Yoast SEO is an excellent option. Adding a sitemap to your site is a vital step to guarantee that your content is found and indexed by search engines. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps of achieving this.
What is a Sitemap?
A sitemap is a map of your website that guides search engines to all your important pages. Sitemaps can be crucial for SEO as they allow Google to quickly find your essential website pages, even if your internal linking is not perfect.
How to generate a sitemap using Yoast SEO?
Generating a sitemap using Yoast SEO is a straightforward process. Follow the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Install and Activate Yoast SEO
If you haven’t already installed Yoast SEO, you can download it from the WordPress Plugin Directory. After installation, you need to activate it.
Step 2: Enable XML Sitemaps
Once you have Yoast SEO up and running, navigate to the SEO -> General menu on your WordPress admin dashboard. Then click on the Features tab.
Scroll down until you find the option labeled ‘XML sitemaps’. Here, you’ll want to ensure that the switch is set to ‘On’. Once enabled, Yoast SEO will automatically generate a sitemap for your website.
Note: After making the change, don’t forget to click on the ‘Save Changes’ button.
To view your sitemap
After enabling the feature, you can view your sitemap by clicking on the question mark icon next to the ‘XML sitemaps’ option. Here, you’ll find a link to ‘See the XML sitemap’.
To add your sitemap to Google Search Console
Once you have your sitemap URL, you can submit it to Google Search Console. This will help Google to better understand and index your site. To do this, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to Google Search Console
Login to your Google Search Console account and select the appropriate property (website).
Step 2: Submit your sitemap
On the dashboard, click on ‘Sitemaps’ in the ‘Index’ section. Paste the last part of the sitemap URL into the ‘Add a new sitemap’ field (it should look like sitemap_index.xml) and click ‘Submit’.
Step 3: Refresh the page
After a few minutes refresh the page, Google should now display your sitemap as ‘Success’.
Wrapping Up
Sitemaps are an essential part of any SEO strategy, and with Yoast SEO, generating and submitting one is a breeze. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should now have a sitemap up and running for your website.
