Keeping tabs on your SEO company's activities can feel like keeping up with a fast-paced TV series—there's always something evolving. One of the crucial pieces of this puzzle is your sitemap. It's like the roadmap for search engines, guiding them through the twists and turns of your website. But how do you know if your SEO company has updated it recently? Let’s break it down.
In this article, we'll walk through the steps to check if your sitemap has been updated, why that's important, and what to do next. So, grab your favorite beverage, settle into your comfiest chair, and let's get started on this journey to understanding your sitemap's status.
What is a Sitemap and Why It Matters
First things first, let's talk about what exactly a sitemap is. Imagine your website as a house. The sitemap is like the blueprint, showing search engines exactly where everything is located. It includes all the important pages you want search engines to crawl and index. This means when a search engine visits your website, it knows exactly where to go to find the most critical content.
Why does this matter? Well, without a sitemap, search engines might miss some of your pages, which could hurt your visibility online. You wouldn't want your best content to go unnoticed just because the search engine got lost, right? A well-maintained sitemap ensures every nook and cranny of your site is visible to search engines, helping your content get the attention it deserves.
For instance, if you’ve just launched a new product line on your ecommerce site, updating your sitemap means search engines will pick up on these new pages faster, potentially driving more traffic to your shiny new offerings. It's all about making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
How to Obtain Your Current Sitemap
Now that we know why sitemaps are important, let's talk about how to find yours. Most websites place their sitemap in a standard location, usually at yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml. If you can't find it there, don't worry. Here are a few other ways to locate it:
- Search your website's root directory: Use an FTP client or your hosting provider's file manager to look for a file named
sitemap.xml. - Check your CMS settings: If you’re using a content management system like WordPress, there might be a plugin or built-in feature that generates the sitemap for you. Check under SEO settings or plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
- Use online tools: Websites like XML-sitemaps.com can crawl your site and generate a sitemap if you can't locate yours.
Once you’ve found your sitemap, you can start digging in to see what changes, if any, have been made.
Checking the Last Modified Date
One of the simplest ways to check if your sitemap has been updated is by looking at the last modified date. This date tells you the last time any changes were made to the sitemap file. Here's how you can do it:
- Open your sitemap: Navigate to the URL where your sitemap is hosted.
- View the source code: Right-click the page and select "View Page Source" or "Inspect" to see the raw XML data.
- Look for lastmod: In the XML code, look for the
<lastmod>tag. This will show the date when the respective URL was last updated.
If the lastmod dates don’t reflect recent changes you’ve made to your site, it might be time to nudge your SEO company about updating it. It’s a clear sign that something might have slipped through the cracks.
Using Google Search Console for Verification
Google Search Console is like your website's health report, offering insights into how your site is performing on Google. It's also a handy tool for checking your sitemap. Let’s go through the process:
- Log in to Google Search Console: Head over to Google Search Console and log in with your Google account.
- Select your property: Choose the website property you want to check.
- Navigate to Sitemaps: On the left sidebar, click on "Sitemaps".
- Review submitted sitemaps: Here, you’ll see the list of sitemaps that have been submitted to Google. Check the status and the last read date.
If the last read date is old, it may be time to re-submit the sitemap or ensure it’s updated if there were recent changes. Remember, an outdated sitemap might mean search engines aren’t seeing your latest content.
Comparing Old and New Sitemaps
Sometimes, the best way to see if your sitemap has been updated is a good old-fashioned comparison. Here’s a straightforward approach:
- Download the current sitemap: Save the latest version of your sitemap from the internet.
- Find an older version: If possible, locate an older version of the sitemap. This might be in backups or old emails.
- Use a text comparison tool: Tools like Diffchecker allow you to upload both versions and highlight the differences.
By comparing the old and new sitemaps, you can see if new pages have been added or old ones removed. This method is especially handy if your site has undergone significant changes recently.
Communicating with Your SEO Company
Once you have all the information, it’s time to have a conversation with your SEO company. Here’s how you can approach it:
- Prepare your findings: Gather any discrepancies or outdated information you’ve found.
- Schedule a meeting: A quick video call or phone meeting can be more effective than back-and-forth emails.
- Discuss your concerns: Address what you’ve found and ask for clarification or an update plan.
Remember, your SEO company is there to help you. An open dialogue can ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.
Understanding the Importance of Regular Updates
Why is it important to keep the sitemap updated regularly? Think of it like keeping a grocery list current. If you add a new item to your pantry but forget to put it on the list, you might miss restocking it when it runs out.
Regular updates to your sitemap ensure that search engines have the most accurate picture of your website. This can help with indexing new pages faster and removing outdated ones, which can positively affect your site’s performance in search results.
For example, if you’ve revamped your blog section with fresh content, an updated sitemap helps search engines discover and index these new posts, potentially bringing in more readers. It’s about keeping everything in sync for the best results.
Tools to Automate Sitemap Updates
Manually updating a sitemap can be a bit of a chore, especially if your site changes frequently. Fortunately, there are tools to automate this process:
- WordPress Plugins: If your site runs on WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can automatically update your sitemap whenever you publish new content.
- CMS Built-in Features: Some content management systems have built-in functionalities to keep your sitemap fresh without manual intervention.
- Third-party Tools: Tools like Screaming Frog or SEMrush can help manage your sitemap and ensure it’s always up to date.
Automating sitemap updates can save time and reduce errors, ensuring your SEO efforts are consistently effective.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your sitemap updated is like ensuring your website's blueprint is current and accurate. It helps search engines navigate your site efficiently, making sure all your hard work pays off by being seen. With these tips, you can confidently check if your SEO company has kept your sitemap up to date.
And speaking of ensuring your SEO efforts are on point, that's where Pattern comes in. We don't just focus on rankings; we aim for real results. By creating programmatic landing pages and conversion-focused content, Pattern helps your brand get noticed and turn visitors into customers. Plus, we understand that SEO is part of a bigger growth strategy, focusing on real ROI and not just vanity metrics.