By Shad Super in Questions —

What Are the Common Errors Found in the Sitemaps Report, and How Can They Impact Site Indexing?

Summary

Common errors in the Sitemaps Report can significantly impact site indexing by search engines. These errors include invalid XML format, unsupported URL types, size and URL limits exceeded, missing required tags, and server errors. Properly addressing these issues ensures better indexing and improved visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Invalid XML Format

An incorrect XML format in your sitemap can cause search engines to reject it. The sitemap should strictly adhere to the XML standards, using the appropriate tags and structuring the data correctly.

[Building Your Sitemap, Google Search Central]

Unsupported URL Types

Sitemaps should contain only supported URL types (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS). Including non-web URLs like mailto:, file:, or other protocols will result in errors. Also, make sure all URLs specified in the sitemap are accessible and return the correct HTTP status codes (200 OK).

[Sitemap Guidelines, Google Search Central]

Size and URL Limits Exceeded

Google and other search engines impose size limits on sitemaps: a maximum of 50MB (uncompressed) and up to 50,000 URLs per sitemap. If your site exceeds these limits, break the sitemap into multiple smaller sitemaps and use a sitemap index file to organize them.

[Large Sitemaps, Google Search Central]

Missing Required Tags

Ensure all sitemaps include the required tags, such as <url> and <loc>. Missing these tags can cause errors in parsing the sitemap, leading to incomplete indexing of URLs.

[Sitemap Format, Google Search Central]

Server Errors

Server errors when accessing your sitemaps can prevent search engines from reading them. Common issues include 404 (Not Found) and 500 (Internal Server Error) status codes. Regularly monitor your server logs and ensure your server is properly configured to handle sitemap requests.

[Server Performance, Google Web Fundamentals]

Impact of Sitemap Errors on Indexing

Sitemap errors can hinder the proper indexing of your website, leading to reduced visibility and traffic from search engines. Common issues like invalid XML format or server errors prevent search engines from accessing and indexing your site's pages comprehensively. Ensuring your sitemap is error-free will enhance your site's performance in SERPs and improve overall discoverability.

[Impact of Sitemap Errors on SEO, Search Engine Journal]

Conclusion

Addressing common sitemap errors such as invalid XML formats, unsupported URL types, exceeding size and URL limits, missing required tags, and server issues is crucial for effective site indexing. By resolving these errors, you improve your website's visibility and performance in search engine results, driving more organic traffic and bettering user engagement.

References