When it comes to managing your website’s search engine visibility, controlling what gets indexed and crawled is crucial. One of the best ways to do this is by using sitemaps. A sitemap is a file that lists all of a website’s important pages, making it easier for search engines like Google to crawl and index content. However, not all URLs should be included in a sitemap. In some cases, there may be URLs you want to exclude to prevent search engines from indexing them.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to exclude a URL from a sitemap, how to remove URLs from a sitemap in WordPress, what paths should not be included in a sitemap, the role of sitemaps in SEO, and more. Additionally, we’ll cover practical tips like how to fix Rank Math sitemap issues and how to update your sitemap in WordPress.
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If you don’t want a specific page to appear in search engine results but still want it to be included in your sitemap, you can use the noindex directive in your page’s
How Do I Exclude a URL from a Sitemap?
Excluding URLs from a sitemap is an essential step in controlling how search engines index your website. Whether you want to exclude certain pages or entire sections of your website, there are different ways to accomplish this. Here are some common methods to exclude a URL from a sitemap:1. Manually Edit Your Sitemap File
If you’re working with an XML sitemap, you can manually edit the file to remove specific URLs. To do this, follow these steps:- Open your sitemap file (usually located at
yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). - Locate the
<url>tags corresponding to the pages you want to exclude. - Remove those
<url>entries entirely from the file.
2. Use a Sitemap Plugin (for WordPress)
For WordPress websites, using a plugin to manage your sitemap is the easiest solution. Plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or All in One SEO offer simple ways to manage your sitemap and exclude specific URLs. Here's how you can exclude URLs from a sitemap using Rank Math:- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings.
- Under the Exclude tab, you can specify individual URLs or entire categories and tags to be excluded from your sitemap.
3. Use noindex Tags for Pages You Don’t Want to Be Crawled
If you don’t want a specific page to appear in search engine results but still want it to be included in your sitemap, you can use the noindex directive in your page’s <head> section. This will instruct search engines not to index the page, even if it is present in the sitemap.
Example of a noindex meta tag:
By using this tag, the page will be excluded from search engine results, even though it might still be present in the sitemap. This is especially useful for pages that you don’t want to rank but still want to be discovered by search engines for other reasons.
How Do I Remove URLs from a Sitemap in WordPress?
If you're using WordPress and have created a sitemap through a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, removing URLs is a straightforward process. Here’s how to remove URLs from your sitemap in WordPress:1. Using Rank Math to Remove URLs
If you're using Rank Math, the process is simple. Here’s how to do it:- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click on Rank Math and navigate to the Sitemap Settings.
- Here, you will find various options to exclude pages, categories, and custom post types from your sitemap.
- Select the pages you want to remove from the sitemap, save the changes, and Rank Math will automatically update the sitemap file.
2. Using Yoast SEO to Remove URLs
If you use Yoast SEO, you can remove URLs by navigating to SEO > Search Appearance in your WordPress dashboard. Here you can select various content types to include or exclude from your sitemap, such as posts, pages, media, or categories.- Go to SEO > Search Appearance.
- Under the “Content Types” tab, select whether or not to include specific post types in the sitemap.
- Toggle the settings to exclude pages or posts from being included in your sitemap.
What Should Not Be Included in a Sitemap?
Not all pages on your website should be included in the sitemap. Here are some types of content that should typically not be included:1. Duplicate Content
Pages with duplicate content, such as those that exist in both mobile and desktop versions, or different versions of the same page (e.g., HTTP and HTTPS), should be excluded from the sitemap. These can confuse search engines and negatively impact SEO.2. Login Pages and Admin Sections
URLs related to login pages (e.g.,wp-login.php in WordPress) or other administrative sections should be excluded from your sitemap. These pages are usually not meant to be indexed and can cause unnecessary crawls, wasting valuable crawl budget.
3. Low-Quality or Thin Pages
If your website contains pages with little or no content (like placeholder pages, thank-you pages, or low-quality content), these should be excluded from the sitemap. Pages with low content value offer little to no SEO benefit and can drag down your site's overall authority.4. Staging or Test Pages
Pages that are still in development, such as staging sites or test pages, should not be included in the sitemap. These pages are often incomplete or irrelevant to users, and including them could lead to indexing issues or low-quality search engine results.What Path Should Not Be Included in the Sitemap?
Certain paths or URLs should also be excluded from your sitemap, including:- Dynamic URLs with session IDs or tracking parameters: These URLs often lead to duplicate content.
- Error pages (e.g., 404s): These pages don’t provide any SEO value and should not be indexed.
- Admin, login, or dashboard paths: For example,
wp-admin/orwp-login.phpshould be excluded in WordPress.
Does Sitemap Affect SEO?
Yes, a sitemap plays a crucial role in SEO. While having a sitemap itself doesn’t directly affect rankings, it helps search engines discover and index your important pages more efficiently. By submitting an accurate sitemap to Google and other search engines, you help ensure that all of your valuable content gets crawled and indexed. A well-maintained sitemap can also ensure that search engines don't miss any important pages, improving your website’s visibility in search results.Is Indexing Important for SEO?
Yes, indexing is extremely important for SEO. If a page is not indexed by search engines, it cannot rank. An effective indexing strategy involves submitting the right pages to be indexed and ensuring that pages you don't want to be indexed are excluded. By managing your sitemap properly, you can optimize which pages get indexed, improving your chances of ranking for the right keywords and avoiding the inclusion of low-value pages.What Is the Difference Between Sitemap and Index Sitemap?
The terms sitemap and index sitemap are sometimes used interchangeably, but they refer to different things:- A sitemap is a file that lists all the URLs you want search engines to crawl and index. It can include various types of content, such as pages, images, and videos.
- An index sitemap specifically lists URLs that are intended to be indexed by search engines. It serves as a way to tell search engines which URLs should be included in their index.