XML SiteMaps
This guide will help you understand what XML sitemaps are and how they work/
There are multiple benefits to having an XML sitemap, the most important of which is that they help search engines understand the structure of your website. Whilst search engines can crawl each page of your website, an XML sitemap will simplify this process and reduce the task set for a search engine spider.
An XML sitemap also enables search engine spiders to quickly check what pages have and have not been updated since it last crawled. Google will appreciate the hard work that you have implemented in order to reduce Google’s workload.
Most content management systems such as WordPress should make it easy for you to update your XML sitemap. Plugins such as Yoast SEO have an automated XML sitemap generation feature and the great aspect of this tool is that the XML sitemap automatically updates each time new pages are added or content is published.
The other great aspect of combining all of your SEO features into one plugin is that everything works closely together to deliver the best results. I would go as far to say that the Yoast SEO plugin is the only SEO plugin that you need.
If you don’t use a content management system and need to build and install your own XML sitemap, then you can simply use Google’s SiteMap Generator.
Once your sitemap is created, the next stage is XML sitemap submission. In order to complete this, you will simply need to submit your sitemap through Google’s Web Master Tools.
Remember that XML sitemaps are designed for search engines and that HTML sitemaps are designed for humans.