When you start building a website, you will probably hear the term sitemap.
It sounds technical, but really, a sitemap is just a simple guide to all the pages on your website.
You can think of it like a map you would use when travelling.
It shows what pages exist, how they are connected, and how visitors or search engines can find their way around.
A sitemap is important for two main reasons:
It helps search engines like Google find and understand your pages.
It helps you plan your site structure properly for a better user experience.
If you want your website to appear in search results, a sitemap can make it much easier for search engines to crawl and index your content.
Even if your site is small, having a good sitemap makes everything more organised and user-friendly.
A clear content plan makes creating a sitemap much easier. Learn how to build one in our content planning guide.
Types of Sitemaps
There are two main kinds of sitemaps you should know about.
1. Visual Sitemaps
A visual sitemap is like a flowchart that shows the structure of your website.
It is something you might create during the planning stage.
It shows how pages link to each other, for example:
Home
About Us
Services
Service 1
Service 2
Blog
Blog Post 1
Blog Post 2
Contact
This kind of sitemap is useful for designers, developers, and business owners to understand how a website is organised. If you are unsure of which pages should be included check out our handy guide on which pages you need on your website.
Types of Sitemaps
There are two main kinds of sitemaps you should know about.
1. Visual Sitemaps
A visual sitemap is like a flowchart that shows the structure of your website.
It is something you might create during the planning stage.
It shows how pages link to each other, for example:
Home
About Us
Services
Service 1
Service 2
Blog
Blog Post 1
Blog Post 2
Contact
This kind of sitemap is useful for designers, developers, and business owners to understand how a website is organised.
2. XML Sitemaps
An XML sitemap is made for search engines, not people.
It is a file that lists all the important pages on your website in a special format that computers understand.
When you submit an XML sitemap to Google (through Google Search Console), it helps Google’s robots find and crawl all your pages faster.
Most modern website platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace can create XML sitemaps automatically, especially if you are using SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math.
Do You Always Need a Sitemap?
If your website is very small, you might not need a sitemap straight away.
Google is usually good at finding pages by following links.
However, if any of the following are true, a sitemap is a very good idea:
Your site has lots of pages
Your site is new and does not have many backlinks
Your site has pages that are hard to find through navigation
You want to improve your SEO from the start
Submitting a sitemap is never a bad thing. It gives search engines an extra helping hand.
How to Create a Sitemap
Visual Sitemap
You can draw a simple visual sitemap by hand or use online tools like:
Gloomaps
Octopus.do
Slickplan
These tools let you quickly sketch out how your pages connect.
XML Sitemap
If you are using WordPress, you can create an XML sitemap automatically with plugins like:
Yoast SEO
Rank Math
All in One SEO
If you are using Wix, Shopify, or Squarespace, they will often create and update the sitemap for you automatically.
You can usually find your XML sitemap at:
www.yourdomainname.com/sitemap.xml
Alternatively a handy site which will do this for you is xml sitemaps here you can just scan your website and it will let you download the file, which can then be uploaded to your website.
Submitting Your Sitemap to Google
If you want to help your site show up in search results faster, it is a good idea to submit your sitemap to Google.
Here is how:
Go to Google Search Console.
Add and verify your website.
In the menu, click on “Sitemaps”.
Enter the link to your sitemap (like
/sitemap.xml).Submit it.
Google will then start using it to understand and index your website.
Best Practices for Sitemaps
Here are a few simple tips to make sure your sitemap helps your website:
Keep it updated: Whenever you add or remove important pages, update your sitemap.
Only include important pages: Leave out broken links, duplicate pages, or ones you do not want in search results.
Organise logically: Make sure the structure makes sense, both for users and search engines.
Use good naming: Give your pages clear titles and URLs that match the content.
A good sitemap reflects a well-thought-out, easy-to-navigate website.
Sitemaps and SEO
A sitemap alone will not magically boost your SEO, but it makes it easier for search engines to discover and index your pages.
This can lead to faster visibility and better performance over time.
Sitemaps are especially helpful for:
New websites: When Google has no links yet to follow.
Large websites: With hundreds or thousands of pages.
Websites with lots of images, videos, or special content: Where alternative media needs indexing.
Websites with regular updates: Like blogs or news sites.
Even if your site is small now, thinking about sitemap structure early sets you up for future success. A sitemap is one part of good SEO practice. For more simple SEO tips, visit our guide to SEO essentials.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Some common errors include:
Forgetting to update the sitemap after big changes
Including broken pages or redirect loops
Making the sitemap too complicated when simple is better
Submitting multiple versions of the same page (such as both www and non-www versions)
Keep it clean, keep it simple, and keep it updated.
🧠 Final Thought
A sitemap might seem like a small thing, but it plays a big role in how well your website works, both for real visitors and for search engines.
Whether you are planning your site’s structure with a visual sitemap or helping Google find your pages with an XML sitemap, it is worth taking the time to do it properly.
A clear, well-organised sitemap leads to a better user experience, better SEO, and a smoother path for your website to grow.
It is one more simple step you can take to make sure your online presence is strong, smart, and easy to find.
