Adding an HTML Sitemap to your WordPress website can greatly improve your site navigation and help search engines easily index your web pages. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to install AIOSEO Pro, set up and configure your HTML Sitemap, and use a Simple Sitemap plugin as an alternative. Whether you’re new to WordPress or looking to improve your site SEO, this guide will walk you through every important step in very clear and easy language.
What is HTML Sitemap?
An HTML Sitemap is a page on your website that lists all the key pages and sections in an organized format, making it easy for visitors to navigate your website. Unlike an XML Sitemap, which is designed for search engines, an HTML Sitemap is created for users. It typically displays the main pages, categories, and important links in a hierarchical order, providing a clear overview of the website structure.
An HTML Sitemap helps improve the user experience by giving visitors a quick way to find important pages on your site. It also improves SEO by making your content more accessible and improving visitors to explore your website further. By having an HTML Sitemap, you can make your site more organized, increasing both user satisfaction and search engine visibility.
How to create a Manual XML Sitemap Without a Plugin in WordPress?
To create a manual and fast XML Sitemap without using a plugin in WordPress, follow these steps:
Step 1: Create a New XML File
- Open a text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).
- Save the file with a name like “sitemap.xml” using the .xml extension.
Step 2: Write the XML Code
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
<url>
<loc>https://example.com/</loc>
<lastmod>2024-01-01</lastmod>
<changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
<priority>1.0</priority>
</url>
<url>
<loc>https://example.com/about/</loc>
<lastmod>2024-01-01</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.8</priority>
</url>
<!-- Add more pages as needed -->
</urlset>
- In the above code:
- <loc> specifies the URL of the page.
- <lastmod> indicates the last modification date of the page in YYYY-MM-DD format.
- <changefreq> describes how often the content changes (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly).
- <priority> sets the priority of the page (0.1 to 1.0).
Step 3: Add All Key Pages to the Sitemap
- Include all the key pages, posts, and other essential URLs in the XML structure.
- Follow the same format as above for each URL you want to include.
Step 4: Upload the XML Sitemap to Your WordPress Root Directory
- Connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client like FileZilla or use your hosting provider’s file manager.
- Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation, typically named public_html or www.
- Upload the sitemap.xml file to this root directory.
Step 5: Submit the XML Sitemap to Search Engines
- Google Search Console:
- Go to Google Search Console and select your website.
- Navigate to Sitemaps under the Index section.
- Enter the full URL of your sitemap (e.g., https://example.com/sitemap.xml) and click Submit.
- Bing Webmaster Tools:
- Open Bing Webmaster Tools and select your website.
- Go to Configure My Site > Sitemaps.
- Enter your sitemap URL and click Submit.
Tips for Managing Your XML Sitemap
- Manually update the <lastmod> date whenever you update the content on your website.
- Regularly add new pages or posts by editing the sitemap.xml file.
Creating a manual XML Sitemap without a plugin in WordPress can be a simple and effective way to ensure search engines find and index all the important pages of your website. This method provides complete control over the structure of your sitemap.
How to Generate an XML Sitemap Easily
To generate an XML Sitemap easily, open Google.com and type “xml sitemap generator” in the search bar. Click on the first link titled “XML Sitemaps Generator: Create your Google Sitemap Online.” This tool allows you to quickly create a sitemap that you can submit to search engines to improve your site SEO and indexing.
How to Generate a Sitemap with XML-Sitemaps
To create an XML Sitemap using XML-Sitemaps.com, go to the website and enter your domain name in the provided field. Then, click on the “Start” button to begin generating your sitemap. This tool quickly scans your website and creates a sitemap that you can download and submit to search engines to improve the SEO of your site.
How to Confirm To Generated XML Sitemap
After clicking on the “Start” button to generate your sitemap, wait for a short time while the tool processes your website. Once complete, your XML Sitemap will be displayed, listing all the URLs included. You can now download and upload the sitemap to your website, and then submit it to search engines to improve your site’s SEO and indexing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Add an HTML Sitemap to WordPress Website
Let’s begin our step-by-step guide. We’ll keep everything simple, so it’s easy to follow. Whether you’re doing this for the first time or you’ve done it before, this guide will take you through each step in a clear and easy way. Let’s get started and make everything simple for you!
How to Access and Purchase AIOSEO Pro Version
To get All In One SEO for your WordPress website, open the official AIOSEO website at aioseo.com. Click on the “Get All In One SEO” button to view different plugin options. Choose the plan that fits your needs: Elite, Pro, Plus, or Basic. When you buy from this official page, you can get a 7-day free trial. Click on the “Pricing” link to explore all the details: aioseo.com/pricing.
How to Easily Add a New Plugin in WordPress
To add a new plugin in WordPress, open your WordPress dashboard. Hover your mouse over the “Plugins” option in the left menu and click on “Add New Plugin”. This will take you to a page where you can browse, search, and install new plugins. Adding plugins is a simple way to extend your site features and improve functionality.
How to Upload a Plugin in WordPress
To upload a plugin in WordPress, go to your dashboard and click on “Plugins” in the left menu. Next, click on the “Add Plugins” option and select “Upload Plugin”. This lets you upload the pro version or any plugin in a .zip file format. Click on “Choose File”, select your plugin’s .zip file, and then click “Install Now” to complete the process.
How to Upload and Install a Plugin in WordPress
To upload and install the PRO version of a plugin, open your WordPress dashboard. Go to “Plugins”, click “Add Plugins”, then click “Upload Plugin.” Hit the “Browse” button to select your .zip file from your computer. Once selected, click “Install Now” to finish uploading the plugin.
How to Select and Open a Plugin in WordPress
To install a plugin in WordPress, select your .zip file from your computer. Click on the “Browse” button in the Upload Plugin section and find the plugin file in your directory. Choose the correct file, then click “Open” to prepare it for installation. This action will allow you to proceed with installing the plugin on your WordPress website.
How to Install a Plugin in WordPress
After selecting your plugin .zip file, click on the “Install Now” button. This action will begin the installation process for the plugin on your WordPress website. Once installed, you can proceed to activate and configure the plugin based on your needs.
How to Activate a Plugin in WordPress
After the plugin is successfully installed, click on the “Activate Plugin” button to turn it on. This step is important to make the plugin functional on your WordPress website. Once activated, you can start using the plugin features and customize settings as needed.
How to Return to the WordPress Dashboard
After activating your plugin, click on “Go Back to the Dashboard” to return to your WordPress main dashboard. This option allows you to access and manage all your site settings and newly installed plugins. From here, you can start configuring your plugin options or make other changes to your WordPress site.
How to Access Sitemap Settings in AIOSEO
To find the sitemap settings in All In One SEO (AIOSEO), open your WordPress dashboard and go to “All In One SEO” in the left menu. Click on “Sitemap” to access and manage your sitemap options. This section allows you to control which pages and posts are included in your site HTML sitemap, helping with SEO optimization.
How to Access HTML Sitemap in AIOSEO
To view your HTML Sitemap in All In One SEO (AIOSEO), go to your WordPress dashboard and select “Sitemap” from the AIOSEO menu. Then, click on “HTML Sitemap” to manage the sitemap settings. This feature helps create a readable sitemap for your users, making it easier to navigate your website and improve your site SEO.
How to Enable and Display an HTML Sitemap in AIOSEO
To enable your HTML Sitemap in AIOSEO, toggle the “Enable Sitemap” switch in the HTML Sitemap settings. Choose how you want the sitemap to appear by selecting from options like Dedicated Page, Gutenberg Block, Shortcode, or Widget. For this guide, we’ll use a Dedicated Page to display all the sitemap links clearly on a separate page. This helps improve your site navigation and user experience.
How to Add a New Page for Your HTML Sitemap in WordPress
To set up your HTML Sitemap on a Dedicated Page, go to your WordPress dashboard and click on “Pages” in the left menu. Then, select “Add New Page” to create a new page where you will display the sitemap. This allows visitors to easily access all the pages of your website from one place, improving site navigation and SEO.
How to Name and Publish Your HTML Sitemap Page in WordPress
To create your HTML Sitemap Page, enter a page name like “HTML Sitemap” in the title field. Once you’ve named the page, click on the “Publish” button to make it live. Publishing the page allows you to display the HTML Sitemap on your WordPress website, helping visitors and search engines easily find and navigate your site’s content.
How to Copy the Page Address for Your HTML Sitemap in WordPress
After publishing your HTML Sitemap Page, locate the page address on the right side of your WordPress editor. Click on the “Copy” button to copy the page URL. This allows you to easily share or link to the HTML Sitemap from other parts of your website or with your audience, improving site navigation and SEO.
How to Link Your HTML Sitemap Page in AIOSEO
After copying your HTML Sitemap Page URL, go back to the AIOSEO Sitemap Settings in the previous tab. In the “Dedicated Page” section, paste the copied address into the provided field. This action links your HTML Sitemap to the dedicated page, making it accessible to your website visitors and improving your site navigation and SEO.
How to Configure HTML Sitemap Settings in AIOSEO
Scroll down to access the HTML Sitemap Settings in AIOSEO. Here, you can choose which post types and taxonomies you want to include in the HTML Sitemap. You can also set the sort order and choose to show or hide the publish date for each entry. Once you have customized the settings, click on “Save Changes” to update the sitemap.
How to Open Your HTML Sitemap in AIOSEO
After making and saving changes to your HTML Sitemap settings, scroll up slightly and click on the “Open HTML Sitemap” button. This will allow you to preview and view the HTML Sitemap on your dedicated page. This step makes sure that your sitemap is correctly displayed for visitors and search engines to explore your site content.
How to View Your HTML Sitemap in WordPress
Once you’ve set up your HTML Sitemap, you can view it on your dedicated page by visiting the page’s URL. The sitemap will display organized sections such as Posts and Pages, making it easy for visitors to find important content.
Alternative Method to Add a Sitemap in WordPress
You can also create a sitemap using an alternative method by installing a new plugin. To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard and click on “Plugins” in the left menu. Then, select “Add New Plugin” to find and install a sitemap plugin of your choice.
How to Search and Install a Sitemap Plugin in WordPress
To install a new sitemap plugin, go to the “Add Plugins” page in your WordPress dashboard. In the search bar, type “Simple Sitemap” and select the plugin named “Simple Sitemap – Create a Responsive HTML Sitemap.” Click the “Install Now” button, and once installed, activate the plugin to start using it. This plugin helps you quickly generate a responsive and easy-to-navigate HTML sitemap for your website.
How to Add a New Page for Simple Sitemap in WordPress
To create a new page for your Simple Sitemap, go to the “Pages” section in your WordPress dashboard. Click on “Add New Page” to set up a dedicated page for displaying your sitemap. This step is crucial to show your site organized content to your visitors, improving navigation and SEO.
How to Create a Page for Simple Sitemap in WordPress
To create a Simple Sitemap Page, start by entering a page name in the title field, like “Simple Sitemap.” Next, click on the “+” icon to add a block. In the search bar, type “Sitemap,” and then choose “Simple Sitemap” from the options. This allows you to easily add the sitemap block to the page for better site navigation.
How to Add Posts to Your Simple Sitemap in WordPress
To include posts in your Simple Sitemap, click on the sitemap block and go to the settings panel on the right. Under “General Settings,” select “Post” from the dropdown menu to display posts in your HTML sitemap. This helps visitors quickly find your blog posts and improves the navigation of your site.
How to Customize General Settings for Your Simple Sitemap in WordPress
To customize your Simple Sitemap in WordPress, you can modify the General Settings from the menu on the right. Here, you can select specific post types to display, adjust the order of items, show post titles, and include sitemap links. These options help you create a custom sitemap that fits your site structure and improves the user experience.
How to Publish Your Simple Sitemap Page in WordPress
After making all the changes to your Simple Sitemap Page, click on the “Publish” button in the top right corner. This step finalizes your sitemap, making it visible and accessible to your website visitors. Publishing ensures that your sitemap updates are live, helping users and search engines explore your site more effectively.
How to View and Publish Your Simple Sitemap in WordPress
After setting up your Simple Sitemap, you can see a preview of it on the dedicated page. To make it live, click on the “Publish” button at the top. Publishing the sitemap ensures that your website visitors and search engines can access the sitemap, improving site navigation and SEO.
Conclusion
By following these simple steps, you can successfully add an HTML Sitemap to your WordPress site using AIOSEO Pro or a Simple Sitemap plugin. A well-organized sitemap improves your site navigation and SEO by making your content easily accessible to visitors and search engines. Take the time to implement these settings, and you’ll enjoy a more user-friendly website with better search engine visibility.
About Author
This article was written by Haider Aftab Abbasi, If you’re looking for more insightful content or professional collaborations, feel free to connect with Haider on LinkedIn through the provided link.