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Adding A Google Sitemap To Your Blog

By adding a Google sitemap to your blog, you can more easily submit your site for indexing, to the Google search engine spider.

You get better coverage by the spider, than by simply submitting your blog to the Google search engine. You'll also get detailed statistics about how Google sends traffic your way, and how the Google spider sees your blog.

Sitemap creation is generally the first thing done after adding a blog to Google Webmaster Tools.

Unless other wise noted, everything below will be conducted from Google Webmaster Tools.

  1. If you don't have a Google account yet, you'll need one. GMail is free, and Google Groups is a vital resource for problem research. Anytime there is a problem with your blog, you should be posting into Blogger Help Forum.
  2. First, and most importantly, verify site ownership by adding a meta record to the template.
  3. From the GWT dashboard, select the menu option Crawl, then Sitemaps. Then hit the button "Add/Test Sitemap".
  4. Verify the URL of the sitemap for the blog, as automatically generated by Blogger.
  5. Return to GWT and Sitemaps. In the box for "Add/Test Sitemap", type the needed portion of the URL, and hit "Submit Sitemap".
  6. This will update the GWT Sitemaps list, with the advice
    You have added the URL of your sitemap.
    In the list My Sitemaps you should now see the added sitemap URL.
You are now done with the initial add process. If you ever rename the blog sometime in the future, be sure to create a new Webmaster Tools entry, with a new sitemap. When you update your blog, if you don't update regularly, use the form below. If you update regularly, it's likely that the Google bots already have your blog in a schedule, and the form will be redundant.

Enter the blog feed URL (obtained in step 4, above), and hit Ping Google Sitemaps. A sitemap may not be needed, for all Blogger blogs - but even if not needed, it produces no problems, when added.

Comments

Nancy said…
Hi Chuck,

I found your advice on adding a sitemap to your blog in the help section. Like Leonid I couldn't get the sitemap generated. What did finally work was the atom.xml
code. Why is this information only found here? I searched google and chat forum and finally search blogger help as last resort. In the past, I have not found blogger that helpful. Thank you
chikadora said…
this post is really helpful. now i am able to add a google sitemap to my blog. Bless you :)
Mansi said…
Hi Chuck...you tutorial is awesome...it really helped me launch my blog site, thanks a lot...but i'm suing blogger, and under Settings->Site Feed, I don't see a sitemap URL, so how can I add a sitemap on google?

I'm just confused about this one thing
Nitecruzr said…
Mansi,

The word "awesome" is always welcome here. ;-)

I added to step 15 - check it. Do you, per chance, have a blog that's published by FTP?
midosone said…
i've put this url in (add your sitemap)
http://allcarconcept.blogspot.com/atom.xml
and i get this msg "General HTTP error: 404 not found
We encountered an error while trying to access your Sitemap. Please ensure your Sitemap follows our guidelines and can be accessed at the location you provided and then resubmit. "
Nitecruzr said…
Hi Midosone,

The feed is there, it's just empty. Have you enabled the feed, under Settings - Site Feed?
Josef Nedstam said…
Hmm, I don't quite get this. In Google Webmaster Tools, when I look at my sitemap, I only get "URL not allowed" errors with my atom feed sitemap myblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default for all urls, since the posts have urls such as myblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/match.html - and I can't find a setting for treating my feed anyway else on blogger.com
Josef Nedstam said…
Ah, found the problem, my site also has a site map of type myblog.blogspot.com/atom.xml, seems to work better
Florêncio said…
Achei estranho esses passos porque na página do Google ele pede que coloquemos um arquivo XML e aqui você diz apenas pra colocar o endereço do feed... Não deu certo pra mim...

_______________________________
http://www.empregorapido.blogspot.com
Nitecruzr said…
Francisco,

O endereço da alimentação é um URL de XML. Veja este artigo.
Mark said…
Thanks for this useful advice, using the feed given in Blogger settings directly didn't work, but using your url with atom.xml at the end did enable the sitemap to be created.
e.g. http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Also do you mind if I link to you?
Nitecruzr said…
Mark,

"http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/atom.xml" is the old Atom feed. There is a newer Atom feed. I'll bet that the old feeds disappear one day.

You can link away, be my guest. 8-D
atoztoa said…
I have added this as the sitemap:

http://atoztoa.blogspot.com/atom.xml.

What about:

http://atoztoa.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

It is the new feed, right? Google is not accepting it.
Nitecruzr said…
Atoztoa,

It works fine on my test blog.

Check it out.
NathanKP said…
I got the technique to work. The key appears to be entering the sitemap URL as "atom.xml"

The link to you site is automatically prepended at the start.

Thank you very much for this helpful tutorial. It is much appreciated.

NathanKP - The Ink Weaver Collection - Writing Showcase Blog
the Muse said…
hello

brief question so sorry to bother you.

I have recently changed to a custom domain name and using it in either atom.xml or rss.xml as a sitemap gives me errors.

is there another way to submit a site map using blogger as my host with my custom domain name?

Thanks so much!
cydoniax said…
Chuck,

Thank you so much for this site. I have a very dumb question. You say to use the "Ping google sitemap" anytime you change your blog. Does that mean anytime I add a post? Or what? Sorry for the confusion.

Excellent site!!
Nitecruzr said…
Cydoniax,

When to ping is up to your discretion. I would probably do so maybe once a week, if I had written something especially interesting. I have heard that being pinged too often causes you to lose reputation with the search engines though, so no more than that, probably.
Addicted said…
Hello there...i have added Google Site map on my blog as you said. The problem is Webmaster tools shows errors and warnings:

-Invalid XML: too many tags
Too many tags describing this tag. Please fix it and resubmit.

-Incorrect namespace
Your Sitemap or Sitemap index file doesn't properly declare the namespace.

Could you please help me fix it...
Nitecruzr said…
Kocou,

Have you posted already in GBH: Broken, and I missed the post? If so, my apologies. But the online forums are much easier to use, then Blogger Blog Commenting, for interactive problem solving.
clindsz said…
I'am a complete beginner to blogging and have just created my first blog. I've been trying to find clear information on how to add a sitemap to my blog over the last couple of days. Your information on how to do this has been extremely helpful. I have now added a google sitemap to my blog following your instructions. I can stop pulling my hair out now on how to do this thank you.
ROHAIDA said…
Hi chuck,
I have problem with my Site Map.
Earlier, I subsribed to feedburner and let them indexing my blog by individual post url.
Then I found the webmaster Tools and tried to have them indexing my atom.xml feed for the same blog.
The result was error on the sitemap with this message "URL not allowed
This url is not allowed for a Sitemap at this location" and the error url is,http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Jendelaiklan/~3/272278257/iklan-anda_14.html.
FYI, I used the same method in another blog of mine sligtly different which feedburner indexing this blog by its main url and webmaster tools have no problem indexing its atom.xml. I'm confuse and completely lost.
If you in anyway could figure out what mistake have I made, please advise me on solving this problem. Maybe it has something to do with code in the Template?? I'm lost.
Nitecruzr said…
Hi Rohaida,

See Step 17 in the post? If you are using FeedBurner, you have to give the sitemap wizard a feed that doesn't redirect.

Instead of simply using "atom.xml", you use "atom.xml?redirect=false".
ROHAIDA said…
Hi again.
The sitemap result looks good now. Thanks to you.
Rob Costigan said…
Chuck, I've lost track of how many pages I've already read on The Real Blogger Status, but this is truly the best site I've seen about Blogger. Thanks so much. I would have never added a sitemap or keywords to my blog without your help.

My one question is...do I really need to ping Google sitemaps every time I add a new post? I thought I read somewhere else that pinging was automatic.

Anyways, thanks again. I done plenty of tweaking and now I'm ready to concentrate fully on creating more content.
Nitecruzr said…
Thanks for the kind words, Rob.

I think that you're right, when Blogger split the search engine setting into two questions, separating internal and external functions.

The question "Let search engines find your blog?" explicitly states "If you select "Yes" we will include your blog in Google Blog Search and ping Weblogs.com."

Sounds like more research is called for.
Neptune said…
I have followed your instructions and the sitemap is added. It is still pending hoping to get is active soon.

Thanks,

Neptune
My Blogs:
Relationship Advice
Home remedies
Nandini said…
Thank you so much for putting this up. I really had no clue that so much had to be done to appear on Google. I first tried just adding my blog http://figuringoutlinux.blogspot.com/. I found out that atom.xml only here.
Jeremy said…
I really appreciate this article. I could have never got a sitemap for my blog without it. Thanks!
admin said…
I need help:

Where can i choose "select Add a meta tag"

My site is added and "Pages from your site are included in Google's index"

My index status is "You have not submitted any Sitemaps"
I click on "add a sitemap" I choose "generic sitemap" but after? It ask an URL... what should I do?
Unknown said…
i've an error when submit sitemap
http://warnetconnexxion.info/rss.xml or http://warnetconnexxion.info/atom.xml
google said
"General HTTP error: 404 not found
We encountered an error while trying to access your Sitemap. Please ensure your Sitemap follows our guidelines and can be accessed at the location you provided and then resubmit."
Nitecruzr said…
Fathul,

I'm getting a 404 from trying to access your feed directly. Have you enabled your blog feed?
You are a god...instructions worked perfectly.
Unknown said…
Your instructions were clear and delivered success. Thank you for your expertise, quality triumphs once again.
Hecho en 1980 said…
Thanks so much for the info. I would have never known how to do this. I followed the steps for the Custom feed and I hope that they work.
Chuck, I'm learning tons from you. I figured out how to add google webmaster tools and I added a site map. What I don't understand is the updating, step 15 and the ping thing.

I don't know what step 15 is? Every time I add a new post, do I have to do something besides just hit publish?

Todd
Anonymous said…
I've added the atom feeds/posts/default for http://www.testcontext.blogspot.com/ and it worked ok...
do i have to do the ping trick?
Thanks,
Neodec
Nitecruzr said…
Neodec,

The Ping is optional, and is useful mainly if you don't update your blog a lot.
Sweeeeet ... added the atom.xml jewel to my http://councilmembermikemorgan.blogspot.com/
and it's working!
Monami said…
Hi.

I tried submitting my sitemap in http://citizenoftheworldwantsjustice.blogspot.com

on Google sitemaps. But I keep getting the error when i use http://citizenoftheworldwantsjustice.blogspot.com/atom/xml as the address:-

URL not allowed - This url is not allowed for a Sitemap at this location.
Problem detected on: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Citizen...IRNMB2j5KKE/now-movign-bar-council.html
Apr 20, 2009

I have tried putting http://citizenoftheworldwantsjustice.blogspot.com/feed/posts/full and that is pending.

Any idea/suggestion to solve this problem?
Nitecruzr said…
Monami,

Try "citizenoftheworldwantsjustice.blogspot.com/atom.xml?redirect=false".

As above

... type "atom.xml" (or "atom.xml?redirect=false", if you're using a redirected custom (external) feed for public access, and need redirection override) ...
Monami said…
Thanks a lot.It works now.Does that mean that the http://citizenoftheworldwantsjustice.blogspot.com/feed/posts/full will not work??
It is still showing as pending??
Monami said…
Hi Chuck.That is what I did now with the 's'in feeds.But still epnding in Google?? Is it necessary since the atom one has been accepted?
Nitecruzr said…
Click on the link in my comment immediately above this one. What do you get? Compare these two examples:

citizenoftheworldwantsjustice.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
citizenoftheworldwantsjustice.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/full
sir jon said…
Hey Chuck!!! You're the greatest!!!
I'm beginner blogger, a bloginner, and I was going crazy looking for that xml whatever, can't find it.
atom.xml solved the issue.
But i have a question, do i need to add atom.xml everytime i add a new post on my blog or does it do it automatically??? Thanks again sir!!!
Nitecruzr said…
Jon,

All that you do is publish posts. The feed is maintained for you, automatically.
L. Roberts said…
Thanks for the help, using the redirect worked. So why isn't this posted on GoogleSites somewhere? In Help, all they say is for to use the default at the end of the line? Thanks again.
Sara said…
Hi,

I'm feeling completely dim because i can't follow even the first step on this post - I've searched over my dashboard page but I can't find the link for 'sitemaps'...I've looked over the page 3 times! Can you tell me where it is?
Nitecruzr said…
Emma,

I hear your confusion. See if my slight rewording of the above instructions makes things slightly clearer, please.
Blackswan said…
Your site is fantastic! But I don't understand why my blog suddenly has 26 urls failed:

1) "This XML tag has an invalid value. Please fix it and resubmit" &

2) One of the 26 urls: "This url http://luxuryhaven.blogspot.com/2009/09/contest-win-inglourious-basterds.html is not allowed for a Sitemap at this location".

Somebody pls help as I'm not savvy in these stuff. Appreciate any expertise!
Nitecruzr said…
Blackswan,

Please post a question in BHF: Something Is Broken, so we can explore this further. If you already have an open thread, bump the thread, so I can see it.
Dudel said…
"atom.xml?redirect=false"

DOI! *smacks self in the head* This is why I read your blog. XD

I'm over here thinking "Why can't I link to the old xml, exactly?" *smacks self in the head again*

Thanks for the assistance.
Nitecruzr said…
Thanks, Dudel. I wrote this one almost 4 years ago, and I guess it's still useful. Which validates my controversial opinion about "dormant" blogs.
Jayne said…
Gob smackingly brilliant - I have achieved things I would never have thought possible thanks to you. Best wishes, Jayne
Anonymous said…
Whats the difference between adding atom.xml and /feeds/post/default?alt=rss sitemap??
Nitecruzr said…
Whats the difference between adding atom.xml and /feeds/post/default?alt=rss sitemap??

"atom.xml" and "/feeds/post/default" is the same content, as is "rss.xml" and "/feeds/post/default?alt=rss". The difference is the URL - "atom.xml" and "rss.xml" are located in the root of the blog, while "/feeds/post/default" and "/feeds/post/default?alt=atom", and "/feeds/post/default?alt=rss" are not located in the root of the blog.
Justin Edwards said…
Hi Chuck,

I have found this information very useful and the only article that has been successful in helping me submit a sitemap. I have a couple questions for clarity please:

1. I have added sitemaps for atom feeds and rss feeds in both old and new formats - is this redundant?

2. Before finding your blog, I unsuccessfully attempted to generate a sitemap using http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/ Now that I have added the feeds in the sitemap, is it still necessary to generate a sitemap for the entire blog to be added to GWT?

3. I believe I need to add a sitemap for each page of my blog, but have not been successful. One page is http://airo-cross.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-airo.html and I tried to submit a sitemap using p/welcome-to-airo.html Could you tell me how to add sitemaps for each of these pages? I have 10.

Thanks again for spelling these things out in layman's terms.
Eric Basir said…
Thanks for the sitemap and other tips! I need it!!!
Brilliant Advice. Works perfectly. Thanks for sharing.
What Name said…
Thank you very much. Google should start paying you, if they haven't already done.
LORDLANGERZ said…
Your "Adding a sitemap" advice worked great, my sitemap @ www.lordlangerz.blogspot.com has now been uploaded, thanks.
Anonymous said…
Thanks for sharing such a nice information about sitemap, I was searching for right sitemap url to submit it into webmasters tool.
Unknown said…
You are awesome! I kept staring at GWT pages for hours..but thanks to you..I am getting the hang of it
Benivitus said…
Didn't know you had to have a "sitemap" but I understand it all so much better now...
Thanks!
:-)
Unknown said…
I didn't know much about this. thanks for explaining it so well. Just did this...so hopefully it'll help! :)
We3ForDemocracy said…
Clear brilliant instruction that works.
Thank you so much.
Aman Kadd said…
thanks for this information mow my query is resolved for my blog
www.geekweeks.com
finally I managed to do it. Thank you much. Luv ya..
Very nice Article. Thank you for sharing this useful post on Sitemap. I hope it help to index more pages and keep the search updated.

#codeinclude.blogspot.com
Unknown said…
I searched for 1 hour only to find that it was so easy to submit a sitemap in google's blog. Thank you very much and god bless you.
Gaurav Verma said…
Thanks my friend. After struggling for 5 days I finally was able to configure sitemap by your article.
Thanks again
Personalkulture said…
thank you very much you are the best as long as blogger help exists. every direction you gave worked for me

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