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Moz Sitemap

A sitemap is an XML file that lists the important URLs on your site and gives search engines hints about when each page was last updated.

Level: BeginnerRead: 1 minUpdated: 27 Jul 2026By Vera Lindqvist

Key facts

  • A sitemap lists URLs you want search engines to crawl, along with optional metadata like last modified dates.
  • Google uses sitemaps to discover pages it might otherwise miss, especially on large or new sites.
  • You can submit a sitemap to Google via Search Console or reference it in your robots.txt file.
  • Sitemaps have size limits: 50MB uncompressed and 50,000 URLs per file.

Also called

XML sitemap, sitemap.xml

Use it for

helping search engines discover and crawl your site's pages

Applies to

Google / Bing / all search engines

What a Moz Sitemap Does for Your Site

A Moz Sitemap is an XML file listing URLs you want search engines to know about, with optional metadata like last modified date.

Search engines read it to discover pages they might miss, especially on large or new sites.

A sitemap is a crawl hint, not a ranking signal. It helps discovery but not indexing or position.

  • A sitemap can include pages, videos, images, and news articles.
  • You can create a sitemap manually or use a tool like Moz Pro to generate one.
  • Google recommends using absolute, canonical URLs in your sitemap.

How to Create and Submit a Moz Sitemap

Most CMS generate a sitemap automatically. If yours does not, use how screaming frog works to crawl your site and generate one.

Submit it via Google Search Console or reference it in your robots.txt file.

Moz Pro includes a sitemap generator as part of its how seo tools works suite.

  • Check your sitemap for errors in Search Console after submission.
  • Update your sitemap whenever you add or remove important pages.
  • Use a sitemap index file if you have more than 50,000 URLs.

Common Mistakes with Moz Sitemaps

Do not treat a sitemap as a ranking tool. It helps discovery, not rankings.

Including non-canonical or redirected URLs wastes crawl budget. Use canonical URLs.

Check Search Console for sitemap errors. A broken sitemap prevents discovery.

  • Including non-canonical URLs: wastes crawl budget and confuses search engines.
  • Treating a sitemap as a ranking tool: leads to disappointment and misallocated effort.
  • Ignoring sitemap errors in Search Console: prevents search engines from discovering your content.

How Moz Sitemaps Fit into Your SEO Workflow

A sitemap works alongside other tools like Yoast SEO Sitemap to help search engines understand your site.

Crawl Budget helps decide which URLs to include. Focus on important pages, exclude thin content.

See what is a sitemap for basics. For other solutions, see moz alternatives.

  • Use a sitemap to help search engines discover new or updated content quickly.
  • Combine your sitemap with a well-structured internal linking strategy for best results.
  • Review your sitemap periodically to ensure it reflects your current site structure.

Common mistakes

  • Including non-canonical or redirected URLs in your sitemap. Wastes crawl budget and confuses search engines about which URL is the primary version.
  • Treating a sitemap as a ranking tool rather than a discovery aid. Leads to misplaced effort and disappointment when rankings do not improve.
  • Submitting a sitemap and never checking for errors in Search Console. Prevents search engines from discovering important pages if the sitemap has issues.

Questions

Does Moz have a sitemap generator?

Yes, Moz Pro includes a sitemap generator as part of its SEO toolset. It can help you create and manage XML sitemaps for your site.

How do I submit a sitemap to Google?

You can submit a sitemap to Google through the Sitemaps report in Google Search Console. Alternatively, you can reference it in your robots.txt file.

What is the difference between a sitemap and a robots.txt file?

A sitemap tells search engines which URLs you want them to crawl. A robots.txt file tells them which URLs they are not allowed to crawl. They serve complementary roles.

See also

Sources

  1. Google Search Central: What Is a Sitemap developers.google.com
  2. Google Search Central: Build and Submit a Sitemap developers.google.com
  3. Google Search Console Help: Sitemap support.google.com
  4. Moz: What is an XML Sitemap? moz.com

Outbound links are unpaid and nofollow. If one has gone stale, tell me.

Vera Lindqvist

Vera Lindqvist has worked in SEO since 2014 — first in-house at an ecommerce retailer, then freelance for small teams that could not afford an agency. She writes GrowthPedia in her own time and pays for the hosting herself.

Written and maintained by one person. No ads, no affiliates, nothing for sale. Found an error? Tell me and I will log the correction publicly.