Google Answers Why Some SEOs Split Their Sitemap Into Multiple Files

Google’s John Mueller answered a query about why some web sites use a number of XML sitemaps as an alternative of a single file. His reply means that what seems like pointless complexity could come from causes that aren’t instantly apparent.

The query got here from an web optimization attempting to know why managing a number of sitemap information can be most well-liked over maintaining every thing in a single place.

Query About Utilizing A number of Sitemaps

The web optimization framed the difficulty as a matter of effectivity, questioning why anybody would select to extend the variety of information they need to handle.

They asked:

“Can I ask a foolish query, what’s the benefit of a number of web site maps? It looks like your going from 1 file to handle to X information to handle.

Why the additional work? Why not simply have 1 file?”

It’s a very good query, avoiding additional work is all the time a good suggestion in web optimization, particularly if somebody has a comparatively small web site, it is smart to have only one sitemap however as Google’s Mueller explains, there could also be good causes to separate a sitemap into a number of information.

Mueller Explains Why A number of Sitemaps Are Used

Mueller responded by itemizing a number of the explanation why a number of sitemap information are used, together with each sensible and fewer intentional causes.

He responded:

“Some causes I’ve seen:

• need to monitor totally different sorts of urls in teams (“product element web page sitemap” vs “product class sitemap” — which you’ll kinda do with the web page indexing report)
• cut up by freshness (evergreen content material in a separate sitemap file – theoretically a search engine won’t have to examine the “previous” sitemap as typically; I don’t know if this really occurs although)
• proactively cut up (so that you just don’t get to 50k and need to urgently determine learn how to change your setup)
• hreflang sitemaps (can take a ton of area, so the 50k URLs may make the information too giant)
• my pc did it, I don’t know why”

Mueller’s reply exhibits that sitemaps can be utilized in inventive ways in which serve a function. One thing I’ve heard from enterprise degree SEOs is that they discover that maintaining a sitemap to properly underneath 50k strains ensures higher indexing.

Takeaways

Mueller’s reply exhibits that generally maintaining issues “easy” isn’t all the time one of the best technique. It’d make sense apply group to the sitemaps seems to be pointless complexity is commonly the results of sensible constraints, evolving web site constructions, or automated techniques relatively than deliberate optimization.

• A number of sitemaps can be utilized to group various kinds of content material
• They assist keep away from hitting technical limits just like the 50,000 URL cap
• Some implementations are based mostly on idea relatively than confirmed conduct
• Not all sitemap constructions are intentional or strategically deliberate

Featured Picture by Shutterstock/Rachchanont Hemmawong