Insight says no sitemap found, but...

User 2611213 Photo


Registered User
15 posts

I'm using Yoast SEO and have the XML sitemap feature turned on. Yoast is reporting that XML sitemaps do exist on the site (and I can click the provided link and open the sitemap.)

However, when I run an Insight scan on the site, Insight reports that the sitemap is missing. Thus, I'm confused if a sitemap actually exists or not. Anyone have experience with this or have ideas on how to get it to work?
User 103173 Photo


VP of Software Development
0 posts

If you go to www.mydomain.com/sitemap.xml does it load a sitemap? If it does not, then you have no sitemap. ;)
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User 2611213 Photo


Registered User
15 posts

Thanks for the reply, Scott. Here's what I'm finding out. First, Yoast SEO creates a sitemap_index.xml file. Information on the logic and reasoning can be found here: https://yoast.com/xml-sitemap-in-the-wordpress-seo-plugin/

I do see that sitemaps are generated, and I've submitted sitemap_index.xml in Google Webmaster and it recognizes it. Here are the sub-index files picked up via sitemap_index.xml:

XML Sitemap

Generated by Yoast's WordPress SEO plugin, this is an XML Sitemap, meant for consumption by search engines.
You can find more information about XML sitemaps on sitemaps.org.

This XML Sitemap Index file contains 6 sitemaps.
Sitemap Last Modified
http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.c … itemap.xml 2014-05-01 23:16
http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.c … itemap.xml 2014-06-03 00:54
http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.c … itemap.xml 2014-04-06 01:18
http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.c … itemap.xml 2014-04-06 01:18
http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.c … itemap.xml 2014-04-06 01:18
http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.c … itemap.xml 2014-02-19 17:35

Also, if you visit the site xml file at: http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.com/sitemap.xml you will see that it does return the sub-index files. (I guess sitemap.xml is returning sitemap_index.xml?)

So from what I can tell, this should be recognized by Insight. Any ideas?
User 103173 Photo


VP of Software Development
0 posts

That is your problem. The sitemap we look for (and the search engines do as well) is sitemap.xml

If you want Website Insight to see it, you need it named sitemap.xml or you must define your custom sitemap name in the robots.txt file (which you have not yet):

http://seniorpictures.sashphotography.com/robots.txt
Learn the essentials with these quick tips for Responsive Site Designer, Responsive Email Designer, Foundation Framer, and the new Bootstrap Builder. You'll be making awesome, code-free responsive websites and newsletters like a boss.
User 2287960 Photo


Ambassador
580 posts

Just been caught by this one.

Yoast obviously hides it somewhere else.

Does the sitemap work - your guess is as good as mine.

This is a WordPress site.

Keith

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