Module One

Sitemap Foundations

Ten lessons covering what XML sitemaps are, how they work, what Google actually pays attention to, and where they stop short. The mental model before the mechanics.

The Curriculum

Ten Lessons

Designed to be read in order, with each one building on the last. If you’re confident on the basics, jump to specific lessons, but expect references back.

10 lessons
Module 01 01 Sitemap Series

What Is a Sitemap?

The gateway lesson. What a sitemap actually is, what it is not, and why the distinction matters more than people realise.

7 min read Read article →
Module 01 02 Sitemap Series

Types of Website Sitemaps

A tour of the different sitemap types that exist, with practical guidance on which ones matter for most sites.

8 min read Read article →
Module 01 03 Sitemap Series

XML Sitemap vs HTML Sitemap

Two completely different files share the word sitemap. The practical answer to which one your site actually needs.

8 min read Read article →
Module 01 04 Sitemap Series

Sitemap vs Robots.txt: The Difference

How sitemaps and robots.txt differ, how they work together, and the common mistakes that come from confusing them.

9 min read Read article →
Module 01 05 Sitemap Series

Do I Need a Sitemap for My Website?

The decision-stage question. The practical answer by site type, plus how to decide when you are not sure.

9 min read Read article →
Module 01 06 Sitemap Series

The Sitemaps.org Protocol Explained

The shared spec every XML sitemap follows, the history of how it came to exist, and the rules that matter in practice.

9 min read Read article →
Module 01 07 Sitemap Series

The Anatomy of an XML Sitemap

A complete working example walked through line by line, including the sitemap index file format.

9 min read Read article →
Module 01 08 Sitemap Series

What Each XML Sitemap Element Does

Loc, lastmod, changefreq, priority. What each one is for, how to format it correctly, and the common mistakes to avoid.

9 min read Read article →
Module 01 09 Sitemap Series

Does Google Use Priority and Changefreq?

The contrarian lesson. Google has confirmed it ignores both. The documentation, the reasoning, and what to do about it.

9 min read Read article →
Module 01 10 Sitemap Series

The Limits of a Sitemap

An honest look at what sitemaps cannot accomplish, plus the myths worth retiring.

9 min read Read article →
Questions

Frequently Asked

The questions that come up most often from readers working through the foundations.

Do I need to read these lessons in order?
The lessons are designed to be read sequentially, with each one building on the last. That said, if you’re confident on the basics, you can jump to specific topics. Just be aware that several lessons reference earlier ones for context.
How long does Module One take to complete?
Around 85 minutes of focused reading across all 10 lessons. Most readers spread this across several sessions over a week or two rather than doing it all in one sitting.
Is this only about XML sitemaps?
Mostly. XML is the format used by the official sitemap protocol, so it gets the bulk of the attention. HTML sitemaps, sitemap index files, news sitemaps, and the other variants are covered too where relevant.
Do I need technical knowledge before starting?
Not really. The series starts from first principles. If you can read a basic web page, you can follow the lessons. Some sections show code snippets, but they’re explained line by line rather than assumed.
What’s covered in Module Two?
Module Two (Building and Submitting) covers the practical implementation work: finding your existing sitemap, generating one if you don’t have it, submitting to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, troubleshooting common errors, and maintaining a sitemap as your site changes.
Why is the series built for the AI Search era?
AI crawlers (the ones that power tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude) have started visiting websites for content. Sitemaps help these crawlers discover URLs the same way they help traditional search engines. The series treats AI crawlers as first-class citizens alongside Google and Bing rather than as an afterthought.
Will I get a certificate when I complete Module One?
Yes. The Module One quiz tests your understanding of the foundational concepts. Pass it and you’ll be able to download a certificate of completion.
Are these lessons updated as best practices change?
Yes. Whenever Google or another search engine changes its position on something covered in the series, the relevant lesson gets updated and the change is noted. Major updates are flagged at the top of affected lessons.
Test Your Knowledge

Module One Quiz

Ten lessons of foundations behind you. The quiz checks your grasp of the core concepts. Pass it, and download your certificate of completion.

Attempt the quiz →
What’s Next

Continue the Series

Module Two takes you from understanding the foundations to doing the implementation work.

02
Module Two

Building and Submitting Sitemaps

The implementation work. Finding, building, validating, splitting, and submitting sitemaps to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, plus the troubleshooting that comes with it.

Start Module 2 →

Module One is the foundation. The lessons stay updated as Google and the other search engines change their positions on how sitemaps are read.