How it works
Include real canonical URLs; update modification dates only after meaningful changes.
Example
Example: A newly published article enters the sitemap, but drafts and private pages do not.
Common mistakes
Submitting a sitemap does not guarantee indexing.
How can you check this in practice?
Open the file and verify that loc contains absolute canonical URLs returning successfully. Compare it with published pages and exclude redirects and missing URLs. lastmod should reflect a material update, not every regeneration time.
Distinctions and limitations
A sitemap assists discovery, while internal links provide navigation context. It does not replace crawlable links or override noindex or Google's selected canonical. A submitted URL can remain unindexed.
Official sources
Editorial responsibility: Martin Zhelyazkov · Founder of Z-Consult
Updated: 05/11/2026
For a correction or question: office@z-consult.bg