Yes, Google Search Console does accept sitemaps in the .xml.gz format. The .xml.gz format is a compressed version of the standard XML sitemap, which is beneficial because it reduces the file size and allows for faster processing and submission. This is particularly useful for large websites with extensive sitemaps, as it helps in efficient bandwidth usage and quicker uploads. When submitting an .xml.gz sitemap, you follow the same submission process as a regular XML sitemap. The compressed format does not affect how Google indexes your website; it simply provides a more efficient way to handle larger files. Ensure your .xml.gz file is accessible to Googlebot, typically by checking your robots.txt file, to facilitate proper crawling and indexing of the website’s content.
Submitting .xml.gz Sitemaps to Google Search Console
One response to “Submitting .xml.gz Sitemaps to Google Search Console”
Great post! It’s incredibly handy to know that .xml.gz sitemaps can enhance the efficiency of submitting large sitemaps to Google Search Console. In addition to what you’ve mentioned, I’d like to highlight the importance of regularly checking the status of your submitted sitemaps in Search Console. This insight can help webmasters identify issues such as errors in the sitemap, warnings, or even the number of URLs indexed from the sitemap, enabling them to take proactive steps to optimize their site’s SEO performance.
Moreover, consider implementing a robust naming convention for your .xml.gz files. Clear and consistent naming can facilitate better organization and retrieval, especially for larger sites with multiple sitemaps. Lastly, regularly updating these sitemaps to reflect new, changed, or removed content ensures that Google has the most current version of your content, which is crucial for maintaining search visibility. Thanks for shedding light on this efficient practice!