Question about Sitemap XML and importance of links

[Ryanp]

Sitemap Questions - I have a Shopify store and it ranks decent. But upon checking my sitemap.xml page, it doesn't have any live links on it like my competitor. They use WP

Here are screenshots from my XML and theirs. Can somebody explain why mine does not have proper chronological links like they do? Is this a Shopify thing? 

https://ibb.co/vXy9tc8 |  

https://ibb.co/2MbXGdK

And here are the actual links:

Mine: https://devildaves.com/sitemap.xml

Theirs: https://zingzang.com/wp-sitemap.xml

[permar]

I would just manually add a sitemap to your search console. 

[Yvonne_Yoast]

Hi @Ryanp, 

Shopify automatically generates an XML sitemap for your store, which includes product pages, collections, blog posts, and other pages. This sitemap is designed to help search engines discover new and updated content on your site. You can find your Shopify sitemap at https://devildaves.com/sitemap.xml. However, Shopify's XML sitemaps do not typically display live links in a human-readable format like some WordPress sitemaps might. Instead, they are structured for search engines to read and index your content efficiently.

Shopify Sitemap

 

 

The difference you're noticing between your Shopify sitemap.xml and your competitor's WordPress sitemap.xml is likely due to the way each platform generates and manages sitemaps.

Shopify Sitemap:

• Default Structure: Shopify automatically generates a basic sitemap.xml file that includes URLs for your store's main pages, products, collections, and blog posts. However, this sitemap may not include every type of link or offer advanced features like chronological or detailed sorting.
• Customization Limitations: Shopify's built-in sitemap generation is more straightforward and doesn't provide as much customization as some other platforms. This means that while it covers essential URLs, it may not include all the details or formats you might see in other sitemaps.

WordPress Sitemap:

• Plugins and Flexibility: WordPress sites often use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, which can generate more detailed sitemaps. This plugins offer features like chronological ordering, advanced categorization, and additional metadata that can enhance the sitemap's usefulness for search engines.
• Customizable Output: WordPress provides more flexibility for customizing the sitemap format, allowing for detailed, organized sitemaps that include various types of content and metadata.

Why the Difference?

• Platform Capabilities: The difference largely comes down to the capabilities and customization options of each platform. Shopify’s default sitemap may be more basic compared to the more detailed and customizable sitemaps that can be created with WordPress plugins.
• SEO Impact: As long as your Shopify sitemap includes all the critical pages (such as products and collections) and is accessible to search engines, it should function effectively. If you need more advanced features or detailed sitemaps, consider exploring Shopify apps that offer enhanced sitemap functionality.

If you want more control over what appears in your XML sitemap, you can use tools like Yoast SEO for Shopify, which allows you to manage indexing settings and tailor your sitemap to your needs. You can try to test on your store, as we offer a 14-day trial period. 

For more details, you can refer to the following resources:

• How to get your Shopify store on Google
• Shopify SEO ultimate guide