New Sitemap Format with from and to Parameters?

[LinusSEO]

Hi everyone,

I recently noticed that my Shopify sitemap (sitemap_pages_1.xml) now includes URL parameters like ?from=98542944489&to=111531294953. I'm curious if anyone else has encountered this and if there's any official explanation from Shopify.

These parameters represent a range of values, and I'd like to know if they are timestamps indicating when pages were last modified. However, older versions of my sitemap didn't have these parameters and still revealed update times to search engines.

I am concerned about how this might impact my SEO and crawling. Has anyone else noticed this change, or does anyone have any insights on what these parameters might be and why they've been added?

Any information or clarification would be greatly appreciated!

[PageFly-Richard]

Hi,

This is Richard at PageFly - Shopify Advanced Page Builder app.

It's likely that the URL parameters ?from=98542944489&to=111531294953 in your Shopify sitemap are indeed timestamps.

Why Shopify Might Use Timestamps in Sitemaps

1. Dynamic Content: Shopify sites often have dynamic content, such as product listings, collections, and blog posts, that can change frequently. These timestamps can help search engines understand when specific pages were last updated, allowing them to prioritize crawling and indexing the most relevant content.
2. Pagination: If your site uses pagination for large product lists or blog archives, these parameters might be used to indicate the specific page within the pagination structure. This helps search engines understand the relationship between pages and avoid duplicate content issues.
3. Filtering and Sorting: If your site allows users to filter or sort products based on criteria like price, category, or popularity, these parameters could be used to represent the specific filter or sort options applied.

How to Verify the Timestamps

To confirm if these parameters are indeed timestamps, you can:

1. Convert the Numbers: Use an online timestamp converter to convert the numbers to human-readable dates and times.
2. Compare with Page Updates: Check if the timestamps correspond to the last time the pages were updated or modified on your Shopify site.
3. Analyze Search Console Data: Look for any changes in your site's search performance or crawling frequency after the introduction of these parameters.

Hoping my solution helps you solve your problem.

Best regards,

Richard | PageFly