SEO · Operational
XML Sitemap
A sitemap helps search engines discover URLs, but discoverable pages can still pass without one.
Version seo-v1.0
What is this benchmark?
XML Sitemap
A sitemap helps search engines discover URLs, but discoverable pages can still pass without one.
Why it matters
A sitemap helps search engines discover URLs, but discoverable pages can still pass without one.
How SiteGlue evaluates it
First-party sampled HTML crawl with SSRF controls. Evidence is stored per check. Rankings and backlinks are not invented.
- Passing criteria
- Verified evidence meets the benchmark. Partial findings score 2.5 of 5.
- Failing criteria
- Verified evidence shows a blocking issue, such as homepage noindex.
- Not verified
- The crawler or PageSpeed Insights could not verify the check.
- Not applicable
- Rare. Most public sites should be evaluable.
Scoring weight: 5. Evidence: Crawled URLs, headers, markup, or labeled PageSpeed Insights vitals.
Example results
Pass
Publish a valid XML sitemap and reference it from robots.txt.
Fail
The check failed on crawled evidence, or the report invented a ranking.
Recommended fixes
- Publish a valid XML sitemap and reference it from robots.txt.
Frequently asked questions
Does this prove a Google ranking?
No. SEO-v1.0 scores crawlability and on-page evidence. Rankings, traffic, and backlinks stay Unable to Verify until a connected integration exists.
Run the SEO audit.