How to Configure Post Sitemaps in CranSEO #

CranSEO allows you to customize how posts and custom post types are included in your XML and HTML sitemaps. Properly configuring your post sitemaps ensures that search engines index the right content while avoiding unnecessary pages.

1. Include in Sitemap #

This setting determines whether a specific post type is included in the XML sitemap.

How to Enable: #

1. Navigate to CranSEO > Sitemap Settings.
2. Locate the Include in Sitemap option under the post type settings.
3. Toggle the setting On to include or Off to exclude the post type from the XML sitemap.
4. Save changes.

Best Practice: Only include content that you want search engines to index. Exclude duplicate or low-value content.

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2. Include in HTML Sitemap #

If your website has an HTML sitemap, you can control which post types appear in it.

How to Enable: #

1. Go to CranSEO > Sitemap Settings.
2. Locate Include in HTML Sitemap under the post type settings.
3. Toggle On to include or Off to exclude the post type from the HTML sitemap.
4. Save changes.

Note: The HTML sitemap is useful for user navigation and internal linking, in addition to SEO benefits.

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3. Image Custom Fields #

CranSEO allows you to include images stored in custom fields within your sitemaps. If your post types use custom fields (post meta) to store image URLs, you can add them manually.

How to Configure: #

1. Navigate to CranSEO > Sitemap Settings.
2. Find the Image Custom Fields section.
3. Add custom field names (one per line) that contain image URLs.
4. Save changes.

Example:

custom_image_field
featured_image_url
post_thumbnail_url

Best Practice: Adding relevant images to your sitemap improves image indexing and enhances visibility in Google Image Search.

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Final Tips for Optimizing Post Sitemaps #

• Ensure that only high-value content is included in your sitemap.
• Use custom fields to ensure all important images are indexed.
• Regularly review and update your sitemap settings as your content changes.

By properly configuring your post sitemaps, you can enhance SEO performance and ensure better search engine indexing!