Two small files sitting on your site, talking to Google. You do not have to write them by hand — but you must know they exist, because one mistake is expensive.
Sitemap.xml — the map
A list of all your pages and posts in a format Google reads in a second. It helps it miss nothing — especially on new sites and deep pages with few links.
- Address: yourdomain.mk/sitemap.xml (or sitemap_index.xml)
- Who makes it: Yoast or Rank Math create and update it automatically with every post — you do nothing
- What to do: submit it once in Search Console → Sitemaps → Submit. That is all.
Robots.txt — the traffic sign
It tells robots where they may and may not go. It lives at yourdomain.mk/robots.txt.
Typical content: everything allowed except the admin area, plus a link to the sitemap. That covers 95% of sites.
⚠️ The mistake that costs everything
In WordPress: Settings → Reading → Discourage search engines from indexing this site. A checkbox switched on while the site is being built — and forgotten at launch. Result: the site is live, beautiful and INVISIBLE on Google for months.
If you are new on Google and do not appear even for your own name — check this FIRST. The second classic is Disallow: / in robots.txt — the same effect, a total block.
What should not be in a sitemap
- Pages with noindex (they contradict each other)
- Redirected addresses
- Thank-you, cart and login pages
- Duplicate addresses (www and non-www — pick one)
How to check in 2 minutes
- Open yourdomain.mk/robots.txt — no Disallow: /
- Open yourdomain.mk/sitemap.xml — your pages should be there
- In Google type: site:yourdomain.mk — if nothing shows, something is blocking
- Search Console → Sitemaps → status Success
For our clients this is part of the standard launch check — along with SSL, speed and Search Console.