How to Submit Sitemap to Ahrefs for Faster Indexing

Sitemaps are essential for guiding search engines and SEO tools like Ahrefs to your website’s important pages. They help ensure all pages are easily discoverable and crawlable. By submitting your sitemap to Ahrefs, you can optimize the tool’s ability to analyze your website and provide better insights for SEO improvements. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it effectively.

1. Why Submitting a Sitemap to Ahrefs Matters

Submitting your sitemap offers several advantages:

• Enhanced Crawling: Helps Ahrefs bots discover all critical pages, including new or hidden ones.
• Comprehensive Insights: Ensures complete data for backlinks, site health, and keyword rankings.
• Efficient Audits: Enables Ahrefs to identify technical SEO issues more effectively.

2. How to Create an XML Sitemap

A valid XML sitemap is crucial for efficient crawling.

For WordPress Websites:

• Use plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to generate a sitemap automatically.
• The default sitemap URL will be https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml.

For Non-WordPress Sites:

• Use tools like Screaming Frog or XML-Sitemaps.com.
• Ensure it follows XML standards and includes all key pages.

3. Submitting Your Sitemap to Ahrefs

Follow these steps to submit your sitemap and initiate a site audit:

Step 1: Add Your Website

• Log in to Ahrefs and go to the Site Explorer tool.
• Enter your website URL and verify ownership using DNS, HTML file upload, or Google Search Console.

Step 2: Start a Site Audit

• Navigate to the Site Audit section and click New Project.
• Fill in your project details, including the website name and URL.

Step 3: Enter Sitemap URL

• In Crawl Settings, find the Sitemap Settings option.
• Input your sitemap URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml).

Step 4: Run the Audit

• Start the site audit to allow Ahrefs to crawl and analyze your website.

4. Best Practices for Sitemap Submission

• Update Regularly: Ensure your sitemap includes newly published pages.
• Remove Irrelevant Pages: Exclude low-value pages like login or admin sections.
• Validate the Sitemap: Use Google Search Console to test and validate the file.
• Monitor Crawl Reports: Regularly check Ahrefs for crawl errors and technical issues.

5. Tips to Boost Crawling Efficiency

• Improve Internal Linking: Help crawlers navigate your site more effectively.
• Build Quality Backlinks: Strong backlinks improve site discoverability.
• Optimize Content: Keep content fresh to encourage more frequent crawls.
• Enhance Site Speed: Faster loading sites attract better-crawling behavior.

Conclusion

Submitting your sitemap to Ahrefs ensures better site audits and improved SEO insights. By maintaining an up-to-date and well-structured sitemap, you pave the way for better crawling, indexing, and ultimately, stronger search engine rankings.