Sitemap submission to Google

Hi @vevanegas,

We see the correct XML sitemaps are being generated by our Yoast plugin under the URL, https://www.myeatingright.com/sitemap_index.xml. Therefore, there is no problem with our plugin. We are not sure why Google is reporting sitemap is in HTML format. We know how frustrating this could be.

Usually, this can be a cache issue. We understand you have W3Total Cache plugin. Please use the rules here https://yoast.com/help/exclude-sitemaps-from-cache/#w3tc to exclude sitemap from the cache.

Once all the caching is clear, resubmit your sitemap in Google. This guide explains more:https://yoast.com/help/submit-sitemap-search-engines/#google

Hello Suwash Kunwar :

Thank you for your prompt response.

I just wanted to make sure I’m submitting the correct format. Is this the one:
https://www.myeatingright.com/sitemap_index.xml?

Please let me know ASAP, so I can submit it

Best regards,
Enrique Vanegas

@vevanegas Yes, that is the correct URL of the sitemap you should submit to Google Search Console (https://www.myeatingright.com/sitemap_index.xml). Please let us know if you require any further assistance.

We are going ahead and marking this issue as resolved due to inactivity. If you require any further assistance please create a new issue.

Got it. Thanks!

Hello:
Last December 1, Google Search Console detected noindex files on my website and asked me to fix errors, which I did – see attached screenshot (https://monosnap.com/file/vKqqFICtXkgQ7GtUjSRv54Da9vGQpJ)

Also, Live Test gave positive results

Now, I want to request indexing and Google informs me “Request indexing is temporarily unavailable”, the only option, Google adds, is to submit a sitemap with the updated pages marked by <lastmod>.

The two mentioned pages are as follows: https://www.myeatingright.com/tag/way/ and https://www.myeatingright.com/tag/sustainable/

Last Nov. 24, I submitted sitemap to Google and the last read status of Nov. 29 was successful.

What can I do?

Grateful for your advice.
Enrique Vanegas

Hi Enrique,

We didn’t find anything that would block Google from being able to crawl the homepage or the tag pages you mentioned, so you do not have to take any further action.

Yoast SEO automatically updates the last modified date in the sitemaps whenever you publish pages and pings Google whenever the sitemap is updated to encourage it to crawl your site again. Submitting your sitemap to Google one time is all you need to do to have Google index your pages.

Google disabled the Request Indexing feature, so you may have to wait a few days or more for Google to crawl your pages again. There is no way to force Google to crawl your site or update search results more frequently, unfortunately.

Hello Priscilla:
Thank you for your prompt response.

You stated on your email: “Submitting your sitemap to Google one time is all you need to do to have Google index your pages”

On the other hand, Google states

“To request indexing of many new or updated pages, your best choice is to submit a sitemap, with the updated pages marked by <lastmod>”

If I’m going to submit a sitemap again to Google, shouldn’t I marked by <last mod> the two error pages?
https://www.myeatingright.com/tag/way/
https://www.myeatingright.com/tag/sustainable/

Please clarify

Thanks,
Enrique Vanegas

Hi,

Yoast automatically outputs a last mod tag for your tag pages, posts and pages and other content types on your site. You can see the last mod tag for those tag pages here https://www.myeatingright.com/post_tag-sitemap.xml.

Google is expected to crawl the sitemap and output any changes for the content into Google. Though, Google has stated before it ignores last mod. This guide explains more: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-lastmod-xml-sitemap-20579.html.

In this manner, we can only say to delete your sitemaps in Google (doing so will not hurt the SEO of the site) and resubmit the sitemaps. This guide explains more: https://kb.yoast.com/kb/submit-sitemap-search-engines/#google.

Then monitor the results to see if Google outputs the changes. If Google does not output the changes or URLs we suggest contacting Google for more information. You may?contact Google by making a post on their forums:?https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!forum/webmasters.

We are and marking this issue as resolved due to inactivity. If you require any further assistance please create a new issue.