How to Submit Sitemap to Ahrefs for Faster Indexing

A sitemap is a key component of any successful SEO strategy. It helps search engines and SEO tools like Ahrefs discover and crawl your website efficiently. Submitting your sitemap to Ahrefs ensures comprehensive site audits and better insights into backlinks, keywords, and technical performance. This article provides a step-by-step guide to submitting your sitemap to Ahrefs for faster indexing and enhanced SEO results.

1. Why Submit a Sitemap to Ahrefs?

Submitting your sitemap offers several benefits:

• Efficient Crawling: Helps Ahrefs bots discover important pages faster.
• Comprehensive Data: Provides complete insights on backlinks, keywords, and site errors.
• Improved Site Audit: Identifies crawl issues, duplicate content, and performance problems.

2. Creating an XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap lists the important URLs of your website for easier crawling.

For WordPress Websites:

• Use plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to generate an automatic sitemap.
• Find it at https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.

For Non-WordPress Websites:

• Generate the sitemap using tools like Screaming Frog or XML-Sitemaps.com.
• Ensure the file follows XML standards.

3. Steps to Submit Sitemap to Ahrefs

Step 1: Add Your Website to Ahrefs

• Log in to your Ahrefs account.
• Go to Site Explorer and enter your website URL.
• Verify ownership using methods like DNS, file upload, or Google Search Console.

Step 2: Configure a New Site Audit

• Click Site Audit and select New Project.
• Enter the website name and URL.

Step 3: Input Sitemap URL

• Go to Crawl Settings > Sitemap Settings.
• Enter your sitemap URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml).

Step 4: Run the Audit

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

4. Best Practices for Sitemap Submission

• Keep Your Sitemap Updated: Ensure all new pages are included.
• Exclude Irrelevant Pages: Remove thin content, duplicate pages, or private sections.
• Validate the Sitemap: Use tools like Google Search Console to detect errors.
• Monitor Ahrefs Crawl Reports: Regularly check for crawl issues and recommendations.

5. Additional Tips for Faster Crawling and Indexing

• Internal Linking: Strengthen internal links to guide crawlers efficiently.
• Backlink Building: Quality backlinks attract frequent crawls.
• Content Freshness: Update and optimize content to improve discoverability.
• Enhance Site Speed: Faster sites receive better crawl rates.

Conclusion

Submitting your sitemap to Ahrefs is a simple yet powerful step to improve site visibility, crawl efficiency, and SEO insights. By maintaining a well-optimized sitemap and adhering to best practices, you’ll unlock actionable data and enhance your website’s overall performance.