Google’s John Mueller clarifies that robotically altering XML sitemap dates doesn’t enhance search engine optimisation and will make it tougher for Google to seek out precise content material updates.
The “Freshness Sign” Delusion Busted
On Reddit’s r/search engine optimisation discussion board, somebody requested if rivals ranked higher by setting their XML sitemap dates to the present date to ship a “freshness sign” to Google.
Mueller’s reply was clear:
“It’s normally an indication they’ve a damaged sitemap generator setup. It has no constructive impact. It’s only a lazy setup.”
The dialogue reveals a standard frustration amongst search engine optimisation professionals. The unique poster was upset after following Google’s guidelines for 15 years, solely to see rivals utilizing “spam ways” outrank established web sites.
When requested about websites utilizing questionable ways but nonetheless rating properly, Mueller defined that whereas some “sneaky issues” would possibly work briefly, updating sitemap dates isn’t certainly one of them.
Mueller mentioned:
“Setting right this moment’s date in a sitemap file isn’t going to assist anybody. It’s simply lazy. It makes it tougher for search engines like google and yahoo to identify really up to date pages. This positively isn’t working of their favor.”
XML Sitemaps: What Works
XML sitemaps assist search engines like google and yahoo perceive your web site construction and when content material was final up to date. Whereas good sitemaps are important for search engine optimisation, many individuals misunderstand the affect they’ve on rankings.
In line with Google, the lastmod tag in XML sitemaps ought to present when a web page was really final up to date. When used appropriately, this helps search engines like google and yahoo know which pages have new content material that must be recrawled.
Mueller confirms that faking these dates doesn’t assist your rankings and should stop Google from discovering your actual content material updates.
What This Means for Your search engine optimisation
Mueller’s feedback remind us that whereas some search engine optimisation ways might sound to enhance rankings, correlation isn’t causation.
Websites rating properly regardless of questionable strategies are doubtless succeeding as a consequence of different elements, reasonably than manipulated sitemap dates.
For web site homeowners and search engine optimisation professionals, the recommendation is:
- Maintain your XML sitemaps correct
- Solely replace lastmod dates whenever you change content material
- Deal with creating helpful content material as a substitute of technical shortcuts
- Be affected person with moral search engine optimisation methods – they supply lasting outcomes
It may be irritating to see rivals seemingly profit from questionable ways. Nevertheless, Mueller suggests these benefits don’t final lengthy and may backfire.
This alternate confirms that Google’s sensible algorithms can acknowledge and finally ignore synthetic makes an attempt to control rating alerts.
Featured Picture: Keronn artwork/Shutterstock
