Compress XML sitemap files with gzip before submission.
- Compress XML sitemap files with gzip before submission2 cited sources1 category
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Why this matters
Compression reduces file size, speeds sitemap downloads by search engines, and aids efficient crawling.
Hypothetical standard operating procedure
Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.
- Ensure sitemap files are generated in XML format.
- Use gzip tool to compress each sitemap before uploading.
- Verify correct MIME type when serving compressed sitemaps.
- Test sitemap accessibility and valid XML after compression.
- Submit compressed sitemaps to search engines using Search Console or robots.txt.
Watch for
Uploading uncompressed large sitemap files increases bandwidth and load time, potentially slowing crawl rates.
Definition of done
All sitemap XML files are gzip compressed (.xml.gz) and served with correct headers.
Sources & attribution
Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.