Regularly monitor sitemap errors and indexing status in Search Console.
- Regularly monitor sitemap errors and indexing status in Search Console2 cited sources1 category
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Why this matters
Tracking discovered, indexed URLs and reported errors helps detect sitemap and content issues affecting crawl and indexation.
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.
- Log into Google Search Console and navigate to the Sitemaps report.
- Review error and warning messages related to submitted sitemaps.
- Compare discovered vs indexed URL counts and investigate discrepancies.
- Check the Page Indexing and Crawl Stats reports for related data.
- Address issues promptly and resubmit sitemaps if needed.
Watch for
Ignoring sitemap errors or large gaps between discovered and indexed URLs leads to undetected crawl problems and lost traffic.
Definition of done
Search Console shows minimal sitemap errors and a close match between discovered and indexed URLs.
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.