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Official statement

In an XML sitemap, the order of tags (URL, last updated date, frequency, priority) is not important. Only the URL is mandatory. If Search Console processes the sitemap correctly, there are no issues even if the format differs from the official examples.
17:37
🎥 Source video

Extracted from a Google Search Central video

⏱ 24:30 💬 EN 📅 09/02/2023 ✂ 7 statements
Watch on YouTube (17:37) →
Other statements from this video 6
  1. 12:12 Est-ce que vos fichiers JSON doivent absolument être indexés ?
  2. 15:00 Pourquoi la structure de données événement ne garantit-elle pas les rich results?
  3. 18:08 Pourquoi garder les anciennes URLs dans le sitemap après une redirection 301 ?
  4. 18:08 Pourquoi retirer les URLs obsolètes de vos sitemaps pourrait booster votre SEO ?
  5. 19:46 Pourquoi simplifier l'implémentation des codes hreflang pour le SEO international ?
  6. 20:46 Faut-il vraiment aligner hreflang et lang HTML ?
📅
Official statement from (3 years ago)
TL;DR

The order of tags in an XML sitemap has no impact on SEO. Only the URL is essential. If the sitemap is processed by Search Console, that is sufficient.

What you need to understand

What does this statement mean?<\/h3>

Google states that the organization of tags in XML sitemaps is flexible. This means concerns about the order of tags are unfounded. The URL remains the only essential element, as it is the one analyzed for indexing.<\/p>

  • Order of tags is unimportant<\/li>
  • URLs are mandatory, other tags are optional<\/li>
  • Sitemaps processed correctly by Search Console<\/li><\/ul>

    What is the impact for SEO practitioners?<\/h3>

    SEO experts can save time by simplifying the sitemap creation process. The historical importance placed on the organization of tags can now be deprioritized.<\/p>

SEO Expert opinion

Why this flexibility?<\/h3>

Google's algorithm is designed to handle various data formats. In practice, this provides greater flexibility to adapt sitemaps to the specific needs of a website without compromising SEO.<\/p>

Is Google always consistent?<\/h3>

Overall, this statement is consistent with Google's evolving approach. However, it leaves room for interpretations regarding whether all sitemaps receive the same treatment. [To be verified]<\/strong> It would be interesting to check with concrete tests.<\/p>

Stay vigilant. This apparent flexibility does not guarantee optimal indexing if other SEO aspects are neglected.<\/div>

Practical impact and recommendations

What should you do practically?<\/h3>

Don’t worry about the order of tags when creating your XML sitemaps. Focus on the accuracy of the URLs and ensure that Search Console processes your sitemaps effectively.<\/p>

  • Include all essential URLs of the site<\/li>
  • Verify correct sitemap processing by Search Console<\/li><\/ul>

    What mistakes should you avoid?<\/h3>

    Don’t waste resources trying to optimize the order of tags. The mistake would be not including important URLs or not checking their proper handling by Search Console.<\/p>

    If you don't have the internal resources to optimize your sitemaps, consider working with a specialized agency to ensure accurate implementation.<\/div>

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

L'ordre des balises peut-il affecter l'indexation?
Non, l'ordre des balises tel que mentionné par Google n'affecte pas l'indexation.
Quels éléments sont obligatoires dans un sitemap?
L'URL est le seul élément obligatoire dans un sitemap XML.
Comment s'assurer que mon sitemap est correct?
Utilisez Google Search Console pour vérifier le traitement de votre sitemap.

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