XML Sitemap Present
XML sitemaps help search engines efficiently crawl and index all store pages. Shopify auto-generates sitemaps, but this checks they're actually populated.
What It Measures
Rewards stores with proper XML sitemaps to help search engines discover content
Detection Method
Checks sitemap_data for URLs and product/collection counts
Why This Matters to You
Shopify Agencies
Sitemap presence indicates SEO awareness - these stores may invest in advanced services.
SEO App Builders
Stores with sitemaps are more likely to care about technical SEO.
General App Builders
Signals a more mature, established operation.
Theme Developers
Well-configured stores that may value premium themes.
Scoring Breakdown
Present
Valid sitemap with content found
Real-World Examples
Good Example
Sitemap URL: https://example.com/sitemap.xml
Products: 1,250 | Collections: 45 | Articles: 83
✓ Valid sitemap with content (+6 points)
✓ Helps search engines discover all pages
✓ Shows SEO awareness
Bad Example
Sitemap URL: https://example.com/sitemap.xml
Products: 0 | Collections: 0 | Articles: 0
✗ Sitemap exists but is empty (0 points)
✗ Search engines can't efficiently discover content
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Does Shopify automatically create sitemaps?
Yes, Shopify auto-generates XML sitemaps at /sitemap.xml. However, we check that the sitemap actually contains content (products, collections, pages). An empty sitemap provides no SEO value.
Why is this a positive factor (+6 points)?
Unlike most factors which penalize issues, this rewards good SEO practice. A populated sitemap indicates the store is actively selling products and helps search engines efficiently discover and index all pages.
What if a store has products but the sitemap is empty?
This can happen with new stores or configuration issues. The store doesn't get the +6 bonus, but we don't penalize them either (it's a neutral 0 for this factor). However, other factors might catch related issues.