3 Steps to Configure Magento 2 HTML Sitemap Extension

• What is a Magento 2 HTML Sitemap Extension?

• Key Features of HTML Sitemap Extension for Magento 2

• How Magento HTML Sitemap Extension Work?

• How to Configure Magento HTML Sitemap Extension?

• Top Providers of Magento HTML Sitemap Extension

• Differences Between XML and HTML Sitemaps in Magento 2

• FAQs

• Summary

What is a Magento 2 HTML Sitemap Extension?

A Magento HTML sitemap extension generates a structured HTML sitemap for your Magento 2 store, improving navigation and SEO.

The sitemap Magento 2 extension displays a clear, organized list of all accessible pages. These include categories, products, and CMS pages. The extension helps users and search engines to explore the site. It is customizable, allowing store owners to:

• Include or exclude specific store pages

• Adjust the layout

• Optimize for mobile devices

Automatic updates keep the Magento 2 sitemap updated with any new content. It enhances search engine crawlability and user experience by offering a streamlined path through the store's content.

Key Features of HTML Sitemap Extension for Magento 2

1. Automatic Sitemap Generation

• The extension will automatically generate an HTML sitemap for your Magento 2 store.

• It eliminates the need for manual updates. When new content is added, such as new products or updated categories, the sitemap refreshes automatically.

• It ensures that it always reflects the latest structure of your store.

2. Customizable Layout and Control

• Flexibility is at the core of many HTML Sitemap extensions. It enables you to configure the sitemap to match your store’s layout and goals.

• You can choose which types of pages appear on the sitemap. You can exclude specific URLs or sort the content based on relevance or priority.

• Some extensions also allow you to add descriptions or additional text for each section.

3. SEO Optimization

• The extension supports your Magento 2 SEO strategy. It is by enhancing the sitemap’s structure to improve search engine crawlability.

• A more structured HTML sitemap enables search engines to discover efficiently and index all critical pages. It potentially increases visibility.

• Some extensions provide options to set meta titles and descriptions for the sitemap page itself. It enhances the search results rank and can drive additional traffic to your store.

4. Enhanced User Experience and Navigation

• The easy-to-navigate HTML sitemap helps users quickly find:

  1. Products

  2. Categories

  3. Information pages

• It serves as a “map” of your store’s structure. It enables visitors to locate what they need without relying solely on navigation menus.

• The feature is invaluable for larger stores with extensive product categories. It helps retain users by offering a straightforward path to any section or page within the site.

5. Integration with Magento’s Native Features

• The extension is designed to work smoothly within Magento’s existing framework. It leverages built-in features and compatibility with custom themes.

• It ensures that the sitemap aligns well with your store’s design. It doesn’t interfere with other core functionalities, providing a cohesive experience.

How Magento HTML Sitemap Extension Work?

1. Installation and Configuration

• Once installed, the extension integrates with your Magento 2 backend. It is where you can configure settings to customize how the sitemap will look and what it will include.

• In the admin panel, you can select specific content types to include. You can also exclude certain URLs and adjust layout preferences to match your store’s theme.

2. Automatic Sitemap Creation

• The extension automatically generates an HTML sitemap by scanning the store’s structure.

• It captures all selected elements and organizes them into a hierarchical layout.

• The sitemap is displayed as a single HTML page. It is accessible to users and search engines alike.

3. Dynamic Updates

• Each time new content is added, the sitemap refreshes automatically. It keeps the sitemap current without requiring manual intervention.

• The dynamic updating feature helps large eCommerce stores frequently change inventory or content.

• It ensures search engines always have access to the latest site structure.

4. SEO Optimization

• Some extensions allow you to customize Magento SEO settings, such as adding:

  1. Meta titles

  2. Descriptions

  3. Keywords for the sitemap page

• It boosts the sitemap’s visibility in search engine results, increasing traffic to your store.

• The HTML sitemap also enhances the crawlability of your site. It provides search engines with a well-organized view of your content and helps them index your pages effectively.

5. Display on Frontend

• Once configured, users can access the HTML sitemap through a link. The link is often placed in the footer of your site.

• It helps visitors to navigate your store easily. It is especially meant for those looking for specific products or categories.

6. Integration with Magento’s Features

• The extension is built to work smoothly within Magento’s framework. It integrates with core features like custom themes and URL structures.

• The compatibility helps maintain a consistent look and feel across your store. It also ensures the extension functions without conflict.

7. Advanced Customization Options

• Some Magento HTML sitemap extensions offer additional features. These include page prioritization or custom descriptions for each section.

• It helps users and search engines understand the importance of specific pages.

• The customization can improve the user experience and guide search engines toward high-priority pages.

How to Configure Magento HTML Sitemap Extension?

Step 1: Configure the Frequency and Priority of Content Updates

1. Go to Stores in the Admin panel and select Configuration under the Settings section.

2. Navigate to Catalog > XML Sitemap in the left-side panel.

3. Expand the Categories Options section and configure the following:

4. Choose how often to update the sitemap. Options include:

• Always

• Hourly

• Daily

• Weekly

• Monthly

• Yearly

• Never

5. Set a priority value between 0.0 and 1.0, with 0 being the lowest priority.

6. Open the Products Options section and repeat the Frequency and Priority settings.

7. Under Add images into the Sitemap field, select one of the following options for image inclusion

• None

• Base Only

• All

8. Open the CMS Pages Options section and set Frequency and Priority similarly.

9. Click Save Config when done.

Step 2: Sitemap Generation Settings

1. Open the Generation Settings section.

2. Set Enabled to Yes.

3. In Start Time, select the hour, minute, and second for updating the sitemap.

4. Choose the Frequency for sitemap updates:

• Daily

• Weekly

• Monthly

5. Enter an Error Email Recipient to receive notifications if errors occur.

6. In the Error Email Sender field, choose one of the following:

• General Contact

• Sales representative

• Customer support

• Custom email

7. Choose an Error Email Template for error notifications.

Step 3: Configure the Sitemap File Limits

1. Open the Sitemap File Limits section.

2. Set the Maximum No of URLs Per File. The default is 50,000.

3. Define the Maximum File Size in bytes. The default is 10,485,760 bytes.

Step 4: Complete the Search Engine Submission Settings

1. Open the Search Engine Submission Settings section.

2. In Enable Submission to Robots.txt, select Yes to allow search engines to crawl your site using the robots.txt file.

3. Click Save Config to complete the setup.

Top Providers of Magento HTML Sitemap Extension

1. Free Magento HTML Sitemap Extension - Magefan

Magefan’s HMTL sitemap extension allows you to improve website navigation and SEO. It is by generating a unique HTML sitemap. It gathers all of your website pages on one page. The extension for Magento helps search engines index your website, and customers find pages they are interested in faster. It is compatible with Magento 2.3.0 - 2.4.7-p3.

Features:

• Create the HTML sitemap for your store in a few clicks.

• Add product, category, CMS page, and blog links to the HTML sitemap.

• Add any other links to the sitemap and specify what links to ignore.

• Define where to display the HTML sitemap link.

• Set HTML sitemap page metadata.

2. HTML Sitemap for Magento 2 - Amasty

Amasty’s HTML sitemap extension generates a clear HTML sitemap. It helps customers easily navigate your website. The Magento 2 sitemap extension includes/excludes particular pages from the sitemap. It customizes the layout to make it perfectly structured. It is compatible with Magento 2.4.7-p2; 2.4.6-p6; 2.4.5-p8; 2.3.7-p4.

Features:

• Add any additional links to a sitemap.

• Configure a sitemap layout according to your needs.

• Specify metadata for a sitemap page.

• Effectively manage internal link juice throughout the website.

• Hyva-ready storefront.

Price:

• Magento Community Edition: $29 (12 months)

• Magento Enterprise Edition: $329 (12 months)

• Magento Cloud Edition: $629 (12 months)

3. Magento 2 Dynamic HTML Sitemap - BSS Commerce

BSS Commerce’s dynamic HTML sitemap makes your store more user-friendly. It provides your store visitors with a convenient overview of the website. The extension helps search engines crawl and index data better. It is by spreading the necessary ranking power with internal cross-linking. It is compatible with Magento 2.3.x - 2.4.x.

Features:

• Auto-generate an HTML sitemap.

• Customize a URL key for the sitemap.

• Auto-update if there is any change in the store’s structure.

• Exclude product & category pages from the sitemap.

• Manage the Magento 2 sitemap listing order.

• Show the HTML sitemap link on the header/footer.

• Work with multi-store views.

Differences Between XML and HTML Sitemaps in Magento 2

Aspect	Magento 2 HTML Sitemap	Magento 2 XML Sitemap
1. Purpose	It is primarily designed for users. It provides a structured list of pages to help visitors.	It is created specifically for search engines. It helps bots accurately and efficiently index website content.
2. Format	It is displayed in a human-readable format, often as a list or table with clickable links to various pages within the site.	Uses XML tags to outline URLs in a machine-readable format, enabling search engines to crawl the site efficiently.
3. Accessibility	It is visible to users on the front-end. It is typically accessible via a link in the website’s footer or main menu.	It is not typically accessible to users. It is submitted directly to search engines for crawling purposes.
4. Update Frequency	It is usually updated manually by the website admin. It depends on changes in site structure.	It can be configured in Magento 2 to update automatically on a regular schedule.
5. Impact on SEO	It contributes to on-page SEO by improving internal linking and user navigation. It helps search engines understand the site structure better.	It directly improves SEO by ensuring search engines know about all important pages. It helps them index content faster and more thoroughly.
6. Configuration in Magento 2	Magento 2 does not provide a default HTML sitemap. It typically requires third-party extensions to generate and manage an HTML sitemap.	Magento 2 includes built-in XML sitemap functionality. It allows easy configuration and automatic generation for SEO.
7. Best Use Case	It is useful for large, complex websites where users may need help finding pages.	It is essential for all websites, especially those aiming to improve search engine visibility.

FAQs

1. How does the Magento 2 Sitemap Generator work across different store views in Adobe Commerce?

The Magento 2 sitemap generator enables you to generate HTML and XML sitemaps. It is for multiple store views in Adobe Commerce. It ensures each store view is optimized for Google indexing. It enhances SEO for localized and multilingual sites.

2. Does the HTML Sitemap Extension generate both HTML and XML sitemaps?

The HTML sitemap extension can generate XML and HTML sitemaps for your store. It provides a comprehensive overview of your website structure. It supports standard Magento 2 XML Sitemap generation to improve SEO and search crawlers.

3. How does the HTML Sitemap Extension improve SEO?

The Magento SEO extension enhances navigation and SEO. It is by generating sitemaps that make it easy for search engine crawlers to index your website. The sitemap includes important SEO meta tags and an overview of your website structure.

4. Can I use the extension on a test store before deploying?

You can install the HTML sitemap extension on a test Magento store. It helps review the functionality and sitemap configuration before deploying it live. The approach ensures compatibility with your Magento edition and sitemap management needs.

Summary

A Magento 2 HTML sitemap extension creates a structured, easy-to-navigate HTML sitemap for Magento stores. The tutorial explores the key features of the extension, including:

• Automatic updates reflect new content instantly, keeping the sitemap current.

• Customizable layout allows inclusion/exclusion of specific pages.

• SEO optimization enhances crawlability, boosting visibility on search engines.

• User-friendly navigation acts as a “map” to help users find products.

Boost your store’s SEO and user experience with a customizable HTML sitemap. Pair it with managed Magento hosting for smooth integration.