Quick Reference
Element Code: XM-002
Issue: Sitemap includes URLs that canonicalize to different pages
Impact: Conflicting signals about which URL to index
Fix: Include only canonical URLs in sitemaps
Detection: Screaming Frog, Sitebulb
What Is This Issue?
Including non-canonical URLs in sitemaps suggests they should be indexed, while the canonical tag says otherwise. This creates conflicting signals.
Why This Matters for Your Website
Sitemaps should list URLs you want indexed. Including canonicalized URLs wastes crawl budget and creates confusion.
How to Fix This Issue
- Audit sitemap: Compare with canonical status
- Remove non-canonical: Only include canonical URLs
- Configure generator: Auto-exclude canonicalized URLs
Tools for Detection
- Screaming Frog: Cross-references sitemap with canonicals
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
Your sitemap includes URLs that canonical to other pages. Remove them and only include the canonical versions.
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