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    4. Adding multi-language sitemaps to robots.txt

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    Adding multi-language sitemaps to robots.txt

    Technical SEO
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    • MickEdwards
      MickEdwards last edited by

      I am working on a revamped multi-language site that has moved to Magento.  Each language runs off the core coding so there are no sub-directories per language.

      The developer has created sitemaps which have been uploaded to their respective GWT accounts.  They have placed the sitemaps in new directories such as:

      • /sitemap/uk/sitemap.xml
      • /sitemap/de/sitemap.xml

      I want to add the sitemaps to the robots.txt but can't figure out how to do it.  Also should they have placed the sitemaps in a single location with the file identifying each language:

      • /sitemap/uk-sitemap.xml
      • /sitemap/de-sitemap.xml

      What is the cleanest way of handling these sitemaps and can/should I get them on robots.txt?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Schwaab
        Schwaab last edited by

        Adding the following lines to the bottom of your robots.txt should do it:

        Sitemap: http://www.example.com/sitemap/uk/sitemap.xml

        Sitemap: http://www.example.com/sitemap/de/sitemap.xml

        If you wanted to update the file names to be different it wouldn't hurt, but I don't think you would have any problems with how they are currently set up.  If you have submitted them to WMT and they are being picked up ok I think you are fine.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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