How To Clean Up XML Sitemap Generated By AIO SEO?

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I “discovered” XML Sitemap in AIO SEO recently.

But when I looked there, I wanted to scream – what are all these URLs doing there? There were 97 URLs and only 5 of them were real. Others were some cropped images. And I did not have slightest idea where did they come from.

So, I needed to clean up XML Sitemap. But how?

My first step was to seek the answer in WA. No way I am the only one who has this problem. Sure enough, the very same question was asked “What causes aio-seo xml sitemap show these urls?

Unfortunately, there were only couple of answers and they were not very clear. But I still tried with not much success.

My next step was to ask Google. No clear answers there either.

So, I found the answer myself, doing some experiments with AIO-SEO settings.

The solution turned out to be very simple. Just unchecked one check box and all extra URLs disappeared. I have no idea at what point I might exidentaly checked it. But at least now I will never make this mistake again.

All in One SEO ->XML Sitemap -> Uncheck “Media / Attachments” box.


Don't forget to Update Sitemap.

I hope this post will help to save time and anxiety for someone else.

Have a great day,

Jane

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Recent Comments

15

Hi Jane
Thanks for researching and sharing this. For nearly all my posts I have created a single page visual and textual summary of each post that I include at the end of each article as a .jpg or .png with a link to a .pdf which I have attached as media on a separate page inviting anyone to download the .pdf. I would clearly want these pages and the URLs to the downloadable .pdfs to appear in my AIO SEO XML site map. If I were to uncheck that Media/attachments box I assume all the URLs to the downloadable .pdfs would be gone?
Thanks if you on anyone could shed any light on this.
Best regards
Andy

1

Hi Andy,
Thanks for reading my post. I don't know how it will work with .pdf attachments. When I unchecked the Media / Attachment box, my pictures did not disappear from the post, URLs disappeared from the Sitemap. So, I assume that your .pdf file will remain in the place. But you can play with check-uncheck box and see what it will do to the attachment.
Good luck,
Jane

1

That's correct, however, media and images wil still be indexed by Google if appropriate. It will just be the "pages" that get created for each media that you do not want indexed.

2

Hi Chrystopher
Thanks. That makes sense. When I click on a link to the pages for those .pdfs it takes me somewhere that I would not want a user to be taken to.
Best regards
Andy

1

Hi Jane
I do want google to find those .pdfs as individual URLs. I have actually found that e.g. "Longtail Keyword Summary PDF" often ranks well in Jaxxy and sometimes better than just the Longtail Keyword.
Thanks again
Best regards
Andy

1

Thanks for sharing Jane, I’m glad you got it fixed.

1

You are welcome

1

Awesome post. thanks!

1

Thank you

1

Welcome!

Great information thank You

1

You are welcome

1

Great post Jane.

Marc.

1

Thank you, Marc

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