XML Sitemaps and SiteLinks in Google Search Results

Some people believe Google SiteLinks are directly related to XML Sitemaps. They are not, but both are related to Google Search Console.

SiteLinks are Not Related to XML Sitemaps

Submitting a generated XML sitemap will not guarantee your website gets SiteLinks for relevant search quries, not even if the XML sitemap is generated by A1 Sitemap Generator. The reason is that XML sitemaps and Google SiteLinks are not directly related. The only connection is Google Search Console where you among other things can submit XML sitemaps, and view/block the SiteLinks shown for your website.

How Google Determines SiteLinks and Link Titles

Few people know the actual algorithm Google uses. However, we can guess based on experience and observation.

How a domain gets SiteLinks shown:

Domain has to rank number #1 for the search query.
The domain has to have a high authority for the search query.
It helps if the domain name is similar to the search query.

How shown page URLs are selected:

Pages linked by many internal pages.
Pages with many backlinks from other websites.
Google Toolbar navigation information.
Google click tracking in search results.

How shown page titles are generated:

Last directory or page name in URL.
HTML <title> in page.
Anchor text in backlinks.

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Build all kinds of sitemaps including text, visual HTML / CSS, RSS, XML, image, video, news and mobile for all your websites no matter the platform they use.

This help page is maintained by Thomas Schulz

As one of the lead developers, his hands have touched most of the code in the software from Microsys. If you email any questions, chances are that he will be the one answering.