Do XML sitemap updates the last modified date of any url automatically ?

I have XML site map in my website but the problem is when i update the website content the url in the site map is not updating the last modified date.

Do i have to generate the site map over and over again when ever i change my website content?

Please help me out ......

 

How do you create your sitemaps? Blog/CMS plugins have the advantage they can read the value from a database. General sitemap generator tools can try extract last modified value in various way (A1 Sitemap Generator will e.g. check HTTP headers, meta tags, URL path for date patterns etc.), but always to some degree depend on your own coding/website.

 

You should not have to generate a new sitemap each time

 

To fully know the issue you need to focus on how your sitemap is generated. You shouldn't have to generate multiple ones but if you are using an unrecommended method such as creating it yourself or some random sitemap creating website the problem is in the creation. Try switching it up with a different method or chat with support from your host about the issue.

Stephanie Tanner Manager/Co-Founder of The Content Writing Group

 

Thanks, but i use xml-sitemaps.com It's a reliable site as many webmasters use it too.

But my question was a little different. Do you have any idea about how Search engine comes to know about the last update of my site.

 

Thanks, but let me give you an example

Now, <lastmod>2010-03-03</lastmod> shows the last modified date of my site. But i have updated the content of the page following this url many time. Still it is not changing. So how can you say that XML updates itself periodically.

 

Notice each URL has it's own lastmodified. But naturally, you will have to update the XML sitemap (either something done automatically, e.g. scheduled, or initiated by you or whatever) if you want updates reflected!

 

Oh yes, the search engine that crawls your website will look for the sitemap.xml file within your root directory. After making sure that the sitemap file is uploaded to the root properly, you need to ensure that you sitemap is accessible through the footer of your website. You should be able to add a footer link titled "sitemap" and hyperlink it to the page that hosts your sitemap i.e. www.yourwebpage.com/sitemap.xml (typically but it depends what the sitemap file name is of course). A good example would be to look at the PayPal website and many others that have a sitemap link at the bottom of their pages. Hope this helps!

Stephanie Tanner - Manager/Co-Founder The Content Writing Group

 

Just make lastmod points the right last modifying time. Google bots does not consider that entry, they know how to crowl in a clever way.
But you can make a change to make the sitemap.xml to show right lastmod.

 

Hi you can try xml-sitemaps. By giving your website URL it will automatically generates sitemap.xml file for your website. Thanks