Add Your Geographic Data to your Sitemap with KML

Douglas KarrNov 29, 2023

1 minute read

If your site focuses on geographic data, a KML sitemap can be a valuable tool for integrating with map services and accurately representing spatial information. A KML (Keyhole Markup Language) Sitemap is a specific sitemap used primarily for websites containing geographical information.

While rich snippets and Schema markup can enhance your site’s general SEO, a KML sitemap can specifically aid in presenting and organizing geographic data. Here’s a breakdown:

What is a KML Sitemap?

Purpose: KML Sitemaps are used to inform search engines about the location-based content on a website. They are particularly useful for sites featuring maps, such as real estate, travel, or local guides.
Format: KML is an XML notation for geographic annotation and visualization within Internet-based maps (like Google Maps). A KML file marks locations, shapes, and other geographical annotations.

Is this a Sitemap Standard?

Standardization: KML is a standard format originally developed for Google Earth, but it’s not a standard sitemap format like XML sitemaps for web pages. It’s more specialized.
Usage: It’s widely used for geographic data but not universally applicable to all websites.
Listing in robots.txt: Listing KML Sitemaps in robots.txt is not mandatory. However, including the sitemap location in your robots.txt can aid search engines in discovering and indexing your geographical data. If you include it, the syntax is:

Sitemap: https://yourdomain.com/locations.kml

What is the Format?

Basic Structure: KML files are XML-based and typically contain elements like <Placemark>, which includes a name, description, and coordinates (longitude, latitude).
Extensions: They can also have more complex structures like polygons and styles for customizing the appearance of the map elements.

Examples of KML Sitemap Elements:

Placemark Example:

   <Placemark>
     <name>Example Location</name>
     <description>This is a description of the location.</description>
     <Point>
       <coordinates>-122.0822035425683,37.42228990140251,0</coordinates>
     </Point>
   </Placemark>

Polygon Example:

   <Polygon>
     <outerBoundaryIs>
       <LinearRing>
         <coordinates>
           -122.084,37.422,0 -122.086,37.422,0 -122.086,37.420,0 -122.084,37.420,0 -122.084,37.422,0
         </coordinates>
       </LinearRing>
     </outerBoundaryIs>
   </Polygon>

These examples illustrate how KML files are structured to represent website geographical data. Their use is highly beneficial for sites where location information is a key content element.