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optimize blogspot sitemap to boost video indexing speed

Why Sitemap Optimization Matters for Video SEO

Google uses sitemaps as a roadmap to discover your content. For Blogspot users, the default sitemap is good—but not great. Especially when you want your embedded videos to be indexed quickly.

If you don't help Google discover those posts efficiently, your videos might never show up in search—even if your content is amazing.

The Anatomy of Blogspot’s Default Sitemap

By default, Blogspot generates sitemaps like:

  • /sitemap.xml – Links to post feeds like /feeds/posts/default?max-results=500
  • /atom.xml – The Atom feed, useful but not structured for video

These don’t always prioritize fresh video posts. So, how can we improve that?

Step-by-Step: Optimize Sitemap for Video Posts

1. Link to All Sitemap Variants in robots.txt

In your Blogspot dashboard, go to:

  • Settings → Crawlers and Indexing
  • Enable “Custom robots.txt”

Then paste this configuration:

User-agent: *
Allow: /
Sitemap: https://yourblog.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://yourblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?orderby=updated

This lets Googlebot see your latest content and posts, especially if you update old posts with new videos.

2. Submit Sitemap Directly in Google Search Console

Once your sitemap is ready, go to Search Console:

  • Navigate to the "Sitemaps" tab
  • Enter sitemap.xml or feeds/posts/default?orderby=updated
  • Click “Submit”

Now you’ve sent Google an official list of your latest content—perfect for video indexing.

3. Add VideoObject Schema Inside Your Posts

Even with a good sitemap, Google needs content clues. Paste your JSON-LD schema inside each video post:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoObject",
  "name": "Beginner’s Guide to Basil",
  "description": "How to grow basil on your windowsill in just 10 days.",
  "thumbnailUrl": "https://yourblog.blogspot.com/img/basil.jpg",
  "uploadDate": "2025-05-01",
  "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/dQw4w9WgXcQ"
}
</script>

4. Update the Feed Priority with Labels

In Blogspot, you can filter feeds by label. If you label your video posts as “video,” then use this custom feed:

/feeds/posts/default/-/video?orderby=updated

Submit this feed separately in Search Console as a sitemap. Google will now prioritize your video-tagged posts.

Bonus: Ping Google After Publishing

Every time you publish a new post with a video, you can “ping” Google manually:

https://www.google.com/ping?sitemap=https://yourblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?orderby=updated

This immediately alerts Google to fetch your updated sitemap.

How to Monitor If It’s Working

  • Check Google Search Console → Pages → Indexed
  • Look for your video post URLs
  • Use Rich Results Test to verify video schema is detected

If it’s not showing up, try re-submitting or improving internal linking from older indexed posts.

Conclusion: Let Google Follow the Right Trail

Blogspot’s default sitemap works—but it's not laser-focused on your videos. With a few custom settings and smart label use, you can build a trail Googlebot can’t resist following.

Give your videos every indexing advantage. Don’t just post and hope—submit and guide.