Add a sitemap submission feature

[jamesozzie]

Feature Description

Now that WordPress has sitemap functionality built in, make it easy for users to submit this to Search Console, or for them to submit their own other than the default WordPress sitemap. This could include sitemaps built via other plugins.

An example of what may work would be the below, however, this would need some consideration during Site Kit setup, so users are aware or have the choice of submitting their sitemap (rather than having to visit their Search Console settings)

Note that there were previous feature requests for the same, see below:

• https://github.com/google/site-kit-wp/issues/1145
• https://github.com/google/site-kit-wp/issues/1535

In the first previous feature request above it was closed on the based that WordPress already has default sitemap functionality built in. This however doesn't mean Search Console recognizes the sitemap. Sitemap submission is also supported by the API in use.

We've also had numerous support requests or queries for this, see some below examples:

• https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-site-kit-sitemap-and-search-console/
• https://wordpress.org/support/topic/showing-page-not-found-inside-sitemap_index-xml/
• https://wordpress.org/support/topic/google-search-console-sitemap-2/

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Acceptance criteria

Implementation Brief

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QA Brief

Changelog entry

[marrrmarrr]

Hmmm I think this is going into replicating too much of Search Console functionality territory. Also I think a lot of SK users probably don't know what Sitemaps are, so it would probably end up as little used element hidden in Settings. I think Sitemaps could be an interesting tool for a future feature where we help people immediately submit their new posts, or submit updated posts.

[aaemnnosttv]

Hmmm I think this is going into replicating too much of Search Console functionality territory. Also I think a lot of SK users probably don't know what Sitemaps are, so it would probably end up as little used element hidden in Settings.

I would agree if this required the kind of input envisioned above, however that wouldn't really be necessary since WP core's sitemap URL is available to us as of WP 5.5.1, so we could technically auto-submit this to Search Console during setup – no added interface or action required.

It's worth noting that WP also already makes its sitemaps discoverable automatically via its robots.txt so it's not clear how much, if any, additional benefit this submission would provide. We've had additional requests for this feature lately, but upon further investigation, it may not be needed afterall.

Source: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/sitemaps/build-sitemap#cmssitemap

Reopening for further consideration while we investigate.