Google Sitemap - How Long Does it Take Google To Index?

[JamesDFA]

We have changed our sitemap about 1 month ago and Google is yet to index it. We have run a site: search and we still have many pages indexed but we are wondering how long does it take for google to index our sitemap? The last sitemap we put up had thousands of pages indexed within a fortnight, but for some reason this version is taking way longer. We are also confident that there are no errors in this version. Help!

[GPainter]

How long is a piece of string? That's the problem with waiting for Google to index something having said that have you tried submitting your sitemap to Google? - https://support.google.com/sites/answer/100283?hl=en-GB

[Chris.Menke]

Hi James,  I assume that Google indexing your sitemap isn't the ultimate goal. Rather, Google indexing your individual web pages and ultimately, your pages showing up in the top of the search results is the ultimate goal, is that correct?

Your sitemap is only a suggestion to google that you have pages you would like it to index. Google may or may not crawl pages just because they're listed on a sitemap.  Roughly, its the authority of pages to be indexed that determines frequency of google's crawl--and that even includes the sitemap.  The greater the authority the more often they're going to be crawled.

The last time your sitemap was revised, it may have been later in the crawling cycle and this past time, it may have been earlier in the cycle (or you domain could have lost authority).  Ultimately, social networking, link building, and building authority is going to be what speeds things up for you.  In the mean time, be patient, you're on Google time, now.