When we talk about a sitemap or sitemap in French, we often have in mind the XML file which allows search engine crawlers to indicate the structure and content of the site.
However, there is a second, much less known but yet very useful for setting up your content strategy when you are about to put your site online. This is sitemap marketing.
We will clear up this term and you will learn how to create a marketing sitemap.
You will see, it will help you determine the right content that you will need to integrate into your site.
What is a marketing sitemap?
Applied to the field of marketing, the sitemap is used during the creation of a site, before it goes online.
Its aim is above all to help you visualize the content that will be present on your various pages, but also:
Establish the specificities of the design that must be respected throughout the pages
- To create value-added content geared towards the conversion of users
- Speed up keyword research for your pages
- The sitemap clarifies your site's goals, allowing you to keep a consistent long-term view.
It also helps you to avoid creating duplicate content and visualize future topics that you can bring to your visitors to convert them.
With the concept of sitemap marketing being clarified, it is time to see how to set it up.
How to create a marketing sitemap in 5 steps?
A marketing sitemap looks like an organized and hierarchical list of all the pages that make up your website.
Be careful, you won't need to list each of your blog posts, the idea is to have a general view so that you know where to embed your future content.
Prerequisites
Before creating your marketing sitemap, you need to know your personas and the type of content they are looking for.
1. List your topics and keywords
Before building the structure of your site, you must have a first idea of the content that you will want to integrate.
Start with brainstorming to list topic ideas. Each must be associated with a keyword and a buyer persona.
During this step, always ask yourself what your future visitors are looking for.
Note that not all of your ideas will be integrated into your site, this is the principle of brainstorming where you will only keep the most relevant suggestions at the end.
2. List the major sections of your site
Considering the subjects which will have kept, you can now list the major sections which will make up your site.
These sections will form the first level of your menu (main menu).
Most businesses have pages for their offers, history, services, etc. Be careful not to copy them. You should only add the sections which are essential for you.
Our advice
The simpler your menu, the easier it will be for your visitors to find what they're looking for.
To keep navigation simple on your site:
- Do not go beyond 8 sections, including the contact page
- Name your section with a single word
3. Define relevant sub-pages
Your main menu is now defined and you will dig it a little deeper by setting up your sub-menu.
You might be tempted to include lots of sub-pages to get a detailed menu, but unfortunately, that won't be the right solution. Here again, be simple.
Your hierarchy should not go beyond 3 pages.
If, however, you cannot reduce your browsing level, it is advisable to integrate a breadcrumb trail so that your users know at all times where they are on your site.
4. Expand the categories of your blog
The title of your blog posts will play a vital role in SEO, but you shouldn't forget about categories. They take part in the structure of your site and therefore influence natural referencing.
The title of each of your categories should comprise a single word, ideally a keyword.
5. Perform user tests
If you do so, you can test your targets.
There are many tools out there that show you where users click, how long they stay on a page, etc. This is a good way to learn more about their behavior and how they react to your content.
Before putting your site online, it is advisable to create a marketing sitemap. You will identify the content expected by your future users, and you will integrate it in the best way on your site.
And remember, a simple sitemap is a key to providing an enjoyable user experience.
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