Web design - Why having a site map beforehand matters
Let’s agree, when you are starting something new, it’s possible to forget even the simplest aspects of
the task. Web designers find themselves overwhelmed with tasks like filling each page, fixing broken
links, and aesthetics.
When this happens, you end up wasting time on creating unnecessary pages. The result is your site can
become clumsy, making it hard to navigate not only for site visitors but also for you as the designer or
owner.
Here’s why you should have a visual sitemap before starting content creation and design.
Highlight your website purpose
Not many websites (or any business for that matter) succeed without having a clear goal and purpose.
Those without end up confusing the visitors thus leading to an overall poor user experience.
Having a visual sitemap is one of the most effective ways to chart the path of your site and to it a goal
and a purpose. By mapping it out, you can determine how the site will look, key pages to include,
keywords to target and the site structure to use. Ultimately, you will save a lot of time and resources by
just having this tool.
Avoid duplicate content
A sitemap provides an easy point of reference to help you avoid repeating the same information over
and over. Additionally, it helps you avoid creating conflicting content by showing you the various pages
to update once you’ve added a new topic.
Save on cost
Creating high-quality content for your website can be resource-intensive. A visual sitemap such as
WriteMaps.com can help you decide the most important pages so you can prioritize those for quick
results.
For example, if you intend to start an affiliate website, you could focus on creating pages that generate
revenue quickly before creating content for other pages.
Simplify the work of crawlers
You want to help Google’s spiders in any way you can. This includes assisting them to find your content
by moving it up the crawl queue.
A visual sitemap is more than just an outline list of links. It also helps crawlers know what your website is
all about and the keywords used per page to better search results. You can also use it to identify pages
that can be interlinked to make it easier for search engines to navigate them.
Improve UI
A well-functioning website is one that enables users to interact seamlessly with its conversion funnels
using the available content. If the process is lengthy and complicated, chances are that they’ll leave
before completing the conversion steps e.g., signing up for your newsletter.
A sitemap helps you identify the shortest route from the moment a visitor lands on your site to the top
of the funnel.
Conclusion
Having a visual sitemap beforehand can help you determine how many pages your site should have and
what should be included in each. Besides, it helps you identify ways to enhance navigation for both
users and search engine crawlers. Think of it as a blueprint on which your website is built.
Do you use visual sitemaps when designing a website? We’d love to hear your views in the comments
below.
502ads Digital Marketing Articles & Tips
