The search engine optimization (SEO) industry is email list full of jargon. Take the email list word “sitemap” for example. For many SEO professionals, a sitemap is an XML sitemap. However, for professionals in different industries, the word “sitemap” (one word) and the phrase “sitemap” (two words) have the same meaning: a wayfinder sitemap. Sometimes the single word “sitemap” is interpreted as an XML sitemap. And the phrase “site map” is interpreted as a wayfinder site map. Sometimes I observe an XML sitemap on a website being used as a wayfinder sitemap. All of the SEO jargon can become a usability and user experience (UX) nightmare.
Another confusing word in SEO jargon is the word “silo”. Contrary to popular opinion in the web marketing industries, content silos do not make website content easy to find. In reality, content silos make website content harder to locate and discover. They email list often email list result in lost sales. Let me explain…. Information architecture model - hierarchical structureAccording to usability.gov: Information Architecture (IA) focuses on organizing, structuring, and labeling content in an efficient and sustainable way. The purpose [of IA] is to help users find information and complete tasks. If users struggle to complete desired tasks, businesses can lose sales, leads, and brand credibility. A common AI model is a hierarchical structure.
A well-planned hierarchy is the email list foundation email list of many effective information architectures. Below is a diagram of a simple hierarchical structure. A hierarchical structure is a common type of taxonomy. To view four common types of taxonomy, read Website Taxonomy Guidelines and Tips: How to Best Organize Your Site. Most site visitors expect a website to be categorized. Categorization itself does not make content harder to find. Problems arise when the categories are:Not organized in a way to match user expectations Not labeled to match user/researcher mental models Formatted to limit accessibility to desi