If you’re like most website owners, then you’re always looking for ways to improve your traffic and engagement. One way to do this is by using a site map. A site map can help your visitors discover all the content on your website. And, it can help search engines crawl and index your pages more effectively. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to create a site map using a diagram maker. We’ll also share ten tips for making the most of your site map. So let’s get started.
1. Make sure to label every page on your infographic site map
Your site map should be easy to read. So, you need to label each page with the main topics that it covers. You can do this using the text labels feature. Click on a square, then type in the name of your page. And make sure to add an emoji icon and color for an extra pop.
2. Add tags to each page on your site map
You don’t need to add tags to each page on your site map. But, if you do decide to use tags, make sure they are relevant to the content on that page. If you’re selling running shoes, then your tag might be “running.” Your visitors or search engines will likely search for that phrase. So it’s helpful to have it tagged accordingly.
3. Make sure each page on your site map is accessible
We already mentioned this in our tips above, but it’s important enough to mention it again. You want all of the pages on your site map to be linkable and accessible by users and web crawlers alike. If you have a Contact Us page with no visible link, then your site map will be incomplete.
4. Add a sub-domain to your site map
Your site map should also include all of the sub-domains on your website. For example, if you have an Events page on blog.yoursite.com, then that needs to be included in your site map as well. You can also use this opportunity to take stock of all the pages you have on each sub-domain and determine which ones are worth keeping around.
5. Use different colors for items that belong together
One way to make your site map more useful is by using different colors for items that belong together. For example, if you have links that lead to the same section of your website, then you should label those pages using the same color. That way, when users click on one link within a section, they will see all other links in that section highlighted in the same color. This makes it easy for them to navigate around without getting lost or confused.
6. Choose colors consistent with your brand
It’s also helpful if you use colors consistent with your brand. If you’re trying to be serious and professional, then sticking with darker colors like blues and grays might be best for your site map design. However, if you want something more playful or fun, then choosing bright colors might be better suited for the job.
7. Show the flow of your content
You can also use different shapes for items that belong together. For example, if you have a page about your company’s history, then you probably want to include a shape for it on your site map. You could also use shapes to show visitors where they are on your website and how they got there. This is known as showing the flow of your content.
8. Try different templates for your site map
When you use a site map template, then you can quickly generate a professional-looking design that conforms to your company’s branding and color scheme. And, if you’re having trouble deciding on an appropriate design for your site map, then using a template may be the best way to go. That way, as long as it looks good, then you’ll have done everything right.
9. Make sure your site map is accessible from mobile devices
In today’s world of responsive web design, it takes more than just making a website accessible from desktop computers to ensure all users can access content easily. You also need to test how your site map responds when viewed from mobile devices. Does it look good? Is it easy enough to navigate
10. Update your site map when you add or remove content
Finally, you should also update your site map when you add or remove content on your website. This way, the links in your site map are always relevant and up to date, which means they are more likely to lead visitors to exactly what they’re looking for. That being said, if you have too many broken links or pages that don’t seem relevant anymore, then consider removing them from your site map so your users won’t be confused about where they lead.
Closing thoughts
Well, there you have it. Ten tips for creating an effective site map using a free infographic maker. We hope you found this tutorial helpful and that you are now inspired to create your site maps using our diagram maker. Sign up for a free account today and start mapping out your website’s structure with ease. Thanks for reading.
Photo credit: The feature image has been done by Violet Kaipa.
