Create a visual blueprint of a website or an app to plan the ideal layout
Use this framework to create a sitemap and visualize the website’s structure to optimize navigation, map the user experience, and determine page hierarchies. It can also be used to identify gaps in content or accelerate the design process.
Sitemaps are typically organized with blocks and arrows that show connections between content and webpages. This helps to visually communicate a website’s content needs and the framework required for website development.
Sitemaps follow a similar structure to flowcharts, but visualize a website instead of a process. Each block represents a webpage, with arrows that show connections between one webpage and another to show the hierarchy of content between pages.
As a starting point, define your website's purpose, target audience, and core objectives. Add sticky notes for your site’s homepage, every major page, and subfolder.
For example, a site map for a company’s website might include a pricing page, a contact sales page, a category page for webinars, or a section of pages for any ecommerce needs.
Establish the hierarchy between different pages and categories. This step lays the groundwork for easy navigation and an intuitive user experience. Which pages act as top-level destinations? Which ones are subcategories or subpages? Add lines or arrows connecting these elements to illustrate how pages link to each other.
Take the opportunity to include important details that might impact your website's structure. For instance, consider if there are specific pages that require special attention due to their significance or complexity.
Are there pages that serve as gateways to various sections of your site? Adding annotations or notes to your sitemap can help communicate these nuances to your team and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
As you visualize your website's structure, keep an eye out for potential gaps or opportunities for new pages. Is there content missing that's essential for achieving your goals? Are there areas where additional information could enhance the user journey?
Identifying these opportunities at this stage enables you to proactively plan for future expansion and ensure that your sitemap remains adaptable as your project evolves.
New content, features, and functionalities should be added as your website project progresses. Be sure to revisit your website sitemap regularly and update it as new pages from your website roadmap get added.
A sitemap is a visual representation of your website. Sitemaps are particularly helpful for teams developing a website, as they outline each page on the website and the relation webpages have to one another.
Sitemaps are organized with blocks and arrows that show connections between content and webpages. This helps to visually communicate a website’s content needs and the framework required for website development.
Building a website is a team effort. From marketers to developers to product managers, the architecture of a website relies heavily on insight from different professionals to effectively reach the customer and create a clean customer experience.
Marketers provide sitemaps with insight from customer reports, personas, and behavior. In turn, this information translates to a smooth customer journey throughout the website. Product managers give an understanding of the product and the link within operations to deliver tips and tricks that optimize the website experience for the user.
Sitemaps are a great tool precisely because they help each stakeholder visualize the overall website ecosystem — and keep everyone on the same page.
You can create a sitemap for two different scenarios: website creation and website redesign. For both cases, a visual sitemap should be organized and defined before any development is put into action. This ensures everyone is on the same page and understands the goals of the website.
Yes. The Mural sitemap template offers an outline of your website, which is a useful resource for the early stages of website creation. However, there are also HTML and XML sitemaps. On the one hand, HTML sitemaps are Href-created links that have a hierarchical structure. On the other hand, XML sitemaps are text files that identify website data.
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