The search engine optimization (SEO) industry is full of jargon. Take the 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 Norway Phone Number List 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 Norway Phone Number List make website content easy to find.
In reality, content silos make website content harder to locate and discover. They often result in lost sales. Let me explain…. Information architecture model - hierarchical Norway Phone Number List structure According 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 Norway Phone Number List structure. A well-planned hierarchy is the foundation 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 Norway Phone Number List match user expectations Not labeled to match user/researcher mental models Formatted to limit accessibility to desired content One way to limit content accessibility is a process called siloing. A silo is not a category