ARTICLES - WHAT EXACTLY IS A SITE MAP FOR?
Before we get into the whys and wherefores of site maps, it would be useful to first distinguish the difference between site indexes and site maps.
SITE INDEX
A site index is an alphabetically organised guide aimed at directing users to important content on the web site. Ideally a site index will contain a clickable link and a short description about the linked item. This description will also be written in a language that is understandable to the user.
For example, on the Arkose site index, under "A" we have:
- About Us - An internet web design company based in Fife, Scotland;
- Articles - interesting articles (we hope) on web design
Site indexes are a bottom-up, content-centric view of the site, with the focus very much on the content
SITE MAP
A site map on the other hand takes a top-down approach, setting out concisely in diagrammatic form the layout of the web site. Whereas the site index is aimed fair and square at users, site maps are also useful tools to help search engines spider web sites. A good site map should provide a complete list of all the pages on the site, and show how main and sub sections link together
The benefit for users is that they get an "at-a-glance" view of the site, whilst search engines use them to identify all the main linking pages.
Site maps are top-down view of sections and sub-sections, with the focus on structure.
GRAPHICAL OR TEXT ONLY SITE MAPS
Like any map, a site map is only as good as the information it presents. When you are designing a map, you need to make a decision on:
- How much detail to provide (just the link names, or links and short descriptions, images etc etc)
- Text only or graphical representation
- The number of pages to be included
If the map is too brief, will it be understandable to the user? If it's too cluttered, will the user be able to find anything? If it's an image, how easily can you change it when the site changes?
The main thing from a user's point of view though is that they'll use the site map if they can't find the section they are looking through the main navigation, so it has to be understandable to them.
For example, look at the Arkose Design site map/site index.
The site map on www.arkose.co.uk is designed to be like the signage you'll find in hospitals. Why did we do it this way? Well, hospitals are complex structures, but effective signage make them relatively easy to navigate around.
The Arkose site contains some information that is two levels down, like this article for instance. Although we set out a link on the top navigation bar called "articles", and referred and linked to the articles page on the home page, maybe this isn't clear enough for some users. Since the Arkose site doesn't use drop-down navigation, it's not possible to have a peek at the items that are contained within any one section.
So, if you are user that has heard of the fantastic articles that we write, but can't locate them on the site, what next?
Well, that's what the site map is for. Start at the top of the listed pages and work your way down the order of links. The main entry pages are capitalised to highlight their relative importance, whilst links to secondary pages are tabbed in. Every page on the site is listed in the site map, and in the section that it is part of. Near the end of the list is the Articles link with the articles so far published to date.
If it's still not clear to the user where the articles are, check out the site index. And if you can't find them there, then maybe we just never wrote any!
LAYOUT OF THE SITE MAP
Our site map is brief, uses capitals and tabbed layout to separate sections into groups and to clearly show the hierarchy of the sections. We've organised sections by their relative importance to the user rather than alphabetically, as we reckon the users will be looking for our Services before our Articles. Hopefully, it's clear how the web site is structured. Our site map doesn't describe the content, but hopefully it's intuitive to use, and users will be guided to pages or sections that contain the info they require. We also hope its search engine friendly.
What the site map should do is provide the user is an easily understandable top-down overview of the web site. Personally, from a designer's point of view, I prefer a text-only site map as this is easier to maintain and update than a graphical site map, particularly if new pages are frequently added.
Admittedly, the Arkose site map isn't the prettiest thing in the universe, but it's functional. The most important aspect for us is that users can grasp how to find the sections of the site that they are looking for.
FINALLY
- Remember to validate this page so that search engines will be able to properly spider the site
- At the very least, link the site map from your home page, and better still from every page on the site
Back to the main Articles page
