Site Map vs Navigation#

A site map lists the page structure of your website, detailing the actual pages that are available on your web site for the user. Navigation is the different ways users can look through your site to find content, whether it's the navigation across the top, or on the page itself.

What is Site Mapping

A site map is a model of a website's content designed to help both users and search engines navigate the site. A site map can be a hierarchical list of pages (with links) organized by topic, an organization chart, or an XML document that provides instructions to search engine crawl bots.

What To Avoid

• To many items directly below your Home page (On your navigation bar)
• To many words in each link/name/item (Max of Two)
• Avoid filler words like: ("Church", "Our", "The", The name of church or school, Your city name)
• Make sure that the Names/Links/Item makes sense to someone who has never been to your church or your site before.
  • Ex: Gospel Presentation. Potential Questions may be as follows.
    • What is the Gospel?
    • What kind of presentation?
    • Why should I go to this page?
    • What information on that page could relate to what I am here looking for?
  • Ex: The Island Rock. Potential Questions may be as follows.
    • What is this?
  • If people are asking any of these questions they are likely never going to click on that page.

Best Practices

If a page Name doesn't make sense either rename it or move it under another page that can help your end user find it.