How to incorporate the proper taxonomy for a client’s website using SOP (standard operating procedure)

What is SOP?

SOP stands for “Standard Operating Procedure.” It refers to a set of step-by-step instructions or guidelines established by an organization to outline the routine processes and tasks necessary to achieve consistent and efficient operations. SOPs are designed to ensure that activities are carried out in a structured and standardized manner, regardless of who is performing them, thereby promoting uniformity, quality, and compliance with regulations or best practices.

What is taxonomy?

Taxonomy refers to the systematic organization and classification of entities, often used to categorize and arrange information in a structured manner.

Within the context of website development and organization, taxonomy plays a crucial role in delineating the hierarchical structure of a website’s content, including its URLs. It involves the deliberate arrangement of data, pages, or elements into distinct categories and subcategories, facilitating easier navigation and comprehension for users.

A well-defined taxonomy not only aids in organizing information but also enhances the overall user experience by enabling efficient content discovery and retrieval.

In essence, taxonomy serves as the foundational framework upon which the architecture of a website is built, shaping its accessibility, usability, and effectiveness in delivering content to its audience.

What is a master taxonomy?

A “master taxonomy” denotes a standardized approach adopted by a company or organization for creating taxonomy structures tailored to their clients’ websites. This meticulous methodology encompasses the systematic organization and classification of content, ensuring consistency and coherence across various web platforms.

Within this framework, careful consideration is given to categorizing information hierarchically, optimizing navigation, and facilitating efficient content management. By adhering to a master taxonomy, the company or organization strives to establish a unified and intuitive structure that enhances user experience, promotes content discoverability, and fosters seamless interaction with the website’s offerings.

This systematic approach serves as a cornerstone in the development and maintenance of client websites, embodying a commitment to excellence in information architecture and digital usability.

Why do I need to use the master taxonomy?

There are numerous reasons why utilizing the master taxonomy is highly beneficial:

1. Enhanced SEO Performance: Implementing the master taxonomy has been extensively tested and proven to boost the search engine optimization (SEO) of websites. This translates to delivering superior results to our clients by improving their online visibility and driving organic traffic.
2. Streamlined Operations: Adopting a unified taxonomy approach facilitates a more efficient and effective workflow for anyone involved in managing or updating client websites. This consistency ensures that all team members can easily understand and navigate the website structure, leading to smoother collaboration and execution of tasks.
3. Expedited Website Rebuilds: The master taxonomy simplifies and accelerates the process of rebuilding websites. Its standardized framework reduces the time and effort required for launching new iterations, thereby minimizing the workload for the entire SEO team.
4. Foundation for Automation and Quality Assurance: Standardization lays the groundwork for developing tools and systems to automate processes and conduct quality checks in the future. By adhering to the master taxonomy, we can create robust mechanisms for ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of website content and performance metrics.

Who should be applying and using the master taxonomy?

The master taxonomy should be applied and used by SEO team leaders, technical SEO specialists, content strategists, and engineers.

What are a recipe cards and why are they important in terms of website rebuilding?

In the context of website rebuilding, a “recipe card” refers to a structured document or template that outlines the essential components, steps, and best practices necessary for executing the rebuild process efficiently and effectively. Similar to a recipe card in cooking, it provides a clear and concise roadmap for developers, designers, content creators, and other stakeholders involved in the rebuilding project.

When it’s time to rebuild a website, making a plan is really important. This plan is called a recipe card. This card helps us understand how the website is set up before we start making changes.

To do this, you can use a tool called Screaming Frog. It gives us a report about the website. Then, you can use Google Sheets to go through this report. This helps us find things like new web pages, places where there isn’t enough content, pages that got deleted, or pages that need to be redirected. We look at each part of the report carefully to figure out what needs to be done.

The navigation menu

This is one example of what a navigation menu should look like based on a company’s SOP.

• Home: This should be the client’s company logo.
• About: Information about the client’s company.
  • Blog: A page for the client’s company blog posts.
  • In the media: A page dedicated to local and national media spotlights for the client’s company
  • Testimonials: A page for client testimonials who used the client’s company services
• Areas we serve: This part of the navigation will link to all areas the client is targeting, usually with the anchor text of the city being targeted.
• FAQs: List any FAQ pages in this drop-down.
• Resources: A drop-down list of different resources the client might provide which can include but is not limited to:
  • Bill Pay
  • Case Studies
  • eBooks
  • Videos
  • Scholarships
  • Podcasts
  • Medical Resources
• Contact: Options for reaching out and communicating.

FAQs are typically organized with their own distinct URL structure, featuring a dedicated parent folder for FAQs and individual pages for each specific question within that folder.

Example: https://example.com/faq/what

Regarding other pages on the website, each may have its own designated place within the URL structure, typically organized hierarchically to reflect the site’s overall organization. This could include main categories, subcategories, and individual pages, all interconnected through a breadcrumb trail to facilitate navigation.

Page title, meta descriptions and SEO

When it comes to crafting page titles and meta descriptions for optimal performance in search engine results pages (SERPs), it’s essential to adhere to certain guidelines.

Page titles should be concise, with no more than 65 characters, to ensure they display fully in search results. For the homepage, it’s particularly important to include the full firm name in the title to establish brand identity and recognition.

Meta descriptions, on the other hand, should be kept under 140 characters to provide a succinct summary of the page content.

Additionally, incorporating a strong call-to-action (CTA) can encourage users to engage further with the page, increasing the likelihood of click-throughs.

Furthermore, it’s recommended that the H1 tag on each page align closely with the exact match keyword of that page. This not only helps in reinforcing the page’s relevance to search engines but also enhances user experience by providing clear and consistent messaging.

By following these best practices, websites can improve their visibility, attract more qualified traffic, and ultimately achieve their conversion goals more effectively.