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THE DIRECT ANSWER
An information sitemap groups content by visitor needs and shows how important pages relate. It is a planning tool for navigation and content, distinct from an XML sitemap used to list URLs for search engines.
Group by the task the visitor recognises
Collect real enquiry themes and arrange them into understandable groups. A customer may recognise installation or maintenance but not an internal department abbreviation. Use labels that make sense before the visitor has learned how the company is structured.
Choose when a separate page is justified
Create a page when it has a distinct purpose and enough useful information to answer a different question. Avoid separate pages that only change a location or repeat the same description. If two proposed pages cannot be explained differently, consider combining them.
Design relationships as well as menus
Not every important connection belongs in the main navigation. A service page can link to a relevant project, an article can explain a technical term, and a product can lead to an enquiry. Map those relationships so visitors can continue without returning to the homepage each time.
An illustrative business scenario
A business serving both procurement teams and homeowners may share company information but need different service explanations. The sitemap can show those paths explicitly while keeping contact details and brand information consistent across the site.
A practical checklist
- Collect recurring customer questions.
- Use labels visitors already understand.
- Give each proposed page a purpose.
- Map useful contextual links.
Questions about this topic
How many menu items should a website have?
Use the number needed to make key choices understandable. Test the labels and grouping rather than forcing every business into a fixed count.
Is this the same as sitemap.xml?
No. This sitemap plans information relationships; an XML sitemap lists selected URLs for search-engine discovery.
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