What is content taxonomy?

Content taxonomy is a way to organize and classify content into logical groupings that will help with easy retrieval of content and a better user experience. In this process, the taxonomy is often decided with an underlying logic to group these contents. To group efficiently, you can use folders, subfolders, tags, metadata, etc., and adopt a taxonomy structure that best suits your workflow and content type.

A good content taxonomy delivers the right content to the right users at the right time.

Why is it important to have a strong content taxonomy?

With the volume of content production exploding in recent years, there is a dire need for strong content management. Content taxonomy acts as a backbone to achieve this.

Here are some reasons why content taxonomy is important:

Improved discoverability: With a strong content taxonomy in place, it becomes easy to discover content. Taxonomy built with everyday terminologies terms makes it easy to search content.
Logical flow of content: When content is grouped in order by hierarchy, there is a flow of content that enhances the reader's reading experience.
Improved user engagement: With a logical flow enhancing the reading experience, users tend to stay on to consume more content, sending a strong signal of engagement.
SEO benefits: Websites with good content taxonomy tend to have better user engagement metrics, which adds value to their SEO.

What are the types of content taxonomy structures you can adopt?

You can choose from different types of taxonomy structures based on your content types and workflow.

Let’s dive into each of them with an example.

List Structure

A list structure is a simple, flat taxonomy structure where content is categorized into a single level of categories. It follows a simple relationship model and is straightforward and easy to implement. However, managing this taxonomy structure becomes chaotic as the content or the list length increases.

Example: Categorize marketing blogs into single-level categories like 'SEO,' 'Content Marketing,' and 'Social Media.

Tree Structure

A tree structure is more complex, with multiple levels of categories and subcategories. This hierarchical approach allows for more detailed organization, making managing large amounts of content easier. Think of this like a bunch of lists grouped under a parent category.

Example: You can organize marketing blogs into a hierarchy with 'Digital Marketing' as a parent category and subcategories like 'SEO,' 'PPC,' and 'Email Marketing.

Hierarchy Structure

A hierarchy structure is similar to a tree structure but more formalized. It emphasizes the relationships between different content levels, ensuring a clear and logical flow. This structure is helpful for complex content ecosystems where relationships and dependencies are important.

Example: Considering the same example above, you can organize marketing blogs with 'Digital Marketing' as the main category, then subcategories like 'Content Marketing' with further subcategories such as 'Blogging,' 'Video Marketing,' 'Infographics,' and 'Social Media Marketing.

Then, it can have subcategories like 'Facebook,' 'Instagram,' and 'LinkedIn,' showing their relationships and dependencies.

Facet Structure

A facet structure allows for content to be classified in multiple ways using different facets or attributes. This is flexible and dynamic, enabling users to filter content based on various criteria. It’s like having multiple paths to the same destination, providing different ways to find content.

Example: Classify marketing blogs using multiple attributes such as 'Topic,' 'Audience,' 'Platform,' and 'Author' to allow users to filter content based on different criteria.

7- step Content Taxonomy Process

Step 1: Research

Understand your content, audience, and goals. Conduct thorough research to gather insights, analyze existing content, study audience behavior, and define your content strategy.

Step 2: Conduct an Audit

Take inventory of all existing content. Note its purpose, format, audience, and current categorization to form the foundation for your taxonomy.

Step 3: Narrow Down on Keywords and Terms

Identify keywords and search terms your audience uses. Use keyword research tools and analyze search data to inform your categorization.

Step 4: Alignment

Ensure your taxonomy aligns with your overall content strategy and business goals. Consistency is key to a coherent and effective taxonomy.

Step 5: Using Workflow Terms

Incorporate workflow terms to make the taxonomy intuitive and user-friendly. Collaborate with different departments to integrate their terminology.

Step 6: Bringing Everyone on Board

Educate and train team members about the taxonomy. Ensure everyone understands its importance and provide ongoing support for adherence.

Step 7: Implement

Set up the taxonomy in your content management system. Create categories, tags, and metadata fields. Update existing content to fit the new taxonomy.

Step 8: Review

Regularly review and refine your taxonomy. Gather feedback, analyze performance data, and make necessary adjustments to keep it relevant and effective.