Earlier than Anna and I began contentki, we went to a restaurant, pulled out a notepad, and commenced brainstorming all of the companies we may supply given our expertise and expertise.
We got here up with content material writing, search engine optimization optimization, and content material technique. From there we dived even deeper into every class including search engine optimization weblog writing, thought management, touchdown web page copy, and social media to our record.
I’m glad we took the time to interrupt this down early on, because it gave us a transparent sense of who we have been proper from the beginning, somewhat than determining our companies on the go.
The tough sketch in our pocket book was what’s professionally referred to as a idea map. It’s a instrument you should utilize not solely when beginning a enterprise but additionally to ideate and totally analysis new ideas earlier than bringing them to market.
Desk of Contents
What’s an idea map?
An idea map is a visible illustration, usually within the type of a diagram, that reveals the connection between varied concepts or ideas. It’s a terrific instrument for structuring and organizing information. It usually contains two components:
- Nodes. These symbolize ideas and are available within the form of circles, ovals, or containers.
- Arrows. These join concepts. They may embody a connecting phrase or verb to clarify the connection between ideas, for instance, “results in” or “is a part of.”
An idea map helps break advanced matters/concepts into extra digestible parts.
Kinds of Idea Maps
Earlier than I talk about the varieties of idea maps, here’s a record of the greatest mind-mapping software program you’ll be able to take a look at that will help you create your individual idea map.
Spider Maps
I’m positive it received’t shock you to listen to that these idea maps resemble a spider internet. The principle idea is within the center, with associated subtopics branching outward. This construction allows you to discover a number of features of the central thought.
Easy methods to create it:
- Put your predominant thought in the course of the diagram.
- Draw traces popping out from the middle to symbolize a key subtopic linked to the primary thought.
- Add sub-branches from every subtopic to dive even deeper into the subject.
- Use labels or brief phrases to higher present the connection between ideas.
When to make use of it: Use it to investigate a broad matter intimately.
Flowcharts
A flowchart represents a linear or sequential course of or workflow. It makes use of symbols and arrows to indicate how data flows, usually together with choices or actions.
Easy methods to create it:
- Outline the method or job you need to illustrate.
- Draw arrows to indicate the circulate of steps. Use containers or different shapes to symbolize every step or motion.
- Use a diamond form for choice factors, and display completely different branches based mostly on sure/no or some other standards of your alternative.
- Proceed till you conclude.
When to make use of it: I discover flowcharts are nice for explaining processes, just like the onboarding of latest staff.
System Maps
As a substitute of specializing in the primary thought, system maps spotlight the relationships and interactions between completely different ideas. They lack a hierarchical construction and emphasize how varied elements work collectively.
Easy methods to create it:
- Outline the important thing system parts.
- Organize them based mostly on how they’re interrelated as a substitute of in a hierarchical order.
- Draw traces between parts to indicate how they’re linked. I believe it’s useful so as to add phrases like “influences” and “relies on” to higher clarify the kind of relationship.
- Increase every a part of the system by recognizing suggestions loops, inputs, and outputs.
When to make use of it: Use system maps to grasp and analyze advanced methods, comparable to provide chains or organizational networks.
Hierarchy Maps
A hierarchy map illustrates how components are interconnected in a hierarchical construction, exhibiting their relative standing. Because of this concepts have the next standing whereas others, a decrease standing. The principle idea or the very best rating component is on the high, whereas the lower-ranking ones are positioned beneath it.
Easy methods to create it:
- Put the primary idea or the highest-ranking one on the high of the map.
- Outline the foremost subtopics that fall beneath the primary thought and place them straight under. Join them by traces.
- Department downward to indicate lower-ranking ideas whereas retaining a transparent hierarchical construction.
When to make use of it: I believe it’s helpful for exhibiting data with a number of authority ranges or significance, for instance, authorities buildings or Maslow’s Hierarchy of Wants.
Easy methods to Create a Idea Map
Earlier than you begin working in your idea map, I counsel downloading HubSpot’s idea map template — it’ll make the method an entire lot simpler.
1. Outline your predominant matter.
Start by selecting the primary thought or matter that you just need to analyze. It needs to be broad sufficient to permit a couple of subtopics to department out.
Put the first idea both on the high or center of your map, relying on the kind of map you’re utilizing. It’s going to act as the inspiration from which all of your different concepts shall be developed.
2. Establish important ideas.
When you’ve found out the primary thought, begin brainstorming extra matters you’d prefer to discover. Consider as many as you’ll be able to, however as a substitute of putting them straight on the map, record them first — this is called the “parking zone” methodology.
After your record is prepared, arrange the ideas from probably the most normal or broad to probably the most particular. I believe it’s greatest to create a hierarchy with crucial/broad concepts on the high and the extra detailed ones beneath them.
3. Transfer ideas from the parking zone to the map.
Now, you’ll be able to transfer your ideas from the parking zone to the map.
Put the primary thought within the heart or on the high, with associated subtopics branching out from it. Every extra matter needs to be linked to a particular class, ultimately forming a hierarchy.
Whereas arranging the ideas, I counsel utilizing linking phrases to make clear the connection between concepts. This can improve the understanding of how every idea connects to the others.
4. Confirm accuracy and coherence.
The extra connecting concepts you have got, the larger the possibility of creating a mistake. So, it’s greatest to assessment every connection to make sure it hyperlinks to the proper idea.
Use cross-links to search out concepts situated in a special a part of your map. This strategy might assist you join them to extra ideas, making a extra complete and interconnected construction that reveals much more insights.
5. Increase and revise.
Your idea map isn’t set in stone. As new concepts emerge, you’ll be able to preserve including them to the map to create new connections.
I recognize that the map is versatile, letting you rearrange, take away, or add new sections as you achieve a deeper understanding of the subject.
The method doesn’t finish with the primary model; I counsel you often test in case your map is full and related. Make revisions when crucial.
Creating My Personal Idea Map
Let’s get all the way down to follow. I’ll now create an idea map for my very own freelance enterprise.
Step 1: Establish my main matter.
Since I’m a contract content material marketer, one of many areas that I take care of is search engine optimization optimization, which shall be my main matter.
Step 2: Establish important ideas.
I’ll break it down into a couple of subcategories: on-page search engine optimization, technical search engine optimization, and use of search engine optimization instruments. For the sake of this instance, I’ll solely point out three, however be happy to give you as many as potential, like off-page search engine optimization and native search engine optimization.
Write all of them down.
Step 3: Transfer ideas to the map.
As soon as I’ve listed the primary ideas, it’s time for me to zero in on every of them and record related subcategories. For instance, on-page search engine optimization could be damaged down into substeps like “key phrases” and “content material optimization.”
If I needed to go even deeper, I may add “key phrase analysis,” “long-tail key phrases,” and different smaller ideas beneath the “key phrases” subtopic.
I’ve completed this with all three predominant matters and wrote two subcategories for every, together with concepts for additional branching.
Discover how the map helps us perceive that search engine optimization is a multifaceted idea and that — whereas it’s most frequently an space dealt with by advertising and marketing — it overlaps with areas like technical web site/app efficiency.
Step 4: Double-check for accuracy and coherence.
On this step, I assessment if I’ve assigned every thought to the proper class.
For instance, I ensured that “person intent” is positioned beneath “content material optimization” somewhat than “web site velocity.” Keep in mind that some ideas like “key phrase analysis” may slot in multiple class.
Step 5: Increase and revise.
I’ll deal with this idea map as my first model. The extra time I spend brainstorming concepts, the extra subcategories I can add.
I may increase my map to incorporate “URL construction,” “inner linking,” “indexing,” and “safety” — all of which relate to search engine optimization optimization.
Additionally, as talked about earlier, it’s vital to establish relationships between completely different classes. For instance, I may create a hyperlink between “search engine optimization instruments” and “key phrases,” as the info from the search engine optimization instruments I take advantage of will affect my key phrase choice and inform my total search engine optimization technique.
In the event you’re a content material marketer like I’m, here’s a content material mapping template that will help you arrange your work.
One of the simplest ways to create an idea map is to make use of a ready-made template.
I like brainstorming, however typically I generate so many concepts that I get misplaced, and inside 5 minutes, I’ve forgotten half of what I got here up with.
An idea map is a superb instrument for organizing your ideas and concepts. It helps with exploring a particular matter intimately, making certain a deep understanding. You can begin small, and increase in your map as you generate extra concepts.
