How To Create A Topical Map For SEO In 2025 (Step-By-Step)

You've written hundreds of blog posts. Yet your website isn't ranking. Your content isn't getting the traffic it deserves? Well, the problem might be your website lacks enough topical authority.

Creating random blog posts won't help you rank anymore. You need a strong content strategy that connects your posts together. That's where topical mapping comes in. It helps you plan content that ranks, builds authority, and drives traffic.

Let’s dive in and see what topical maps are, why they matter for SEO, and how you create them step-by-step.

What Is A Topical Map in SEO?

A topical map is a strategic document that outlines the main topics and subtopics your website should cover to establish authority in your niche.

Your topical map needs three key elements to work. First, a primary topic—the main subject you want to be known for. Second, subtopics that support your main topic. Third, content pieces that cover each subtopic in detail.

How Do Topical Maps Help In Rankings?

Google rewards websites that show expertise in particular topics. When you create content following a topical map, you build this expertise systematically. Your articles support each other. They link naturally. They answer related questions. This sends strong signals to Google about your site's authority.

A well-planned topical map helps you:

• Target the right keywords in the right order

• Cover topics comprehensively

• Create content clusters that support each other

• Build natural internal linking opportunities

• Fill content gaps your competitors missed

Beyond improved rankings, topical maps offer powerful advantages for planning your content strategy.

Benefits For Content Planning

Topical mapping transforms your content creation process. You'll stop guessing what to write about. Each piece of content has a clear purpose. You'll know exactly how it fits into your larger SEO strategy.

With a topical map, you can:

• Plan 6-12 months of content in advance

• Prioritize content that builds authority fastest

• Create content that naturally ranks for multiple keywords

• Build a content calendar that makes sense

• Focus your resources on topics that matter most

Websites using topical maps often see better results. Their pages rank for more keywords. They need less backlinks to rank. Their content stays relevant longer. Most importantly, they build lasting organic traffic that grows over time.

While these benefits are worth knowing, let’s take a quick look at why creating a topical is essential for your website, along with examples.

Why Do You Need A Topical Map?

A topical map transforms how you plan and create content. Most websites publish random articles about their topic. They might write about "best coffee machines" one day and "how to brew espresso" the next. This scattered approach doesn't work anymore.

1. Improve Content Clustering

Content clusters help you own specific topics in your niche. Let's take a coffee website as an example.

Instead of random articles, you map out clusters like "espresso brewing," "coffee beans," and "brewing equipment." Each cluster has a main topic and supporting articles.

Your espresso cluster might include:

• Main article: Complete Guide to Espresso Brewing

• Supporting articles: Espresso Machine Types, Perfect Espresso Grind Size, Espresso Shot Timing, Milk Frothing Techniques

Each article links to others in the cluster. This creates a clear structure Google understands. When someone searches for espresso-related topics, Google sees your site covers the topic fully.

2. Build Topical Authority

Topical authority means Google trusts your website as an expert on specific topics. Take a website about indoor plants for example. Instead of writing about every plant topic, they focus on "succulent care." Their topical map includes detailed guides about:

• Different succulent types

• Watering schedules

• Soil requirements

• Light needs

• Common problems

• Propagation methods

By covering succulents deeply, they rank for hundreds of related keywords. Their articles appear in featured snippets. Other websites link to them as an authority. This happened because they planned their content with a topical map.

3. Better Internal Linking

A topical map creates natural internal linking opportunities between your articles. Take a fitness website focusing on running for example. Their article about "running shoes" naturally links to:

• Types of running shoes

• Best running shoes

• How to choose the best running shoes

These links help readers find related information. They also help Google understand how your content connects. This boosts rankings for all articles in the cluster.

4. Enhanced User Experience

Users want complete information about topics. A good topical map helps you deliver this. A cooking website's "bread baking" section includes everything a beginner needs:

• Main guide covers the basics.

• Supporting articles explain each step in detail.

• Informative guides answer common questions.

• Problem-solving guides solve actual issues.

• Recipe variations keep readers interested.

This structured approach keeps readers on your site longer. They find answers to all their questions. They don't need to visit other websites.

Google notices this improved user experience and naturally, ranks your content higher.

Now let’s see how you can create your topical map in a step-by-step way.

Step-By-Step Guide To Creating Your Topical Map

1. Identify Your Main Topic

Your main topic needs to be broad enough to create multiple content pieces but focused enough to establish authority. Let’s say you run a fitness blog. "Fitness" is too broad. "Running Gear" works better. "Running Shoes" is even better for a new website.

To pick your main topic, start with these questions:

• What do you know most about?

• What problems can you solve?

• What topics get steady search traffic?

• Which topics have reasonable competition?

Check Google Search Console if you have an existing website. Look for topics where you already rank on pages 2-3. These topics show potential—Google sees your site as somewhat relevant. You just need more content depth.

Competition Research Tip: Search for your main topic in Google. Look at the top 10 results. Can you create better content? Can you cover topics they missed? If yes, you've found a good main topic.

2. Research Related Subtopics

This step uncovers what Google considers relevant to your main topic. Let’s use "Running Shoes" as our example. Here’s how to find subtopics:

Google's People Also Ask

Search "Running Shoes" and check the questions that come up. You'll find subtopics like:

• Best running shoes for beginners

• Running shoes for flat feet

• How to choose the right running shoe size

• Differences between road and trail running shoes

Google Autosuggestions

Type your main topic and note Google’s suggestions. Add each letter of the alphabet after your topic:

• “Running shoes a…”

• “Running shoes b…”

• “Running shoes c…”

This reveals topics people search for.

Competitor Content

Check the top 5 websites ranking for your main topic. Look at their:

• Navigation menu categories

• Blog post categories

• Popular articles

• Site structure

Create a spreadsheet to organize your findings. Put your main topic at the top. List subtopics below. Mark topics that appear multiple times in your research. These repeated topics often show high user interest.

Pro Tip: Use Reddit and Facebook Groups to find real questions people ask. These questions often reveal subtopics Google data misses. Type your main topic in Reddit search. Sort by "Top—All Time" to find the most engaged discussions.

3. Find Supporting Topics

Supporting topics add depth to your subtopics. These become your actual blog posts. Let's continue with our "Running Shoes" example, focusing on the "Choosing the Right Shoes" subtopic.

Open a new spreadsheet tab for each subtopic. For "Choosing the Right Shoes", your supporting topics might include:

• How to measure your foot size for running shoes

• Differences between racing and training shoes

• Best budget-friendly running shoes

Pro Tip: Check the top 3 results for each supporting topic. Notice the content type. Some topics need step-by-step guides. Others work better as comparison posts. Match your content type to what ranks.

You can also scroll to the bottom of search results for each subtopic. You'll find connected topics you might miss otherwise. Save these in your spreadsheet.

Keyword Research Bonus:

Use the Keywords Everywhere tool to check search volume. Focus on topics with 100-1,000 monthly searches. These topics often have good traffic but lower competition.

4. Map Content Topics

Content relationships show how your topics connect. This step creates your internal linking structure. Open a new document. List your main topic at the top. Draw lines to connect related topics.

For our Running Shoes example:

Main Article: "Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Running Shoes"

• Connects to: Best Running Shoes for Beginners

• Best Running Shoes article connects to: Best Shoes for Long Distance Running

• Long Distance Running article connects to: How to Break in New Running Shoes

Topic Clusters:

Group related supporting topics together. Your "Running Shoes" cluster includes:

• Main guide (pillar content)

• Specific shoe recommendations

• Buying guides

• Maintenance tips

• Performance-based comparisons

Each content piece should connect to at least 2-3 other articles. These connections create natural internal linking opportunities. Mark these connections in your spreadsheet with a new column called "Related Content."

Priority Setting:

Label each supporting topic as:

• Priority 1: Essential content (create first)

• Priority 2: Important expansion topics

• Priority 3: Nice-to-have content

This helps you plan your content calendar. Start with Priority 1 topics. These build your foundation. Move to Priority 2 and 3 as your site grows.

Pro Tip: Look for supporting topics that fit multiple clusters. A "Best Running Shoes for Overpronation" article fits both shoe selection and injury prevention clusters. These multi-cluster topics strengthen your overall topic authority.

5. Plan Content Hierarchy

Content hierarchy creates a clear path for both users and search engines. Think of your content in three levels. Level 1 contains your main guide. Level 2 has detailed guides about specific aspects. Level 3 covers individual topics in depth.

Main Guide Structure: Create a comprehensive guide for each main topic. For our Running Shoes example:

• Level 1: Complete Running Shoe Buying Guide

• Level 2: Choosing the Right Shoes, Shoe Types, Running Shoe Maintenance

• Level 3: Specific articles about each Level 2 topic

Your main guide should be at least 2,500 words. Break it into clear sections. Each section previews what users will find in your detailed guides. Add internal links to these guides naturally in your content.

Content Length Matters:

Longer content often ranks better, but every topic has an ideal length. Check the word count of top-ranking posts for each topic. Your content should match or exceed these lengths.

• Most Level 2 guides need 1,500-2,000 words.

• Level 3 articles usually need 1,000-1,500 words.

6. Organize Internal Links

Internal links pass authority between your pages. You need a plan for these links. Start with your main guide. Link to each Level 2 guide where it makes sense. Each Level 2 guide links to related Level 3 articles.

Link Placement Tips:

• Add links early in your content

• Use relevant anchor text

• Link between related topics

• Include 3-5 internal links per 1,000 words

The Running Shoe Maintenance Guide links to:

• How to Clean Running Shoes (when discussing care)

• How Long Do Running Shoes Last? (in durability section)

• Best Insoles for Running Shoes (for comfort enhancements)

URL Structure:

Use your hierarchy in your URLs:

• Main guide: /running-shoes-guide/

• Level 2: /running-shoes/choosing/

• Level 3: /running-shoes/choosing/best-for-flat-feet/

This structure helps users and search engines understand how your content connects.

Pro Tip: Create a spreadsheet to track your internal links. Update it monthly to find linking opportunities you missed.

Now that you know the entire process of creating a topical map, let’s explore the tools that can make your topical map creation easier and effective.

Tools To Create Topical Maps

Using AI Tools

ChatGPT offers a quick way to generate initial topic ideas.

Start with a simple prompt: "List the main subtopics for [your main topic]." Then ask it to expand each subtopic with supporting topics. The key is to verify these suggestions with real search data.

Here’s an effective ChatGPT Prompt you can try:

"I'm creating content about [main topic]. What are the 10 most important subtopics I should cover? For each subtopic, what are 5 specific questions users ask about it?"

For example, here’s what it actually looks like when you try the prompt in ChatGPT using the main topic of running shoes:

Now, with this method, it’s not necessary that you’ll get all the perfect keywords for your topical map. But you can definitely get a lot of great content ideas. And combine it with manual research, and your knowledge about the topic—you’ll have an effective SEO topical map right away!

AI tools help you discover topics fast. But they often miss important details.

• Check AI suggestions against Google search results.

• Look for topics AI missed and think from your own experience about the topic.

• Add topics that real users ask about.

Here are some of the other topic Research Tools you can use while creating your SEO topical map:

• AnswerThePublic shows actual user questions

• KeywordTool.io reveals Google autocomplete suggestions

• AlsoAsked.com displays related questions from Google

Manual Process

The manual process takes more time but gives better results. Start with a blank spreadsheet. Create four columns: Main Topic, Subtopics, Supporting Topics, and Related Keywords.

Spreadsheet Setup: First tab: Topic Overview

• List your main topic

• Add subtopics from Google's first page

• Note featured snippet topics

• Record "People Also Ask" questions

Second tab: Content Ideas

• Break each subtopic into article ideas

• Add search volume data

• Mark competition level

• Note user intent

Google Search Process: Search your main topic. Open the top 10 results in new tabs. Check each site's:

• Navigation menu

• Blog categories

• Popular posts

• Related articles sections

Write down topics that appear multiple times. These show what Google considers relevant to your topic.

Topic Organization: Use free mind mapping tools. Start with your main topic in the center. Add branches for each subtopic. Connect related topics with lines. The visual map will help you spot gaps in your content plan.

Pro Tip: Create a separate spreadsheet tab called "Competitor Analysis." List your top 3 competitors. Track their:

• Main topic categories

• Recent blog posts

• Most shared content

• Featured snippet wins

This shows you topics that work well in your niche. Look for gaps in their coverage. These gaps become your opportunities to create unique content.

While having the right set of tools is important, it is also essential to know what common mistakes to avoid during the process.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Creating Topical Maps

1. Going Too Broad

Many websites try to cover everything about their topic at once. Consider a digital marketing website. They might target "SEO," "social media," "email marketing," and "paid ads" all at once. This spreads their content too thin. Google won't see them as an expert in any single area.

Take SEO content for example. When a website focuses only on technical SEO topics like site speed, core web vitals, and server optimization, they can rank faster. Their content shows clear expertise in one area. This focused approach works better than trying to cover every SEO topic at once.

2. Ignoring Search Intent

Search intent mistakes hurt your rankings. Let's look at the keyword "email marketing software." A website might create a detailed guide about how email marketing works. But users searching this term want to compare different software options. The content won't rank because it doesn't match what users want.

Another example: People searching "WordPress themes" want to browse different themes and find the best one for their site. They don't want to learn how themes work or how to create them. So, matching your content to what users expect to find is really important.

3. Lack Of Proper Organization

Your content needs clear structure. Many sites put their articles into basic categories like "Guides" or "Tips." This confuses both users and Google. Every piece of content should connect to others in a logical way.

Consider an SEO website's structure.

• Poor organization puts "Core Web Vitals Guide" in a general "Technical SEO" category.

• Better organization looks like: Technical SEO > Core Web Vitals > LCP > Specific Optimization Tips. This creates clear paths users can follow.

4. Incomplete Research

Quick keyword research misses valuable opportunities. Let's say you're creating content about WordPress security. Basic keyword research shows terms like "WordPress security plugins" and "how to secure WordPress." But deeper research reveals topics like:

• WordPress security headers configuration

• WordPress admin URL protection

• Two-factor authentication setup

These topics might have lower search volume but higher conversion rates. Users searching these terms often need immediate solutions.

Pro Research Tip: Create a research checklist:

1. Keyword tools data

2. Google search features

3. Social media discussions

4. Competitor content gaps

5. User questions on forums

6. Product reviews

7. Industry news sites

Complete each step before finalizing your topic map. This thorough approach finds valuable topics others miss. Look for questions in WordPress support forums, GitHub discussions, and Stack Exchange. These sources often reveal problems users need help solving.

Now that you know what all mistakes you need to avoid while creating topical maps, let’s see how you can turn your topical map keywords into SEO-optimized content.

Turn Your Topical Map Into High-Quality SEO Content

You've created your topical map. Great work. But now comes the challenge—creating all that content. Writing 20-30 high-quality articles that rank takes months. You need a faster way to turn your topical map into SEO-optimized content.

Create SEO Content Fast

Creating content for an entire topical map requires a system. SEOWriting helps you create multiple SEO-optimized articles quickly. You can generate articles for your entire topic cluster at once with the Bulk SEO Content feature. Each article follows your brand voice and SEO requirements.

The content matches search intent because the AI understands what users want to find. It adds proper headings, formatting, and internal links automatically. This saves hours of manual formatting work.

Maintain Consistent Quality

Quality matters more than quantity. SEOWriting's Brand Voice Customizer keeps your content consistent. Set your preferred tone, style, and writing guidelines once. Every article follows these rules. This builds trust with readers and search engines.

The Readability Enhancer ensures your content stays easy to understand. It breaks down complex topics into simple language. Short paragraphs and clear headings make your content skimmable. This reduces bounce rates and increases time on page.

Optimize For Search Engines

SEO optimization happens automatically. The tool adds relevant NLP Keywords to help your content rank. These keywords flow naturally in the text. No keyword stuffing or awkward phrases.

Auto Internal Linking connects your articles together. This strengthens your topic clusters. Search engines understand your content structure better. Users find related content easily. This improves rankings for your entire topic cluster.

Save Time And Speed Up Your Workflow

WordPress integration saves more time. Articles post directly to your blog with proper formatting. The AI Image Generator adds relevant images automatically. You can customize titles, meta descriptions, and URLs before publishing.

Content syndication helps you reach more readers. Turn your blog posts into social media content automatically. Different formats work better on different platforms. The tool adapts your content for each platform's requirements.

Your topical map shows what to create. SEOWriting helps you create it faster. Focus on planning your content strategy. Let the tool handle the writing and optimization work. This combination helps you build topical authority quickly and efficiently.

Final Thoughts

Creating a topical map transforms your content strategy. Instead of random blog posts, you build connected content that strengthens your entire website. Each article supports others in its cluster. This creates strong topic relevance that Google rewards with better rankings.

Your topical map guides your content creation. You know exactly what to write next. You understand how topics connect. You build authority systematically. This structured approach saves time and improves results. No more guessing what content to create or how to organize it.

Ready to turn your topical map into high-ranking content? Try SEOWriting for free!

FAQs

1. How long does it take to create a complete topical map?

A basic topical map takes 2-3 days to create. You'll spend the first day researching your main topic and subtopics. The second day involves organizing these topics into clusters. If you have a larger website, you might need an extra day to analyze competitors and find content gaps.

2. How many subtopics should I include in my topical map?

Focus on 3-5 main subtopic clusters with 5-10 supporting articles in each cluster. Start small and expand over time. This gives you 15-50 total articles to create. Each cluster should cover one specific aspect of your main topic completely.

3. Should I create all the content at once or spread it out?

Create your pillar content first, then publish 2-3 supporting articles each week. This steady publishing schedule helps search engines understand your site better. It also gives you time to update your topical map based on how your content performs.

Prit Centrago Prit is an SEO Content Specialist and Copywriter. His work has helped SaaS brands across multiple industries reach more customers worldwide. When not involved in writing or planning content strategies, you'll find him reading books with a cup of coffee.