In this video, you will learn how to create an effective site map to plan the structure and organization of your website. By the end, you will be able to brainstorm and document the core pages, features, and customer journeys needed for your minimum viable product (MVP). Armed with this site map, you can then use the flexibility of AMP to incrementally build out your website and seamlessly expand it over time to meet evolving customer needs.
Here are the key things you will be able to do after you watch this demo:
Explain the purpose and importance of creating a site map to understand customer needs and build a seamless website experience
Describe the key elements of a site map, including the main site, blog, and membership sections
Demonstrate how to brainstorm and organize website content into a structured site map
Differentiate between a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and the final long-term vision for a website
Identify the core pages and features to include in an MVP site map, such as a home page, about page, services/portfolio, and contact page
Recognize the flexibility of AMP to handle unlimited content and organizational structures as the website grows over time
Apply the site mapping process to plan the customer journey and content for a specific business, such as Create Mode Media
Creating a Site Map: Introduction and Purpose (0:00)
Josh Lomelino explains the importance of understanding customer needs to build a seamless and frictionless website experience.
He references his book, "Smart Business Success," which covers defining customer needs and building a business around them.
Josh emphasizes the role of AMP in providing technical tools and strategy for defining customer needs and growing revenue.
The site map is introduced as a collection of organized content, including the main site, blog, and membership sections.
Site Map Structure and Initial Planning (1:34)
Josh discusses the structure of the site map, including the main site, blog, and membership sections.
He mentions the importance of breaking down the site map into more detailed funnels and lead magnets.
The initial focus is on executing the main site, with plans to expand into other areas like support mechanisms and customer journeys.
Josh plans to build out the customer journey for Create Mode Media, which will include video production services and an online membership.
Brainstorming and Organizing Content (3:29)
Josh explains the process of brainstorming and organizing content into a bulleted list in a Word or Google Doc.
He emphasizes the importance of thinking about what customers need and putting together a plan to meet those needs.
The site map is used as a brainstorming tool to identify and prioritize content and features.
Josh plans to produce a detailed site map and share it to show the final result and plan for structuring the site.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Planning (5:05)
Josh introduces the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and its importance in starting small and incrementally building the site.
He explains the analogy of starting with a skateboard and gradually moving to more complex vehicles to illustrate the MVP approach.
The MVP includes a home page, about page, services and products portfolio, and contact page.
Josh highlights the flexibility of AMP to handle any scale and the importance of starting with a simple MVP.
Finalizing the Site Map and Next Steps (6:39)
Josh reviews the final site map, which includes a home page, about page, services and products portfolio, contact page, and memberships.
He emphasizes the importance of the site map as a compass to guide the development process.
Josh mentions the flexibility of AMP to handle unlimited content items and different organizational structures.
He plans to show the technical steps to bring the site map to life in the next steps.