3 Features Your Sitemap Builder Should Have
All sitemap builders are not created equally, which is why you should spend time making sure you get the right one. A good sitemap builder is invaluable. That is why it is not a good idea to choose on price alone. Because of the amount of time it could potentially save you, it’s value is not immediately apparent. Plus, there is no overall savings if the cheaper option ends up costing you more time.
That is why it is important to confirm your sitemap builder does the things you need it to. Otherwise, it is most likely a waste of money, and possibly also a waste of time. There are many potential features to look out for, but these three are an absolute must.
Visualize with colors, not just words
While a sitemap builder can make it easy to see exactly what is going on with your entire site, all of that information can get a bit confusing. This is especially true if your project is for an e-commerce website or has more pages than you can count on your fingers. You will need a way to logically organize the information you’ve gathered if you want to reasonably utilize it.
A visual sitemap takes the traditional sitemap a step further by assigning hierarchy and color to your sitemaps. With just one glance, you’ll be able to see not only which pages are included with your site but also where they are located in relationship to other pages. A visual sitemap generator makes it easy for non-designers to follow along with the planning of the website. Imagine the time you could save because you did not have to explain how to read your sitemap.
The ability to share
What good is a shiny new sitemap if it is impossible to share it with anyone? That is why you must consider sharing features when you are looking at a sitemap builder. When you have a sitemap that is not optimized for sharing, you are very limited on how well you can collaborate with others. This is because sitemap files are often quite large, making them difficult to transmit, and they frequently are not easy on the eyes either. A quality sitemap builder will be one that is not only readable by you but also by every other member of your website development team.
One website that does this well is Slickplan. Slickplan is an online sitemap builder that makes it easy to email, export or copy paste to a clipboard. Additionally, the sitemaps you create there are compatible with Basecamp, and you can even share them on social media. You might think you don’t need to share your sitemap on Twitter, but the minute you want to, but can’t, you’ll be wishing you could.
Collaborate to make it better
Sharing is great for seeking feedback, but filtering through your emails for that one comment from the client is not. That is why you must also look for sitemap builders that offer collaboration tools. These tools can include direct commenting, live chat, and group editing. They provide the ability to not only receive feedback but also apply that feedback to the project seamlessly.
When you use an online sitemap builder, this feature is quite common, but don’t forget to confirm its there before you commit to a membership. You’ll also want to check and see what kind of collaboration tools are offered. The ability to comment on a sitemap is a lot different than the capacity to live chat.
When comparing sitemap builders, you’ll like have plenty to choose from, so don’t be afraid to be picky. The best one will not only fit your budget- it will also fit your needs.