Content Mapping

Content mapping turns an inventory and audit into something visual, a representation of how pages and content objects relate to each other, which is often far easier to reason about than rows in a spreadsheet. A map might show an entire information hierarchy, just its upper levels, an individual section in detail, or a specific page type's internal components for content reuse. Teams often build these with boxes and arrows, or physically with Post-it notes on a wall that can be rearranged and photographed as the structure evolves.

A content map becomes most useful when paired with usage-data analytics, overlaying what's actually popular or struggling onto the visual structure reveals patterns that neither the map nor the analytics would show on their own.

A spreadsheet tells you what exists. A map tells you what's actually connected to what, and it's often the second question that reveals where a structure has quietly gone wrong.

Exercise

The scenario: A content map for a professional training company's website shows six sections. Five of the sections link richly to each other, course pages link to related courses, instructor bios, and testimonials. The sixth section, a resource library of downloadable guides, has no incoming or outgoing links to or from any other section; it exists as an isolated cluster on the map, reachable only through one link on the homepage. User research shows people rarely find the resource library, and once they do, they never navigate from it back into the course catalog.

What does the content map reveal here that the user complaints alone might not have made as clear?
Try It With Your Data: Gap Analysis

Fill in your own details below; the prompt updates as you type. When it's ready, copy it into Claude or whatever AI tool you use.

What this prompt is made of (RICE breakdown)
R

Role

Casts the AI as: You're a content strategist analyzing content coverage and identifying gaps.

I

Instructions

Names 4 specific outputs to produce, so the response comes back structured rather than a general summary.

C

Context

Product/service, Target users and Known pain points tell the AI what your specific situation is, not a generic one.

E

Expected format

Prioritized gap list with content recommendations

e.g. "our REST API documentation"
Summarize what you already have, by topic
What users are trying to do or ask
Features that may need docs
e.g. awareness through mastery
If applicable
Brief description
Audience segments
User complaints or support patterns
Assembled prompt