How to Create Web Maps
In many cases, a web map or site map is the last part of a website that is created. This is because it is designed to outline all of the other parts of the website and to make the site easy to navigate. The web map gives site visitors an easy-to-use guide to find what they are looking for quickly and easily on your site. It is important to have a plan in mind when creating a website, and a web map will help you bring together everything that you have created and keep it organized.
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Instructions
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Write up a list of the main categories that you plan to feature on your website. Take into consideration major categories and any subcategories that will be featured under them. For example, if your site is designed to sell auto parts, you can have main categories, such as brands of cars, then you can have subcategories under the brands, such as years, and then you can have further categories under years, such as particular parts.
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Utilize a web map applet, such as PowerMapper, to create your web map. The software will require you to enter your website address, and then it will analyze your site and create a map of it. Make sure that when you design your site, you properly name all of the pages you create so that the software can create an accurate map of your site.
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Use the mapping software to download the site map that it creates to your computer as an HTML file.
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Open the HTML file that you downloaded in an HTML editor and then copy and paste the categories and subcategories you created in the first step into the correct places within your web map. Save the file at this point.
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Use the uploader feature that your web hosting service offers or an FTP client to upload your newly created web map to your website. Add a link to your web map to the navigation list on each page of your website. Go through your finished site page by page and test every link to make that it links correctly. Repair any broken links you find to ensure that your website works properly.
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References
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- Photo Credit website layout image by 6922Designer from Fotolia.com
