Happy Wednesday, fellow SEOers! Let’s keep rockin’ Information Architecture (IA) and search engine optimization (SEO). We are all over methodical SEO processes and practices here at Search Engine Academy, so IA is a natural fit for us to introduce you to.
Let’s get into classification schemes today. What this means is we are developing successive levels of our chosen terms for our websites. Also known as hierarchies, they can look a lot like a Yahoo type, easily browsable text directory, or we could talking the Dewey Decimal system used by most libraries around the world.
Classification schemes can be very handy for searching. I really like the Riley Guide. Here’s a great example that sends you to various places on the internet to avoid employment scams:
Employment Scam Classification of Websites
Since we can’t seem to get enough of cats on the internet, here’s a nice little classification guide layout:
Internet Cat Sites
The thing is, you can create a nice classification scheme almost any way you want, as long as it makes sense to your target audience. We’ll come back to more types of classification schemes a little later, but let’s talk about “thesauri” for a moment.
Thesauri
What exactly is a thesaurus? It’s a list or book that has related and contrasting words and antonyms, plus synonyms. It’s a way of finding alternate words that mean the same thing. I like using synonyms not only for SEO, but just to make my writing more interesting to the reader.
You can create a thesaurus for your website to connect network concepts (related themes), synonyms, hononyms, antonyms and more!
For websites, it’s usually a database of terms that helps map variations of words to one preferred term or concept. I like how “Information Architecture for the World Wide Web” defines a thesaurus:
“A controlled vocabulary in which equivalence, hierarchical, and associative relationships are identified for purposes of improved retrieval.”
The purpose of a thesaurus is to build upon simple controlled vocabularies to meet a wide range of needs. A preferred term is at the center of a semantic network, and the various relationships are illustrated by categories and subcategories. Look at this picture:
Illustration of A Semantic Relationship (Image courtesy of "Information Architecture for the World Wide Web" )
Now that you’ve come this far, if you are still interested in creating and implementing controlled vocabularies and thesauri, it’s time to get familiar with some of the terms you’ll run across. Again, from the wonderful book “Information Architecture for the World Wide Web” make note of these terms and definitions:
Preferred Term (PT)
Also known as the accepted term, acceptable value, subject heading, or descriptor. All relationships are defined with respect to the Preferred Term.
Variant Term (VT)
Also known as entry terms or non-preferred terms, Variant Terms have been defined as equivalent to or loosely synonymous with the Preferred Term.
Broader Term (BT)
The Broader Term is the parent of the Preferred Term. It’s one level higher in the hierarchy.
Narrower Term (NT)
A Narrower Term is a child of the Preferred Term. It’s one level lower in the hierarchy.
Related Term (RT)
The Related Term is connected to the Preferred Term through the associative relationship. The relationship is often articulated through use of See Also. For example, Tylenol See Also Headache.
Use (U)
Traditional thesauri often employ the following syntax as a tool for indexers and users: Variant Term Use Preferred Term. For example, Tilenol Use Tylenol. Many people are more familiar with See, as in Tilenol See Tylenol.
Used For (UF)
This indicates the reciprocal relationship of Preferred Term UF Variant Term(s). It’s used to show the full list of variants on the Preferred Term’s record. For example, Tylenol UF Tilenol.
Scope Note (SN)
The Scope Note is essentially a specific type of definition of the Preferred Term, used to deliberately restrict the meaning of that term in order to rule out ambiguity as much as possible.
Remember: the preferred term is at the center of the designated universe. But here’s something else to wrap your head around – that same term which is the preferred term for one relationship could be a related or variant term for another word or phrase. Let’s eyeball a nice picture from the “Information Architecture for the World Wide Web” since I really can’t draw for crap:
Semantic Relationship for Wine Terms
You may look at this and severely question the relationships shown. There’s no real right or wrong. Your subject matter expertise, judgement and the analysis of your target audience’s preferred terms will be the drivers.
Let’s stop right here for today. This is a lot to digest, and we are not done with discussing thesauri, not by a long shot. In the meantime, think about some of the relationships between keywords you use on your web pages, and if it makes sense for you to develop a thesaurus.
And speaking of keywords…if you are curious to know how to apply in-depth SEO to your website, join us somewhere on the planet and take one of our SEO training and certification classes real soon!
In the meantime, keep it between the ditches!
All the very best to you,
