Step 1: Identify the Source Context ⚙️

Determine the overall theme or area you want to focus on. This is the broader environment in which your content will exist.

Example: Let's consider a comparison website focusing on "Mobile Phone Reviews".

Step 2: Identify the Central Entity 🔎

Pinpoint the main subject or object that is central to your content.

Example: The central entity is "Mobile Phone".

Step 3: Research the Ontology and Taxonomy of the Central Entity 🗂️

Understand how your central entity is structured and related to other concepts.

Ontology Example:

Let's map out the main concepts and entities related to Mobile Phone:

• Types of Mobile Phones: Smartphones, Feature Phones
• Operating Systems: iOS, Android
• Brands: Apple, Samsung, Google, Huawei, OnePlus
• Features: Camera, Battery Life, Display, Processor, RAM, Storage
• Accessories: Cases, Chargers, Earphones
• User Segments: Gamers, Photographers, Business Users, Budget Shoppers

Taxonomy Example:

Organize these concepts into categories and subcategories:

• Mobile Phones
  • By Brand
    • Apple: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro
    • Samsung: Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20
  • By Operating System
    • iOS Devices
    • Android Devices
  • By Feature
    • Camera Phones: High megapixel count, multiple lenses
    • Gaming Phones: High refresh rate screens, powerful GPUs
    • Budget Phones: Affordable pricing, essential features

Step 4: Identify the Central Search Intent 🎯

Determine what the majority of users are looking to achieve when they search for your central entity.

Example: Users are looking to "Find and Compare the Best Mobile Phones" to make an informed purchase decision.

Step 5: Research Buyer Personas or Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) 👥

Understand who your target audience is by researching their demographics, needs, and behaviors.

Example:

• Tech Enthusiast Tom: Always looking for the latest and greatest in technology. Prioritizes cutting-edge features and high performance.
• Budget-Conscious Bella: Seeks affordable phones that offer the best value for money without unnecessary frills.
• Photographer Phil: Needs a phone with an exceptional camera to capture professional-quality photos.
• Business Professional Priya: Requires a reliable phone with strong security features and productivity tools.
• Gamer Gary: Wants a phone with high processing power and graphics capabilities for mobile gaming.

Step 6: Determine the Core Section 📝

Identify the main content areas that directly relate to your central entity.

Example:

• Mobile Phone Reviews: In-depth reviews of the latest mobile phones.
• Brands: Dedicated sections for each major brand.
• Deals: Latest promotions and discounts on mobile phones.
• Categories/Features: Phones categorized by features like camera quality, battery life, etc.
• Buying Guides: Advice on choosing the right phone based on user needs.

Step 7: Determine the Outer Section 📚

Find supplementary content that supports or enhances the core sections.

Example:

• Mobile Phone News/Updates/Rumours: Articles on upcoming phone releases and industry news.
• How-to Guides: Tutorials on using phone features or troubleshooting common issues.
• Mobile Phone Accessories: Reviews and recommendations for cases, chargers, earbuds, etc.

Step 8: Identify Authority Sources 🏆

Research leading websites or platforms that cover similar topics extensively and have high search traffic.

Examples:

• GSMArena: Known for comprehensive phone specifications and user reviews.
• PhoneArena: Offers news, reviews, and comparisons of mobile phones.
• TechRadar: Provides technology news and in-depth reviews.
• CNET: Features expert reviews and how-to guides on tech products.

Step 9: Reverse-Engineer the Main Authority Source 🔄

Choose a primary authority source to model your content strategy after.

Example: Decide to reverse-engineer GSMArena to understand their content structure, topical coverage, and SEO strategies with the goal of being classified similarly in future Broad Core Algorithm Updates.

Step 10: Finalize the Outcomes (Derived and Related Entities) ✅

Compile a list of all main topics, subtopics, and related concepts.

Derived Entities:

• Smartphones
• Feature Phones
• Foldable Phones

Related Entities:

• Mobile Operating Systems: iOS, Android
• Mobile Apps: Productivity apps, gaming apps
• Network Carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile
• Accessories: Wireless chargers, earbuds

Step 11: Gather Data (Queries, Phrases, Topics, Attributes, Questions) 📊

Collect relevant data using various techniques and sources.

Techniques:

• Manual Research
• Historical Data Extraction
• Query Semantics
• Lexical Semantics
• Authority Source "Hacking" (Competitor Analysis)
• Token Insertion for the Entity

Sources:

• Google Search Console (GSC)
• Search Engines: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo
• LLMs: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot
• Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikigraph
• Identified Authority Sources
• Third-Party Keyword Research Tools: Ahrefs, Semrush

Step 12: Extract Data from Google Search Console (GSC) 🔍

Retrieve queries and page URLs related to your identified entities.

Techniques:

• Filter queries that contain the entity, e.g., "mobile phone reviews," "best mobile phones."
• Filter page URLs that contain the entity, e.g., /mobile-phone-reviews/.

Step 13: Conduct Search Engine Results Page (SERP) Analysis 📈

Examine SERPs for additional insights.

Search Suggestions (Autocomplete):

When typing "best mobile phone," suggestions like "best mobile phone 2024," "best mobile phone under $500," "best mobile phone battery life" appear.

Related Searches:

At the bottom of the SERP for "mobile phone reviews," related searches include "smartphone reviews," "latest mobile phones," "top 10 mobile phones".

People Also Ask (PAA):

Questions like "Which is the No 1 phone in 2024?", "What is the best budget smartphone?"

Knowledge Panels:

For specific models like "iPhone 15", showing specs, release date, and images.

Step 14: Research Related Entities and Attributes Using Language Models 🤖

Use AI tools to expand your list of related concepts.

Prompt 1 Example:

Input: "List all the entities, nouns, and relationships related to 'Mobile Phone.'"

Output:

• Entities: Battery, Display, Processor, Camera, RAM, Storage, Operating System.
• Brands: Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi.
• Relationships: Mobile phones have batteries, run operating systems, are made by brands.

Prompt 2 Example:

Input: "List all the lexical relations of 'Mobile Phone.'"

Output:

• Synonyms: Cell phone, Smartphone.
• Hyponyms: Feature phone, Satellite phone.
• Hypernyms: Communication device, Electronic device.
• Meronyms: Screen, Battery, SIM card.

Step 15: Analyze Wikipedia and Related Data Sources 📖

Explore comprehensive information about your central entity.

Wikipedia Example:

Table of Contents for "Smartphone" Article:

• Introduction
• History
• Hardware
• Components
• Battery
• Sensors
• Software
• Operating Systems
• User Interface
• Applications
• Impact on Society

Categories:

• Mobile phones, Smartphones, Mobile technology.

References:

• Links to studies, news articles, and official releases.

Step 16: Extract N-grams from Authority Sources 📝

Use web crawlers to extract common phrases and terms.

Examples:

• Page Titles:
  • "Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Review: A Powerhouse Phone"
  • "iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14: Should You Upgrade?"
• H1 Headings:
  • "Top 10 Mobile Phones of 2024"
  • "The Ultimate Buying Guide for Budget Smartphones"
• Image ALT Tags:
  • "Front view of iPhone 15"
  • "Comparison of smartphone screen sizes"
• Internal Link Anchor Texts:
  • "Read our full review"
  • "Best phones for photography"

Step 17: Analyze Authority Source Topical Coverage 📑

Assess the range of topics covered by authority sources.

Example:

• Exported Organic Queries from Ahrefs:
• "Best camera phones"
• "Latest Android updates"
• "Smartphone battery life comparison"
• Top Pages with Keywords and Volume:
• Page: /reviews/iphone-15-pro-max
  Top Keyword: "iPhone 15 Pro Max review"
  Volume: 50,000 searches/month
• Page: /best/cheap-smartphones
  Top Keyword: "Best budget smartphones"
  Volume: 40,000 searches/month

Step 18: Export Data from Third-Party Keyword Research Tools 🛠️

Gather keyword data to understand search demand.

Ahrefs Terms Match Report:

• Keyword: "mobile phone deals"
  Volume: 30,000 searches/month
• Keyword: "smartphone comparison"
  Volume: 25,000 searches/month

Semrush Broad Match Report:

• Keyword: "best mobile phone 2024"
  Volume: 20,000 searches/month
• Keyword: "latest mobile phones"
  Volume: 15,000 searches/month

Step 19: Compile All Query Data 📋

Gather all the queries related to your central and related entities.

Examples:

• "Best camera phones 2024"
• "How to transfer data to new iPhone"
• "Android vs iOS which is better"
• "Upcoming mobile phones"
• "Mobile phone battery life tips"

Step 20: Finalize Query Templates ✍️

Develop templates for common query structures identified during your research.

Examples:

• "Best [Feature] [Entity]" (e.g., "Best battery life smartphones")
• "How to [Action] on [Device]" (e.g., "How to screenshot on Samsung Galaxy S22")
• "[Entity] vs [Entity]" (e.g., "iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S22")
• "Is [Entity] worth buying?"
• "When is [Entity] releasing?"

Step 21: Separate Query Data and Query Templates 📂

Organize your findings by differentiating between raw queries and the templates they fit into.

Query Data Examples:

• "Best mobile phones under $500"
• "How to improve mobile phone battery life"
• "OnePlus 10 Pro release date"

Query Templates:

• "Best [Entity] under [Price]"
• "How to [Action] [Feature]"
• "[Brand] [Model] [Query]"

Step 22: Repeat Data Gathering for Each Related Entity 🔁

For each significant related entity, repeat the data gathering process to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Example for "Mobile Phone Accessories":

• Queries:
  • "Best wireless earbuds for iPhone"
  • "Top phone cases for Samsung Galaxy"
  • "Do screen protectors really work?"
• Query Templates:
  • "Best [Accessory] for [Device]"
  • "Top [Accessory Type] for [Brand]"

Step 23: Assign Search Volume to Query Data 📊

Use keyword tools to determine the popularity of each query.

Examples:

• "Best mobile phones under $500" — Volume: 18,000 searches/month
• "How to improve mobile phone battery life" — Volume: 12,000 searches/month
• "OnePlus 10 Pro release date" — Volume: 8,000 searches/month

Step 24: Organize Gathered Query Data 🗒️

Create a spreadsheet with the following columns.

Example:

        Query                        | Search Volume | Competing Document URLs             | Technique         | Source
        -----------------------------|---------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------
        Best mobile phones under $500| 18,000        | URL1 (TechRadar), URL2 (CNET)         | Authority Hacking | Ahrefs
        How to improve mobile phone battery life| 12,000| URL3 (GSMArena), URL4 (PhoneArena) | SERP Analysis     | Semrush
        OnePlus 10 Pro release date  | 8,000         | URL5 (Official Site), URL6 (Android Authority)| Query Semantics | Google Suggest
            

Step 25: Find Competing Document URLs 🌐

Identify existing content that ranks for your queries.

Example:

Query: "Best mobile phones under $500"

Competing URLs:

• https://www.techradar.com/best/best-cheap-phones
• https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-budget-smartphones/

Step 26: Conduct SERP-Based Query Clustering 🔀

Group similar queries based on search results to form topics.

Example:

Cluster: Battery Life Optimization

Queries:

• "How to improve mobile phone battery life"
• "Tips to extend smartphone battery"
• "Why does my phone battery die so fast"

Total Search Volume: 12,000 + 7,000 + 5,000 = 24,000

Step 27: Remove Irrelevant Topics and Queries ❌

Filter out less relevant or low-value queries.

Criteria:

• Irrelevant Query: "How to make a mobile phone jammer" - Removed due to illegality and misalignment with content goals.
• Low Popularity Query: "History of rotary dial phones" - Removed due to low search volume and relevance.

Step 28: Categorize the Topics 🗃️

Optionally, add categories to better organize your topics.

Example:

• Topic | Attribute | Page Type | Content Format | Sales Funnel Stage
• Battery Life Optimization | Battery | How-to Guide | Listicle | Middle of Funnel
• Best Mobile Phones under $500 | Price | Listicle | Product Roundup | Bottom of Funnel
• OnePlus 10 Pro Release Date | Release Dates | News/Update | Article | Top of Funnel

Step 29: Finalize the Raw Topical Map 🗺️

Compile all organized data into a comprehensive topical map.

Example:

• Topic | Queries | Search Demand | Relevance | Prominence
• Battery Life Optimization | "How to improve mobile phone battery life", "Tips to extend smartphone battery" | 24,000 | High | High
• Best Mobile Phones under $500 | "Best mobile phones under $500", "Top budget smartphones" | 28,000 | High | High
• OnePlus 10 Pro Release Date | "OnePlus 10 Pro release date", "When is OnePlus 10 Pro coming out" | 8,000 | Medium | Medium

Step 30: Create a Processed Topical Map 🎨

Enhance your topical map by adding key content elements and administrative details.

Example:

• Topic | Core/Outer Section | Title Tag | URL Slug | Meta Description | Image ALTs | Image URLs | Publication Date | Publication Status | Author | Content Brief URL | Content URL
• Battery Life Optimization | Core | "How to Improve Your Mobile Phone Battery Life" | /how-to-improve-phone-battery-life | "Discover effective tips to extend your smartphone's battery life." | "Phone battery icon", "Battery settings screenshot" | img1.jpg, img2.jpg | 01/15/2024 | Draft | Jane Doe | /briefs/battery-life | /content/battery-life
• Best Mobile Phones under $500 | Core | "Top 10 Best Mobile Phones Under $500 in 2024" | /best-phones-under-500 | "Explore the best affordable smartphones available in 2024." | "Collage of budget smartphones" | img3.jpg | 01/20/2024 | Draft | John Smith | /briefs/phones-under-500 | /content/phones-under-500

Step 31: Finalize Columns for Your Topical Map ✅

Ensure your topical map includes all necessary columns for execution and tracking.

Example:

• Topic | Core/Outer Section | Title Tag | URL Slug | Meta Description | Image ALTs | Image URLs | Publication Date | Publication Status | Child Topics | Search Demand | Relevance | Prominence | Competing Document URLs | Attribute | Product | Page Type | Technique | Source
• Battery Life Optimization | Core | "How to Improve Your Mobile Phone Battery Life" | /how-to-improve-phone-battery-life | "Discover effective tips to extend your smartphone's battery life." | "Phone battery icon", "Battery settings screenshot" | img1.jpg, img2.jpg | 01/15/2024 | Draft | "Battery Saving Apps", "Battery Calibration" | 24,000 | High | High | URL3 (GSMArena), URL4 (PhoneArena) | Battery | Smartphones | How-to Guide | SERP Analysis | Semrush
• Best Mobile Phones under $500 | Core | "Top 10 Best Mobile Phones Under $500 in 2024" | /best-phones-under-500 | "Explore the best affordable smartphones available in 2024." | "Collage of budget smartphones" | img3.jpg | 01/20/2024 | Draft | "Budget Camera Phones", "Affordable Gaming Phones" | 28,000 | High | High | URL1 (TechRadar), URL2 (CNET) | Price | Various | Listicle | Authority Hacking | Ahrefs
• OnePlus 10 Pro Release Date | Outer | "OnePlus 10 Pro Release Date and Features" | /oneplus-10-pro-release-date | "Get the latest updates on the OnePlus 10 Pro release date and specs." | "OnePlus 10 Pro mockup image" | img4.jpg | 01/10/2024 | Published | "OnePlus 10 Pro vs. Competition" | Release Dates | OnePlus 10 Pro | News/Update | Query Semantics | Google Suggest

By following these steps with detailed examples, you've created a comprehensive topical map tailored to a mobile phone review website. This map includes core and outer sections, targets user intents, aligns with buyer personas, and is structured for optimal SEO performance. It serves as a strategic blueprint for content creation, ensuring that you cover all relevant topics and effectively meet your audience's needs.

Feel free to adjust and expand upon this framework to suit your specific goals and the nuances of your project.