Topic clusters are a great way to organize your content and improve your SEO. But what exactly is a topic cluster? In this blog post, we will discuss topic clusters in depth and show you how to create your own!
What Is a Topic Cluster?
Topic cluster is a strategy used by many SEO and content marketers. The idea is to group together related topics (hence the name topic cluster) on a central “pillar” page, with each topic having its own sub-page. A pillar page is a comprehensive guide to a specific topic that covers all the subtopics within that topic cluster.
For example, let’s say you have a blog about dogs. Your pillar page could be titled “Everything You Need to Know About Dogs,” with topic cluster pages like “Dog Breeds,” “Training Tips,” and so on.
Not only does this make your site more user-friendly, but it also helps search engines understand your site better. When all of your dog-related content is centralized on one page, it’s easier for Google to see that your site is an authority on the subject. Moreover, topic clusters and pillar pages can help improve your website’s SEO by increasing the number of keywords you rank for and helping you earn more backlinks.
Why Use Topic Clusters?
There are many benefits to using topic clusters on your website. In addition to the improved SEO that we just discussed, topic clusters can also help you:
- Get more mileage out of your content: By repurposing existing content into new topic cluster pages, you can get more use out of the content you already have. This is a great way to improve your site without having to create all-new content from scratch.
- Create a better user experience: When users can quickly find what they’re looking for on your site, they’re more likely to stay longer and come back in the future. Topic clusters can help you achieve this by making it easy for users to navigate your site and find the information they need.
- Improve your conversion rates: A well-organized website with a clear focus can help you convert more visitors into leads or customers. If your goal is to sell products or services on your site, topic clusters can be a valuable tool in achieving this.
How to Create Topic Clusters
Now that we’ve discussed what topic clusters are and why you should use them, let’s talk about how to create them.
Do Your Research
Before you start creating content, research what kind of topics you want to include within your topic cluster. A great way to do this is to look at what your competitors are doing. What topics do they cover on their pillar pages? Are there any gaps in their content that you could fill? Once you have a good understanding of what’s already out there, you can start planning your own topic cluster.
Create Your Pillar Page
Your pillar page should be a comprehensive guide to your topic. So for a blog about hot beverages, your pillar page could be titled “Coffee” or “Tea” with topic cluster pages like “Types of Coffee,” “Brewing Tips,” and so on. Think of it as a family tree; there’s a parent (main page) with their child (a pillar page) who then has their own children (topic clusters). Be sure to include plenty of internal links to your topic cluster pages, as this will help search engines understand the relationship between your pages.
Create Your Topic Cluster Pages
Now it’s time to create your topic cluster pages! These should be focused, in-depth guides to each subtopic within your topic cluster. So if you’re writing about coffee, a topic cluster page could be titled “How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee.” Be sure to include plenty of relevant keywords and internal links back to your pillar page and similar topics.
The Bottom Line
Overall, topic clusters are a great way to organize your website content in a way that is both user-friendly and search engine friendly. If you have a large website with lots of content, implementing a topic cluster strategy can help you get the most out of your content and ensure that your site visitors can find what they’re looking for.