Internal and External Uses of Taxonomy

A consistent, organization-wide taxonomy and metatagging strategy enables internal content management and site build processes as well as customer-facing features such as improved search, filtering, and personalization or other targeted content delivery mechanisms.

Taxonomy also ensures greater consistency of terminology across the site's navigation and content, resulting in a better user experience for customers.

The goals of a taxonomy and metadata strategy include

  • Organize information internally and externally
  • Assist users in searching for, finding, and using information
  • Provide information in context
  • Create a common, corporate-wide structure for creating, managing, and maintaining information
  • Clarify language and definitions across the organization
  • Improve search functionality
  • Allow for multiple access points to information:
    • By subject matter
    • By source
    • By item type (e.g., Word document, PPT, PDF, etc.)
    • By content type (e.g., white paper, news item, press release, etc.)

Once a taxonomy has been developed it can be used to drive elements of the website’s front-end organization, or UI design:

  • Navigation, including labeling
  • Major site sections, or content groupings
  • Section labels and definitions
  • Product categories and terminology