How to Write a Topical Map: Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to write and create a topical map that drives organic traffic. Includes the manual method, AI-assisted approach, and real examples you can follow.
Learning how to write a topical map is one of the most valuable SEO skills you can develop. A topical map transforms scattered content ideas into a strategic roadmap for building topical authority—and it's easier than you think.
This guide walks you through how to create a topical map step by step—whether you're writing one manually or using AI tools. By the end, you'll have a clear system for building topical maps that actually drive results.
Before You Start: Prerequisites
Before creating a topical map, you need three things:
1. A Clear Main Topic
Your main topic should be:
- • Specific enough to establish authority (not "marketing" but "email marketing for SaaS")
- • Broad enough to support 15-50 articles
- • Relevant to your business and target audience
- • Searchable — people actually look for information about it
Good vs Bad Topic Examples:
Good Topics:
- • Home coffee brewing
- • Kubernetes for beginners
- • Content marketing for B2B
- • Vegan meal prep
Too Broad/Narrow:
- • Coffee (too broad)
- • Technology (too broad)
- • French press cleaning (too narrow)
- • My company's product (too specific)
2. Understanding of Your Audience
Know who you're creating content for:
- • What questions do they ask?
- • What problems do they have?
- • What's their knowledge level (beginner, intermediate, expert)?
- • What would make them trust you as an authority?
3. Basic SEO Tools (Optional but Helpful)
For manual mapping, you'll want access to:
- • Keyword research tool (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest, or Google Keyword Planner)
- • Spreadsheet software (Google Sheets or Excel)
- • Google Search (for SERP analysis)
Method 1: Manual Topical Mapping
This method takes 10-20 hours but gives you deep understanding of your topic landscape.
Step 1: Brainstorm Subtopics (30-60 minutes)
Start by listing everything related to your main topic. Don't filter yet—just brainstorm.
Use these prompts to generate subtopics:
- • What are the main categories within this topic?
- • What do beginners need to know first?
- • What tools or products are involved?
- • What are common mistakes or problems?
- • What comparisons do people make?
- • What questions do people ask on Reddit/Quora/forums?
- • What do competitors write about?
Example: "Home Coffee Brewing" Subtopic Brainstorm
Step 2: Research Keywords (2-4 hours)
For each subtopic, use a keyword tool to find related search terms:
- 1. Enter each subtopic into your keyword tool
- 2. Export all related keywords (aim for 50-100 per subtopic)
- 3. Include search volume and difficulty if available
- 4. Look at "People Also Ask" and "Related Searches" in Google
Step 3: Cluster Keywords (2-4 hours)
Group keywords that should be targeted by the same article:
- 1. Sort alphabetically to see similar terms together
- 2. Identify search intent for each keyword (informational, commercial, etc.)
- 3. Group by intent + topic — keywords with same intent about same thing = one cluster
- 4. Validate with SERP check — if keywords show similar Google results, they belong together
Step 4: Define Content Hierarchy (1-2 hours)
Organize your clusters into a hierarchy:
- • Pillar pages (1-3): Comprehensive guides on main topic
- • Cluster hubs (5-10): Overview pages for each major subtopic
- • Supporting articles (15-50): Detailed posts on specific aspects
Step 5: Plan Internal Links (1-2 hours)
Map how content will connect:
- • Pillar pages link to all cluster hubs
- • Cluster hubs link to their supporting articles
- • Supporting articles link back to hub and related articles
- • Cross-link between related clusters where relevant
Method 2: AI-Assisted Topical Mapping
AI tools compress the manual process from 10-20 hours to 5-10 minutes.
Using Topical Map AI
- 1.
Enter your main topic
Type in what you want to rank for. Be specific: "home coffee brewing" not just "coffee."
- 2.
Review generated subtopics
AI suggests 10-20 subtopic clusters. Add any missing angles or remove irrelevant ones.
- 3.
Generate full topical map
Click generate to create 800-1,200 keywords organized into clusters with article titles.
- 4.
Explore and refine
Review clusters, merge similar ones, split broad ones. The visual interface makes this easy.
- 5.
Export and execute
Download as CSV/Excel for your workflow, or use the built-in content calendar to plan publishing.
Create your first map in 60 seconds
Organizing Your Topical Map
Whether you use manual or AI methods, your final topical map should include:
Essential Columns
| Column | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster Name | Groups related content | "French Press Brewing" |
| Article Title | SEO-optimized headline | "How to Use a French Press: Complete Guide" |
| Primary Keyword | Main target term | "how to use french press" |
| Secondary Keywords | Related terms to include | "french press instructions, french press ratio" |
| Search Intent | What searcher wants | "Informational" |
| Content Type | Format of content | "How-to Guide" |
| Status | Track progress | "Not Started / Draft / Published" |
| URL | Where it will live | "/blog/how-to-use-french-press" |
Full Example: Creating a Topical Map
Let's walk through creating a topical map for a personal finance blog targeting "budgeting."
Step 1: Define Main Topic
Main Topic: Personal Budgeting
Specific enough to build authority, broad enough for 30+ articles
Step 2: Identify Clusters
Clusters Identified:
Budgeting Methods
50/30/20, zero-based, envelope
Budgeting Tools
Apps, spreadsheets, software
Budgeting by Situation
Families, students, irregular income
Budget Categories
Housing, food, entertainment
Saving Money
Tips, challenges, strategies
Budget Problems
Overspending, tracking, sticking to it
Step 3: Map Articles to Clusters
Cluster: Budgeting Methods
- • 50/30/20 Budget Rule Explained (pillar)
- • Zero-Based Budgeting: Complete Guide
- • Envelope Budgeting System: How It Works
- • Pay Yourself First Method
- • 50/30/20 vs Zero-Based: Which Is Better?
- • Best Budget Method for Beginners
Cluster: Budgeting Tools
- • Best Budgeting Apps of 2025
- • YNAB Review: Is It Worth It?
- • Mint vs YNAB: Complete Comparison
- • Free Budget Spreadsheet Templates
- • How to Budget with Google Sheets
- • Best Free Budgeting Apps
Step 4: Define Pillar Page
Pillar: "The Complete Guide to Personal Budgeting"
This comprehensive 5,000+ word guide will:
- • Cover budgeting basics for complete beginners
- • Link to all cluster articles for deeper dives
- • Target "how to budget" and "budgeting guide" keywords
- • Serve as the hub for the entire topic cluster
What to Do After Creating Your Map
1. Prioritize Content Creation
You can't write everything at once. Prioritize based on:
- • Business value: Which articles drive conversions?
- • Search volume: Which have the most potential traffic?
- • Competition: Where can you realistically rank?
- • Dependencies: Publish pillar pages before supporting content
2. Create a Publishing Schedule
Consistency matters more than speed. Set a sustainable pace:
- • 1-2 articles/week for solo creators
- • 3-5 articles/week for small teams
- • 10+ articles/week for content operations
3. Build Internal Links as You Go
Every new article should link to:
- • Its parent pillar or cluster hub page
- • 2-3 related articles in the same cluster
- • Relevant articles in other clusters (cross-linking)
4. Track and Update
Your topical map is a living document:
- • Mark articles as published
- • Track rankings for key terms
- • Add new article ideas as you discover them
- • Review and refresh quarterly
Ready to Create Your Topical Map?
Skip the 20 hours of manual work. Generate your complete topical map in 60 seconds.
Create Your Map Free →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to write a topical map?
Manually writing a topical map takes 10-20 hours depending on topic complexity. Using AI tools like Topical Map AI reduces this to 5-10 minutes. The manual method gives you deep understanding but is time-intensive; AI tools compress the research phase dramatically.
What is a topical authority map?
A topical authority map is the same as a topical map—it's a strategic document showing all the content you need to write to establish authority on a topic. The map includes keyword clusters, article titles, search intent, and internal linking structure. Building topical authority requires covering a topic comprehensively, which the map helps you plan.
Can you show me a topical map SEO example?
Yes—see the "Personal Budgeting" example above, which shows a complete topical map with pillar pages, cluster hubs, and supporting articles. Another example: a "Home Coffee Brewing" map might have clusters for brewing methods (French press, pour over, AeroPress), equipment (grinders, scales, kettles), and troubleshooting (bitter coffee, weak extraction). Each cluster contains 5-10 articles targeting specific keywords.
Is there a free topical map generator?
Topical Map AI offers a free tier that lets you generate your first topical map at no cost. You get a complete map with 800-1,200 keywords organized into clusters. For ongoing use, paid plans start at $29/month. Free alternatives like Google Sheets require 10-20 hours of manual work to achieve similar results.
How many articles should a topical map have?
A typical topical map includes 15-50 articles across 5-10 keyword clusters. Smaller niches might need only 15-20 articles; competitive topics may require 50+. The key is comprehensive coverage—you want to answer every question someone searching your topic might have. Start with your highest-value clusters and expand over time.