- 1). Use a free "mind-mapping" software to map internal links. This technique can be used both on websites that you own and competing websites which you would like to analyze. The mind-mapping technique gives a clear visual image of the structural function of links, showing both vertical and lateral connections. The disadvantage of a mind-map is that all data must be input manually, which is not always practical for extremely large sites.
- 2). Use webmaster analytics, available through several search engines. These services crawl and map your site automatically, collecting internal link data. While analytics is an excellent tool for visualizing overall structure, the data does not include specific information for each linking page, meaning that the practical application of the data is somewhat limited. Remember that you can use analytics only on your own site -- it cannot be used to analyze competing sites.
- 3). Use a crawling tool to map out your website. Both free and paid crawling tools are available, depending on your needs. These tools can provide data on competing websites, as well as on your own website, although the data provided for your own website will be of greater depth than that for a competing site. Most crawling tools return information in a familiar nexus or file folder style format, which is easy to read and interpret. Crawling tools are excellent options for larger websites which can't be analyzed manually.
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