What They Are and How to Use Them

Earlier than Anna and I began contentki, we went to a restaurant, pulled out a notepad, and started brainstorming all of the companies we may provide given our expertise and expertise.

We got here up with content material writing, website positioning optimization, and content material technique. From there we dived even deeper into every class including website positioning weblog writing, thought management, touchdown web page copy, and social media to our checklist.

I’m glad we took the time to interrupt this down early on, because it gave us a transparent sense of who we have been proper from the beginning, relatively than determining our companies on the go.

The tough sketch in our pocket book was what’s professionally generally known as a idea map. It’s a device you need to use not solely when beginning a enterprise but additionally to ideate and completely analysis new ideas earlier than bringing them to market.

Desk of Contents

What’s an idea map?

Varieties of Idea Maps

Earlier than I talk about the varieties of idea maps, here’s a checklist of the best mind-mapping software you possibly can take a look at that will help you create your personal idea map.

Spider Maps

I’m positive it gained’t shock you to listen to that these idea maps resemble a spider internet. The principle idea is within the center, with associated subtopics branching outward. This construction permits you to discover a number of points of the central concept.

Find out how to create it:

• Put your primary concept in the course of the diagram.
• Draw strains popping out from the middle to symbolize a key subtopic linked to the principle concept.
• Add sub-branches from every subtopic to dive even deeper into the subject.
• Use labels or brief phrases to raised present the connection between ideas.

When to make use of it: Use it to research a broad matter intimately.

Flowcharts

A flowchart represents a linear or sequential course of or workflow. It makes use of symbols and arrows to indicate how info flows, typically together with selections or actions.

Find out how to create it:

• Outline the method or process you wish to illustrate.
• Draw arrows to indicate the circulation of steps. Use packing containers or different shapes to symbolize every step or motion.
• Use a diamond form for determination factors, and display totally different branches primarily based on sure/no or every other standards of your alternative.
• Proceed till you conclude.

When to make use of it: I discover flowcharts are nice for explaining processes, just like the onboarding of latest workers.

System Maps

As a substitute of specializing in the principle concept, system maps spotlight the relationships and interactions between totally different ideas. They lack a hierarchical construction and emphasize how varied components work collectively.

Find out how to create it:

• Outline the important thing system elements.
• Organize them primarily based on how they’re interrelated as an alternative of in a hierarchical order.
• Draw strains between elements to indicate how they’re linked. I believe it’s useful so as to add phrases like “influences” and “depends upon” to raised clarify the kind of relationship.
• Develop every a part of the system by recognizing suggestions loops, inputs, and outputs.

When to make use of it: Use system maps to grasp and analyze complicated methods, reminiscent of provide chains or organizational networks.

Hierarchy Maps

A hierarchy map illustrates how parts are interconnected in a hierarchical construction, displaying their relative standing. Because of this concepts have a better standing whereas others, a decrease standing. The principle idea or the best rating ingredient is on the high, whereas the lower-ranking ones are positioned beneath it.

Find out how to create it:

• Put the principle idea or the highest-ranking one on the high of the map.
• Outline the key subtopics that fall below the principle concept and place them instantly beneath. Join them by strains.
• Department downward to indicate lower-ranking ideas whereas holding a transparent hierarchical construction.

When to make use of it: I believe it’s helpful for displaying info with a number of authority ranges or significance, for instance, authorities constructions or Maslow’s Hierarchy of Wants.

Earlier than you begin working in your idea map, I recommend downloading HubSpot’s concept map template — it can make the method a complete lot simpler.

1. Outline your primary matter.

Start by selecting the principle concept or matter that you just wish to analyze. It must be broad sufficient to permit a couple of subtopics to department out.

Put the first idea both on the high or center of your map, relying on the kind of map you’re utilizing. It is going to act as the muse from which all of your different concepts can be developed.

2. Establish important ideas.

When you’ve discovered the principle concept, begin brainstorming extra matters you’d wish to discover. Consider as many as you possibly can, however as an alternative of putting them instantly on the map, checklist them first — this is named the “car parking zone” technique.

After your checklist is prepared, manage the ideas from essentially the most basic or broad to essentially the most particular. I believe it’s finest to create a hierarchy with a very powerful/broad concepts on the high and the extra detailed ones beneath them.

3. Transfer ideas from the car parking zone to the map.

Now, you possibly can transfer your ideas from the car parking zone to the map.

Put the principle concept within the heart or on the high, with associated subtopics branching out from it. Every extra matter must be linked to a selected class, ultimately forming a hierarchy.

Whereas arranging the ideas, I recommend utilizing linking phrases to make clear the connection between concepts. This may improve the understanding of how every idea connects to the others.

4. Confirm accuracy and coherence.

The extra connecting concepts you may have, the higher the possibility of creating a mistake. So, it’s finest to overview every connection to make sure it hyperlinks to the right idea.

Use cross-links to seek out concepts situated in a distinct a part of your map. This strategy could enable you join them to extra ideas, making a extra complete and interconnected construction that reveals much more insights.

5. Develop and revise.

Your idea map isn’t set in stone. As new concepts emerge, you possibly can hold including them to the map to create new connections.

I recognize that the map is versatile, letting you rearrange, take away, or add new sections as you achieve a deeper understanding of the subject.

The method doesn’t finish with the primary model; I recommend you recurrently test in case your map is full and related. Make revisions when vital.

Creating My Personal Idea Map

For those who’re a content material marketer like I’m, here’s a content mapping template that will help you manage your work.

One of the simplest ways to create an idea map is to make use of a ready-made template.