Let’s talk about the Conent Model: Topic Gateway Model, think of it s an upgrade to the Silo Hubs & Spokes model. Remember, in the Silo Structure, the main categories of the website, and in each catgory there are subcategories. If your website has many published articles it is time to upgrade your content structure.
The topic gateway model is an upgrade to the layout and structure of the category pages.
Check this out. On a common WordPress Website, the category pages would just be a blog row/grid of articles, there is nothing fancy about this.
Category: Vertical Farming Content Model
But, imagine there are hundreds of articles in one category! Your site visitors would need to go through different pages of your category to find what they are looking for. Depending on how many posts you choose to display on one page.
By the way, you can set the number of posts to display on a page, in your WordPress settings. Head over to to “Settings”, “Reading” and under “Blog pages show at most” you can set the number of posts displayed on any given category page.
The Topic Gateway model is a content model to improve the delivery of content in your category pages.
Let me show you several examples:
The first site I want to show you is called “dollarsprout”. If you go to their “Side Hustles” category, right at the top of the category page, you will see there are 4 subcategories under “Side Hustles” and and you scroll down, they have a “Call to Action” which is a product of their own and then a couple of featured articles and then a link to the category’s pillar content.
As you scroll down, you will see some side hustle apps that recommend and then a blog roll. So, a Topic Gateway Model is a way to showcase all the things that people should notice when they visit.
PointsGuy
Another site I want to show you that has a good content model, is a site called the “pointsguy”. It is a site focussed specifically on perks and mouse-through credit cards. If we go to one of their category pages they will show you what they think is best for you.
This helps you find what you are looking for immediately. You see the similarities between the two examples.
Now, not all Topic Gateway Models need to be like this. Dollar Sprout and the Points Guy are two of the best examples but Topic Gateway Models can be very simple. Check out the College Investor. This is one of their category pages. It has a simple description of the category which includes a couple of links. I’m sure one of the links lead to their pillar content of the category. And, following this the blog roll of the category.
It can be as simple as that. It all boils down to the user experience. What do you think is best for your site visitors? Ask yourself, what is the main thing your site visitors looking for when they visit this category page. Your job is to make it easy for your site visitors to find what they are looking for in the quickest way possible.
Home Gym Niche
Anyway! What about an example in the gym, workout and body building niche. This is an example from “muscleandstrength.com” and this is definitely one of the examples I would follow closely if I were to create a blog in the “home gym” niche.
This is their Workout category page which is one of the main categories of the blog.
It has a short description of the category. And, as you scroll down, you will see all the workout categories, which are the subcategories. Following that, they have a features section which displays all the best workouts and finally an FAQ section.
Normally, you don’t get to rank a category page based on a search keyword. But, because this category page is filled with high-quality, in-depth information, there is a high chance that this category page will rank for a searchable term.
For example if we go to Google and search for “best workout routines”
The team developed a streamlined content model to improve efficiency in content creation and ensure consistency across all channels.
“Google Best Workout Routines” is a medium-tail keyword. As we scroll down we will see the same page.
Honestly, I was just guessing that this category page would rank, but I’m right.
So, there are many benefits to optimising your category pages using the Topic Gateway model as your basic content model.
Not only does it make it easier for your site visitors to find your content, but your category pages stand to rank for highly competitive keywords if done right!
Now I know you may face challenges customising your category pages because, by default, WordPress does not offer a solution unless you are using a full-site editing theme.
