For SEOs, content strategists, and agencies who need a structured content plan

Build a complete topical authority map — visually, in minutes.

The Topical Map Editor turns a seed keyword like Golden Retriever into a structured graph of pages, sections, hubs, and FAQs — complete with URL architecture, internal linking plan, and entity-enriched node data ready for export. Switch to Concept mode to map the entity relationships that drive semantic authority.

Topical mode — visual hierarchy, URL architecture, hub and section classification
Concept mode — entity relationship graph with labelled semantic connections
Four layouts — Force, Horizontal Tree, Vertical Tree, and Radial
Export-ready — PNG, SVG, CSV, and JSON in one click

Generate with AI → Open the Editor

Free to use No account required Topical + Concept modes Works with AI-generated maps

Not sure where to start? Load the Golden Retriever example map

Want AI to build the map for you? Use the Generator (free account required)

What is a topical map?

A topical map is the full blueprint of content your site needs to own a subject.

It defines which pages to build, how they relate to each other, which ones are hubs, which are sections, and how they should link — before you write a single word.

The editor turns that blueprint into a machine-readable graph with URLs, hierarchy, entity data, and a full internal linking plan. The companion Concept mode maps the entity relationships and semantic connections that establish subject-matter authority.

Topical Map Editor — quick look

Example

Golden Retriever starter map — explore it live.

Try Example Open Editor

Two map types in one editor

Topical map and concept map — plan architecture and semantic depth

The editor operates in two modes. Switch at any time without clearing the graph. Both modes export to the same JSON format and work with the same four layouts.

Topical Mode

Build your site architecture. Every node is a page, section, FAQ, or hub. Every edge is an internal link. Every URL is planned.

Six node types: Macro, Seed, Topic, Subtopic, FAQ, Comparison
Standalone page vs Section Only vs Hub classification
Canonical URL auto-generation from parent + slug
Internal linking plan with anchor text and placement hints
Hide Section-Only nodes to see pages-only view
Gold ring indicator for Hub pages
Dashed border for Section-only nodes

Macro Seed Topic Subtopic FAQ Comparison

Concept Mode

Map the entities and semantic relationships your content needs to cover. Every edge carries a visible relationship label. Node size scales to fit the label inside the circle.

Seven concept types: Core, Entity, Condition, Process, Attribute, Category, External
11 relationship types with color-coded edge labels
Relationship labels rendered on every connecting line
Top-down force layout with seed pinned at apex
Nodes spaced to keep relationship labels readable
Description and Group fields on every concept node
Macro and Seed retain topical colors as structural anchors

Core Entity Condition Process Attribute Category External

Open the Editor Mode is detected automatically when you load a JSON file.

The real problem

Most content plans are a flat list of topics — not a structured authority system

A spreadsheet of keyword ideas tells you what to write about. A topical map tells you what the page is, where it lives in the hierarchy, what its URL should be, whether it is a hub or a section, and how it links to everything else . A concept map tells you which entities and relationships your content needs to cover.

The Problem

Content gets published without a clear hierarchy. Pages overlap, internal links are inconsistent, entity coverage is thin, and Google cannot determine which page is the authority on a subject.

The Consequence

Without a clear structure and entity depth, topical authority never fully consolidates. Rankings plateau even when content quality is high.

The Fix

Build the topical map first — plan every page, URL, hub, and link. Then build the concept map — ensure every important entity and relationship is covered somewhere in the content.

Open the Editor Free to use — no account required.

What the editor produces

Not just a visual — a complete data model

Full Node Inventory

Every topic, subtopic, FAQ, comparison, hub, section, entity, and concept is a node with its own ID, label, slug, type, entity list, aliases, and confidence score.

URL Architecture Plan

Canonical URLs auto-generated from parent URLs and slugs. Section-only nodes get no URL. Standalone pages get their own. Hub pages get both. All visible in the graph immediately.

Linking and Relationship Plan

In topical mode every edge carries anchor text, placement hint, and required status. In concept mode every edge carries a visible relationship label and type — Is A, Causes, Requires, and eight more.

What you get

Everything a content architect needs in one editor

Four Graph Layouts

Switch between Force Graph (explore clusters and concept relationships), Horizontal Tree (review hierarchy and URLs), Vertical Tree (org-chart style, wide maps), and Radial Tree (present to clients) with one click.

Topical and Concept Modes

Switch between Topical mode (page architecture, URL planning) and Concept mode (entity relationships, semantic depth) without clearing the graph. Mode is auto-detected when loading JSON.

Page vs Section vs Hub Classification

Every topical node is classified as a Standalone page, Section (no URL), or Hub (navigation centre). Visualized through color, border style, and gold hub rings. Section-only nodes can be hidden with one click.

Concept Edge Labels

In concept mode every edge carries a visible relationship label rendered on the connecting line — is a type of, is prone to, requires, is screened by. 11 relationship types, each with its own color. Labels are spaced so they are always fully readable.

Inline Node Editor

Click any node to open the Properties panel. Edit label, slug, type, URL role, hub role, canonical URL, parent, confidence score, entities, aliases, description, and group — all without leaving the graph. Most edits update in place without redrawing.

Click-to-Zoom Connection Highlight

Clicking a node highlights that node and all its direct neighbours, dims everything else, and zooms the viewport to fit the selected neighbourhood. Closing the panel restores the previous zoom position exactly.

Add, Duplicate, Re-parent, Delete

Add child nodes with inferred types in topical mode or generic concept nodes in concept mode. Duplicate any node. Re-parent via dropdown. Delete with Delete. Changes are reflected immediately.

URL Auto-Generator

Type a label and the canonical URL auto-builds from parent URL + slug. Change the parent — URL updates. Set URL Role to Section — URL clears. Override any time. Available in topical mode and for Macro/Seed nodes in concept mode.

Live Search

Search across labels, slugs, URLs, descriptions, entities, and aliases in real time across both modes. Matching nodes highlighted, non-matching nodes dimmed. Press / to focus from anywhere.

Map Control Panel

A compact control panel in the top-right corner provides zoom in, zoom out, fit view, and directional pan buttons. Hold any button to repeat continuously. Works on touch screens.

Minimap Navigation

A live minimap shows the full graph at a glance with a viewport indicator. Click anywhere on the minimap to pan to that position. The selected node appears as a gold dot.

Export Everything

Export as PNG (viewport or full map at 4800px+), SVG (vector, print-ready, includes concept edge labels), CSV (different columns for topical and concept modes), or JSON (full graph for pipeline reload).

Open the Editor Free to use — load, edit, and export instantly.

Inside the data model

Every node carries a full SEO data profile

Six Topical Node Types

Macro → Seed → Topic → Subtopic → FAQ → Comparison. Each type has its own color, icon, and default URL role. Colors updated for maximum visual distinction at a glance.

Seven Concept Node Types

Core (central subject) → Entity (org, person, standard) → Condition → Process → Attribute → Category → External. Node size scales to fit each label inside the circle.

Entities and Aliases

Every node stores named entities (organisations, concepts, people, tools) and alias phrases (keyword variants and search intents). Both are searchable in the live graph and export to CSV and JSON.

Confidence Score

Each node carries a 0–1 confidence score from the AI pipeline. Scores below 0.70 suggest the topic may be too tangential. Edit or remove low-confidence nodes before briefing content. Average confidence shown in the stats bar.

Topical + Concept Edges

Topical edges: Parent-Child (grey), FAQ Attachment (orange dashed), Related (purple). Concept edges: 11 relationship types with color-coded labels rendered visually on every connecting line.

Graph-Ready JSON

The exported JSON uses a nodes + edges structure compatible with Neo4j, D3.js, and any graph database. Set MapType: "concept" in Metadata to open in concept mode automatically on next load.

How it works

From seed keyword to complete content architecture in three steps

1. Load or build your map

Import a JSON file from your AI pipeline, load one of the built-in starter maps (topical or concept), or start from scratch by adding nodes one at a time. The editor accepts both PascalCase and camelCase JSON and auto-detects the map type.

2. Edit and classify

In topical mode: set URL roles, mark hubs, fix labels, generate URLs, assign parents. In concept mode: set concept types, add relationship labels, assign groups, write descriptions. Switch layouts to review from every angle. Click any node to zoom to its neighbourhood.

3. Export and execute

Export PNG or SVG for client presentation. Export CSV for your content brief spreadsheet — topical and concept modes export different columns automatically. Export JSON to reload or feed into your CMS, graph database, or internal linking tool.

Open the Editor Methodology

Use cases

Who the Topical Map Editor is built for

SEO Consultants

Deliver a visual topical authority blueprint with every engagement. Export the radial PNG for the executive deck. Use concept mode to demonstrate entity coverage gaps. Export JSON for the dev team.

Agencies

Build topical and concept maps for every client site. Reuse the structure for content briefs, URL planning, and internal linking audits. Present both map types as part of a complete authority strategy deliverable.

Content Strategists

Plan entire topic clusters before briefing a writer. Use concept mode to identify which entities each piece must cover. Export CSV to turn the map into a content calendar with URLs, parent pages, and node types already filled in.

SEO Educators

Teach topical authority, hub-and-spoke architecture, entity SEO, and semantic relationships with a live interactive tool. Load either starter map and walk through every node and relationship in class.

Plan it right — then keep it tight

Use the Topical Map Editor to plan. Use Topical Drift Analyzer to monitor.

The two tools are designed to work together. Build your topical map before publishing — then run a drift analysis after six months to see which pages have drifted away from the plan.

Topical Map Editor

Build the architecture before you publish. Plan every page, every URL, every hub, every internal link, and every semantic relationship.

Topical mode — page architecture and URL planning
Concept mode — entity relationships and semantic depth
Four layouts — Force, Horizontal Tree, Vertical Tree, Radial
Page / Section / Hub / FAQ classification
URL architecture auto-generation
Internal linking plan with anchor text
Entity and alias enrichment on every node
Export PNG, SVG, CSV, JSON

Open the Editor

Topical Drift Analyzer

Monitor the architecture after you publish. Find which pages have drifted off-topic and fix them.

Crawl-based semantic drift scoring
Interactive radial drift map (UMAP)
Internal link mismatch detection
Linking opportunity discovery
GSC intent alignment (real query data)
Prioritized fix checklist

Run a Free Drift Analysis

FAQ

Quick answers

The most common questions about the Topical Map Editor.

View all FAQs

Yes. The Topical Map Editor is completely free to use with no account required. Load a JSON file or either built-in starter map, edit it in topical or concept mode, and export — all in the browser with no server round-trips for the core editing and export features.

Topical mode represents your site architecture — nodes are pages, sections, FAQs, and hubs. Edges are internal links with anchor text. The output drives URL planning and content briefs. Concept mode represents your subject domain — nodes are entities and concepts. Edges carry semantic relationship labels like Is A, Causes, Requires. The output drives entity coverage and semantic depth. You can switch between modes without clearing the graph data. Mode is detected automatically when you load a JSON file.

The editor accepts any JSON with a Nodes/nodes array and an Edges/edges array. Both PascalCase (pipeline output) and camelCase (editor export) are supported on import. Set Metadata.MapType to "topical" or "concept" to control which mode opens automatically. The starter map JSON files are available as reference templates.

A Standalone page has its own canonical URL and lives as an independent page in the sitemap. A Section has no URL — it is a heading and content block inside a parent page. A Hub is a standalone page that also acts as a navigation centre for its child pages — it contains a summary section for each child and links out to all of them. A node can be both a Section (summarised on its parent hub page) and a Standalone (also has its own full page).

Yes. The editor is designed to be the final step after AI topic expansion. Generate your candidate topics with ChatGPT, Claude, or any pipeline, format the output as the node/edge JSON, load it into the editor, and use the visual interface to merge duplicates, classify pages, assign URLs, mark hubs, and produce the final map. The same applies to concept maps — generate entity relationships with AI and refine them visually in the editor.

The editor runs entirely in the browser using D3.js and handles maps up to several hundred nodes comfortably. For very large maps (500+ nodes) the Force Graph layout may be slow to settle — switch to Horizontal Tree, Vertical Tree, or Radial Tree for better performance. Use Hide Section-Only Nodes in topical mode to reduce visual clutter when reviewing large maps.

The Map Editor is for planning — build the architecture before you publish. The Drift Analyzer is for monitoring — crawl your site after publishing to see which pages have drifted away from the plan. Together they cover the full content authority lifecycle: plan → publish → monitor → fix → re-plan.

Open the Editor Or Generate with AI View all FAQs

Build your topical authority map — and your concept map — before you write a single word

Open the editor, load a starter map, and see how a complete topical authority blueprint and entity relationship graph look — in under two minutes.