I don’t claim to be a 100% SEO or topical authority guy. But I do leverage it as much as possible when it comes to ranking my niche sites.
I have tried nearly every SEO trick in the book, but usually, the things that tend to work are just good ole’ fashion organization, intuition, and a systemized approach to producing great, high-quality content.
With that in mind, introducing Topical Maps Unlocked (TMU) by Yoyao Hsueh.
In this Topical Maps Unlocked review, I will discuss whether the information in TMU is worth the price tag.
Is Topical Maps Unlocked Worth it?
Topical Maps Unlocked is worth it. TMU simplifies an advanced SEO content strategy with direct, step-by-step, and actionable advice leading you to success. Once you have gone through the course, you will have the roadmap to a perfect site structure which will equal more money for your business.
This course is EPIC and worth every penny of the asking price. The reason for this is the techniques you attain when putting together the content strategy will undoubtedly grow your site in traffic and, of course, revenue. I feel this is a no-brainer for bloggers and publishers already making money.
But if you are just starting off, it may be a bit of a pill to swallow, but you won’t have to worry about ambiguous site structure ever again.
This course is EPIC and worth every penny of the asking price. The reason for this is the knowledge you attain when putting together the strategy will undoubtedly grow your site in traffic and, of course, revenue.
I feel this is a no-brainer for bloggers and publishers already making money. But if you are just starting off, it may be a bit of a pill to swallow, but you won't have to worry about ambiguous site structure ever again.
What is Topical Authority?
The “new” SEO nowadays is no longer just going after low-competition keywords; it’s getting relevant keywords and nabbing true topical authority.
The reality is if you want to rank for “best protein shake,” you will not get away with simply writing one article about the subject and moving on. You need to cover the topic entirely so that Google sees you as… you guessed it, an authority in the subject.
Topical Authority isn’t new, but it became popularized when Koray Tugberk began visually conceptualizing semantic content marketing. Essentially finding effective keywords using more than just a simple low-competition keyword strategy.
That’s just a fancy way of saying that he made a “map” based solely on covering a topic from A to Z to clearly show Google you know what you are talking about.
Other fancy words are semantic indexing and semantic search. This is simply how entities relate to one another. Google uses these tricks to determine what our content is actually about and how it relates to the subject matter.
And as great as Koray is, I find it hard to understand his accent at times which makes viewing his video lessons (on an already involved subject) difficult for me.
Then again, my wife says I don’t listen to her, and she speaks very straightforward English, haha. So take that for what it is worth.
Do you need a topical map for your niche site?
The quick answer to this is no.
But do you need a car? Do you need a laptop? Do you need a cell phone? Do you need link building?
No. But it’s definitely nice to have, especially with your SEO strategy.
I believe it is the same with a topical map. The problem with bloggers (especially new ones) is a lack of organization. The thinking is that you just need a few blog posts and you can make tons of money.
You need to attack your niche with your know-how to establish that authority. And if you have a hard time visualizing what your site needs to look like, mind-mapping it with a topical map will help you not duplicate content and have boxes to check as you continue to be the great content creator you are and add relevant content to your site.
Engagement is also a big deal.
The user experience is always the ultimate “duhhh” in SEO, but I often times forget that the user experience can also be altered and improved based on engagement factors such as how easy a good topical map makes it for a reader.
Those engagement signals can really help Google to see that your site is an authority in the space.
Here are a few screenshots of websites that used topical maps and thrived (some on fresh domains, the growth is unreal)
What is Topical Maps Unlocked?
Topical Maps Unlocked will help you establish topical authority by creating and using a comprehensive topical map.
The course includes everything you will need from beginning to end, which involves tools, ideas, and direction.
Who is the TMU course For?
After going through TMU, I conclude it is for anyone needing a clearer idea of their site structure and really wants organic traffic from our Google overlords (I’m semi-kidding).
Setting up a niche site is more than just adding a few articles haphazardly, and TMU puts a stop to that so you can build with confidence and intentionality.
That said, it’s great for beginners and veteran SEOs alike. You do not even need to be a seasoned SEO as Yoyao does an excellent job at breaking down a rather mundane topic.
Are content and keywords covered in TMU?
TMU contains 30+ lessons explaining everything you need to know to build topical authority and a topical map for your business.
This includes:
- the tools needed
- the approach you will employ
- site structure
- Choosing a Niche
- Analyzing, Filtering, and Clustering longtail Keywords
- Creating the actual map (with free tools)
- Proper internal link and anchor text structure
- Even avoiding individual keywords cannibalization
Phew…. that’s quite a bit, huh?
But it’s all necessary and succinct.
Topical Maps Review — Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons
- No Fluff. Lessons are concise and to the point
- Yoyao is easy to listen to and organized
- Great course layout
- "Class Project" Over-the-shoulder video of Yoyao mapping out from A to Z
- Private Community
- Yoyao's availability for questions
- Spreadsheets
- Building out a Topical Map is, well... boring
- Course platform video player settings are not saved from video to video
What I LIKED about TMU?
Hands down, the organization of the information and the delivery by Yoyao.
To many people, topical authority is not a “cool” topic to discuss, but Yoyao’s delivery helps make the course feel informative and always moving. No stagnation, no umm’s or ahhhh’s… no time wasted.
Another thing I thoroughly appreciated was the spreadsheets that are included in the course. It’s the same ones that Yoyao uses in the lessons, making it easy to follow along and start filling out your map.
Another thing I liked was the emphasis on using affordable tools to build this map.
Most of what TMU uses are free tools or tools that are no more than a few bucks. The tool he uses to build the map is excellent, and the free version works just fine.
Probably the most important part of this process is our beloved content cluster. He recommends and uses Low Fruits. I love Low Fruits as well. In fact, click here to check them out and do the keyword research for free without any credits!
Finally, the “Class Project” within the course is a “chef’s kiss.”
Yoyao takes a few hours to break down building topical authority using a topical map from start to finish in one sitting. That is what is missing from a lot of courses. The step-by-step guide is nice, but the over-the-shoulder is essential to really get a deep understanding of this stuff.
What did I NOT like about TMU?
As mentioned in the cons above, this is not a “have fun” topic.
I love all things blogging and any SEO techniques I can find, so it was great and an easy listen. But even my excitement was flatlined when I tried to explain what I was learning to my wife.
The glazed look was all I needed to understand that you really need to see the value in learning this subject to really enjoy every minute of it.
But chances are, you wouldn’t purchase a course like Topical Maps Unlocked if you were not at least into the subject and understand the value of using a tried and true method to grow a website.
The teachings here can easily give you enough ammo to land a client gig to fix their SEO. So it’s THAT powerful.
What’s Included in the Purchase?
As of right now, I have a hard time thinking of alternatives to TMU. Outside of a few YouTube videos discussing the content topic, nothing comes close to how the information is presented within TMU.
However, just recently, Koray released his own rather pricey course ($4,000 with $500/year). I may look into that in the future, but to be honest, that is a pretty big pill to swallow financially for a guy I have a hard time understanding.
For the record, I am not saying that it is Koray’s fault that I cannot understand him. It’s totally me and totally me being a “dumb” American, lol… so I apologize in advance.
Alternatives to Topical Maps Unlocked
As of right now, I have a hard time thinking of alternatives to TMU. Outside of a few YouTube videos discussing the content topic, nothing comes close to how the information is presented within TMU.
However, just recently, Koray released his own rather pricey course ($4,000 with $500/year). I may look into that in the future, but to be honest, that is a pretty big pill to swallow financially for a guy I have a hard time understanding.
For the record, I am not saying that it is Koray’s fault that I cannot understand him. It’s totally me and totally a “dumb” American thing for me… so I apologize in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are just a few questions I thought of…
Do you need an active website to use TMU?
No. It’s better if you did not so you can structure your site correctly from the beginning. With that said, if you have a site, he has training content specific to you, so you know how to pick up where you are and get to mapping!
Is TMU for beginners or Advanced SEOs?
It’s for both because topical authority is relevant for both.
Anyone that wants to take site structure and content strategy seriously will want and need this course. That said, TMU is very focused. If you need help configuring a niche site on WordPress, you will need to figure that out somewhere else.
The assumption is that you know how to build a site but need help with the proper structure.
Verdict… Should You Invest in Topical Maps Unlocked?
Yes. Blogger Evolution fully endorses the content strategy taught at Topical Maps Unlocked because it is a great course teaching a very crucial subject in our little blogging space. You will have success with this course; it’s hard not to.
In fact, you can pick it up right here.
If you want to see your site grow its traffic predictably, this is the course for you.
This course is EPIC and worth every penny of the asking price. The reason for this is the knowledge you attain when putting together the strategy will undoubtedly grow your site in traffic and, of course, revenue.
I feel this is a no-brainer for bloggers and publishers already making money. But if you are just starting off, it may be a bit of a pill to swallow, but you won't have to worry about ambiguous site structure ever again.