The core section of a topical map contains the primary topics, central entity, and essential sub-topics that define the knowledge domain's foundation. The core section represents the mandatory content that a source must cover to establish baseline topical authority within the domain.
What Does the Core Section Include?
The core section includes 4 content categories:
- Central entity definition: comprehensive content defining the main entity and its attributes.
- Primary sub-topics: the essential sub-topics that directly define or describe the central entity.
- Core query coverage: answers to the highest-volume and highest-intent queries within the domain.
- Foundational relationships: connections between the central entity and its primary related entities.
How Does the Core Section Relate to the Outer Section?
The outer section extends the core section by covering peripheral topics, related domains, and long-tail queries. The core section establishes authority on the primary topic; the outer section expands that authority into adjacent knowledge domains. Together, they achieve comprehensive topical coverage.
How is the Core Section Prioritized?
The core section is prioritized based on 3 factors:
- Search volume: higher-volume queries indicate more essential topics.
- Entity centrality: topics closer to the central entity in the knowledge graph are more essential.
- Intent coverage: informational, navigational, and transactional intents within the primary topic must be addressed.
Key Takeaway
The core section of a topical map defines the mandatory content for establishing baseline topical authority. It includes the central entity definition, primary sub-topics, core query answers, and foundational entity relationships. The core section must be completed before expanding into the outer section.
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