Categorization – Short conceptual explanation

Categorization or classification describes the assignment of web content into appropriate categories. In doing so a term can certainly be assigned to multiple categories, and within a hierarchical structure of main categories and subcategories. The term categorization is often equated with classification, and can be used in this cases for the classification of an entire content, as well as for individual keywords.

Important for Online Stores: Categorization by Product

The main application for categorization is in the e-commerce arena and online shop creation. Items are categorized within the existing store structure so that users already on the site, as well as those who search via external search engines, find them quickly. The more varied a seller’s product range is, the more categories this creates. An example for the categorization of the product “ladies sandals, leather” in an online store’s apparel section would be: Shoes -> Women’s Shoes -> Sandals & Flip-flops -> Leather SandalsThe more exact the categories, the faster users will find their desired product. Ultimately the main goal of categorization is improving the website’s usability, and also the quick finding of the product through a search engine query.

Note about Categorization
At clickworker you can have diverse data sorted into meaningful categories for the structuring of your website and for simple findability of the information on the web.

Classification as an Extension of Categorization

Classification is not only used as a synonym for the term categorization, but also as an expansion of it. Image quality, for example, can be classified according to the school grading system (very good, good, satisfactory, etc.) or the content of a site ranked as G-rated or adult. Staying with our sandal example, further classification according to shoe size or color presents itself. With classification the user receives additional information about the product, and the shop’s search filter can be expanded with more attributes.

Keyword Categorization: Useful for SEO Optimization and Analysis

The success or failure of a website also depends on choosing the right keywords. For search engine optimization and subsequent analysis, a categorization for keywords is also worthwhile. The most practical approach is a breakout according to length, search volume and/or search intention.

Categorization of Keywords by Length and Volume

When differentiating keywords by length, there are 3 main keyword types, namely short tail, mid-tail and long tail. Short tail keywords are those search queries that consist of a single word, and inherently imply a higher search volume. Mid-tail describes keywords that are made up of two to three terms and involve a mid-range search volume, while long tail keywords consist of several search terms and entail a respectively small search volume.

Keyword Categorization by Search Intention

Keywords can also be categorized according to the motivation behind the search for them. The established terms for this further segmentation are transactional, informational and navigational. Transactional stands for the intention to do something (i.e. buy an iPhone), informational to find something out (i.e. iPhone ratings), and navigational to navigate directly to the domain (i.e. iPhone).

Conclusion

Categorization is understood as the assignment of terms to appropriate categories, as it is required in online stores for example. The term also describes the allocation of keywords as a customary part of SEO optimization. Categorization is often used interchangeably with classification, although classification strictly speaking represents an expansion of categorization.