Web Content Audits

1. Introduction

1.1 What is a Content Audit?

A site audit is a foundational step in preparing your website for migration to Drupal. It’s a structured review of your current site’s content, structure, and functionality. Think of it as taking inventory before a big move — it helps you understand what you have, what you need, and what can be left behind.

1.2 Why Is a Site Audit Important?

Conducting a site audit now empowers you to:

• Clarify your content: Identify what’s outdated, redundant, or missing.
• Streamline your site: Reduce clutter and improve user experience.
• Plan for migration: Ensure a smoother transition by knowing what needs to be rebuilt, archived, or redirected.
• Engage stakeholders: Share findings and get input early, even if templates aren’t ready yet.

1.3 What Should Be Included in Your Site Audit?

Here are the key elements to document:

1. List all pages and what’s on them: Include URLs, page titles, and a brief description of content.
2. Document information architecture: How is your site organized? What are the main sections and navigation paths?
3. User access: Who can access what? Why do they need that access?
4. Content review: What content is outdated or no longer needed?
5. Archiving needs: What should be preserved but removed from public view?
6. External links: Are there other sites or pages linking to yours that may need updates?
7. Dynamic functionality: Note any forms, database lookups, or interactive features.
8. Redirects: Identify any URLs that will need to redirect to new locations post-migration.

1.4 Getting Started

The Content Audit Template is designed to make this process easier and more organized. It provides:

• Structured columns for capturing page URLs, titles, content summaries, and notes on functionality.
• Prompts to help you assess whether content is current, needs revision, or should be archived.
• Fields for access and ownership so you can track who manages each page and why.
• Space to flag dependencies like redirects or external links that may need updates.
• A shareable format that allows collaboration with stakeholders, even before Drupal templates are available.

This tool ensures consistency across audits and helps teams prioritize what to migrate, rebuild, or retire.