Resources · 35
Govern and maintain a useful content library
Tie each page to a need, source, owner and review decision.
· 18 min
What this guide helps achieve
- Inventory pages
- Assess usefulness
- Decide lifecycle
- Check effects
Quick check
- What distinct need does this page meet?
- Who confirms its facts and dates?
- What change triggers a review?
- Does another page already answer better?
- What happens to links and translations if it is retired?
Step-by-step method
- 01
Build the inventory
Collect URL, topic, audience, source, owner, publication date, last real change and language versions. Mark unknown fields instead of hiding them.
Deliverable: prioritized content register.
- 02
Connect to needs
For each page, state the question and task it supports. Examine site search, user feedback and journeys before creating another page.
Deliverable: need and usefulness criterion per page.
- 03
Verify facts
Review links, figures, rules, screenshots and examples with a primary source or accountable specialist. Separate perishable data from durable explanation.
Deliverable: sourced correction list.
- 04
Choose lifecycle action
Keep, update, merge or retire according to actual value. Record reason, owner and a review date linked to how quickly the subject can change.
Deliverable: dated editorial decision.
- 05
Publish without breakage
For a merge or removal, handle URL, redirect, internal links, navigation and language equivalents. Do not send every retired page to a generic destination.
Deliverable: publishing plan and retested links.
- 06
Measure and review
Check that people find and understand the answer, complete tasks and still receive valid sources. Revisit after major change.
Deliverable: quality follow-up and next review dates.
Management indicators
| Indicator | What it measures | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Pages with an owner and source | Assign orphan pages |
| Freshness | Risk-bearing pages reviewed on schedule | Prioritize overdue items |
| Usefulness | Tasks and questions actually resolved | Rewrite or merge |
| Retirement | Removed URLs with links and alternates checked | Fix broken paths |
Common pitfalls
- Publishing another page without checking related pages
- Changing the date without correcting content
- Treating high traffic as proof of accuracy
- Deleting a page without handling links and language versions
Frequently asked questions
Must every page be refreshed monthly?
No. Review frequency follows topic volatility and cost of error; choose suitable triggers and dates.
When should two pages merge?
When they address the same need and one consolidated page can serve it better without losing useful information.
Does low traffic require removal?
No. A rarely visited page can serve a critical specialist task; assess the need first.
Official references
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