During this module, our team finalized a content inventory of the client’s website, wrote a rough draft, and then produced a final draft of the content audit. This was the big payoff, like reaching the summit of a mountain. The only way to get there is to continue, step by step, and eventually reach the goal. It was so interesting to me to take a pile of data that we collected, find the patterns and issues, then craft a report out of that information.

Photo credit: Cynthia Everitt (2021)

Now, we focus on individually producing a strategic roadmap for the client to manage their content in the future. This advice is becoming more valuable, as most content is created by non-traditional publishers who need to take advantage of the tools available to streamline the content creation, management, and update processes. Convincing businesses that giving time and resources to content management will pay off literally and figuratively for them is the primary job of content auditors. As Val Swisher, CEO of Content Rules, stated in her guest lecture this week, “Recommendations must consider the three goals of all businesses: increase revenue, decrease expense, decrease risk.” The bottom line is their bottom line.

Dr. Kim stated in this week’s video lecture, “What is the best path forward?” I am back at the bottom of the hiking trail, ready to put my hiking boots back on and put one foot in front of the other. I look forward to what I learn from creating a new strategic roadmap for the client.

What did you read or watch that surprised, delighted or disappointed you? Why?

In Chapter 25 of Content Audits and Inventories, Paula Ladenburg Land states, “A content audit presentation should tell the story of what you found.” My team took this approach in crafting our content audit, and reading it in our textbook really hit home with me. In addition to listening to and setting goals with a client in interviews, this is another way to connect with them in producing the audit. Tell them the story of their content.

I also enjoyed the guest lecture given this week by Val Swisher. Her comments about relating an organization’s content to business (not to content) also left an impression on me. It seems like obvious advice, but when you focus on the content, it is only natural to focus only on it.

What was most meaningful for your own career goals? Why?

I am incredibly proud of the quality of the spreadsheet and report that my team was able to generate within a few days. We thought carefully and thoroughly about what the client was asking for and the goals in setting the criteria for the content we audited. Even though we divided up the written portions of the report, our final product flowed nicely and told the story of how we conducted our inventory and produced the report, as we learned in our lecture content for this module. I will be delighted to include this report as the first item in my portfolio.