Inventory the material visitors actually encounter
List pages, downloads, images and recurring content types. Include search landing pages and older resources outside the main menu when the available evidence identifies them. Record purpose, audience and ownership. Flag missing information instead of guessing how a document is used. This gives the redesign a factual starting point.
Give each item a concrete treatment
Retain accurate material that supports a clear task. Revise useful pages with outdated claims or weak explanations. Combine pages that answer the same question, preserving the meaningful distinctions. Retire obsolete material with an explicit URL decision. These choices should be made by someone who understands the business, with specialist review for regulated or sensitive claims.
Turn the audit into an editorial workload
For every revision, state what is missing, who supplies it and when it can be approved. Group related work so the same expert is not asked the same question repeatedly. Prioritise content that changes navigation and page structure before polishing smaller details. A design schedule should acknowledge this workload rather than assuming final copy will arrive automatically.
A practical next step
What to prepare.
- Purpose field
Write the visitor question each important page is meant to answer.
- Decision owner
Assign an approver for claims, imagery and retirement choices.
- Content backlog
Convert vague rewrite notes into specific missing information and deadlines.
Questions worth asking.
Should we keep pages just because they get traffic?
Traffic is useful context, but relevance and accuracy still matter. Review the purpose before deciding the treatment.
Can similar pages be combined?
Yes, when the resulting page answers the shared task without losing useful distinctions.
Does the audit replace copywriting?
No. It defines the work and decisions that the writing phase must complete.