Content Governance

You may have heard us talk about how we’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re tackling this website redesign “the right way.” We know it would be easier and quicker to slap a new pretty design on our existing site and call it good. However, taking a more holistic view of the project by addressing technical systems, involving research, and working on a content strategy is what will set the site up for future success.

A big part of preparing to support the site leading up to and after launch is through content governance, planning, and guidelines. We’re excited to be continuing to work with Mighty on this aspect of our work, which will kick off in May and continue throughout the summer concurrently with front-end development. Here is an overview of what we’ll be working on:

• Content Governance Planning (The “what, when, and who”)

1. Define content creation, editorial, and curation needs
2. Identify clear content roles and responsibilities for content maintenance
3. Establish and document content governance processes and workflows to maintain the quality and consistency of content across the website

• Content Guideline & Workshops (The “how and why”)

1. A content guideline document for our content teams that will inform, educate, and instruct new web content creation and potential content changes to ensure consistency with the Hope College brand and our different audiences. Topics within the content guideline will include: roles and workflow, voice and tone, understanding audiences, writing for the web, content strategy and evaluation, and writing for specific sections and types of pages.
2. A Hope-branded version of the content guideline for distribution.
3. Facilitate a series of interactive web content workshops geared towards content authors, editors, and publishers.