Content Audit

GATE: Confirm scope and inputs before starting the audit.

Phase 2: Audit Framework

Categorize Every Piece

Assign each content piece to one of five actions:

Audit Spreadsheet Format

| # | Title | URL | Category | Priority | Notes |
|---|-------|-----|----------|----------|-------|
| 1 | [Title] | [URL] | Update | High | Outdated stats, weak intro, add internal links |
| 2 | [Title] | [URL] | Merge | Medium | Combine with article #7 — same topic |
| 3 | [Title] | [URL] | Delete | Low | 200 words, no traffic, no backlinks |

GATE: Present audit framework and confirm approach before full analysis.

Phase 3: Write

Full Audit Report

Section 1: Executive Summary

## Content Audit Summary

**Total pieces audited:** [N]
**Keep:** [N] ([%])
**Update:** [N] ([%])
**Merge:** [N] ([%])
**Delete:** [N] ([%])
**Content gaps identified:** [N]

**Top priority actions:**
1. [Most impactful update or merge]
2. [Second priority]
3. [Third priority]

Section 2: Update Recommendations

For each "Update" piece:

### [Article Title]

**Current issue:** [What is wrong — outdated data, poor SEO, weak structure]
**Recommended changes:**
- [Specific change 1]
- [Specific change 2]
- [Specific change 3]
**Priority:** High / Medium / Low
**Estimated impact:** [Why this update matters]
**Target keyword update:** [Current keyword → recommended keyword]

Section 3: Merge Recommendations

### Merge Group: [Topic]

**Articles to combine:**
1. [Title A] — [URL]
2. [Title B] — [URL]

**Recommended approach:** Keep [Article A] as the base. Merge unique content from [Article B]. 301 redirect [Article B URL] to [Article A URL].
**New title suggestion:** "[Updated title]"
**Target keyword:** "[keyword]"

Section 4: Delete Recommendations

### Articles to Remove

| Title | URL | Reason | Redirect To |
|-------|-----|--------|-------------|
| [Title] | [URL] | [Thin/irrelevant/no traffic] | [Redirect URL or "none"] |

Section 5: Content Gap Analysis

### Content Gaps

| Gap Topic | Target Keyword | Priority | Rationale |
|-----------|---------------|----------|-----------|
| [Topic] | [Keyword] | High | [Why this content is needed] |
| [Topic] | [Keyword] | Medium | [Rationale] |

Phase 4: Polish

1. Audit Checklist

## Audit Quality Checklist

- [ ] Every content piece is categorized (keep, update, merge, delete, create)
- [ ] Update recommendations include specific changes (not just "improve")
- [ ] Merge candidates identify which article to keep as the base
- [ ] Delete candidates have 301 redirect recommendations
- [ ] Content gaps are prioritized by impact
- [ ] Executive summary highlights the top 3 priorities
- [ ] Recommendations are actionable and time-estimated

2. Action Plan Timeline

## 90-Day Action Plan

**Month 1:** Update the top 3 highest-priority articles
**Month 2:** Execute merge recommendations and create 301 redirects
**Month 3:** Begin filling content gaps with new pieces; delete and redirect thin content

3. Ongoing Audit Schedule

Recommend quarterly mini-audits and annual full audits.

Example: Audit of a 30-Article Freelance Business Blog

Summary:
- Keep: 8 articles (27%)
- Update: 12 articles (40%)
- Merge: 4 articles into 2 (13%)
- Delete: 6 articles (20%)
- Gaps: 5 new topics identified

Top priorities:
1. Update "Freelance Pricing Guide" — #1 traffic driver, data from 2022
2. Merge "Email Tips for Freelancers" and "How to Write Client Emails" — 70% overlap
3. Create "Freelance Contract Template" — high-volume keyword, no existing content

Anti-Patterns

• Auditing without a goal — "let's audit everything" leads to a spreadsheet nobody acts on. Define the business goal first.
• Only looking at traffic — a piece with low traffic might have high conversion value. Consider multiple metrics.
• Keeping everything — emotional attachment to old content prevents improvement. Be willing to delete.
• No action plan — an audit without a prioritized action plan is just an inventory. Always end with next steps.
• Auditing too frequently — quarterly mini-audits are fine. Full audits more than once a year create audit fatigue.

Recovery

• No performance data: Audit based on content quality, recency, and alignment with current business goals. Recommend setting up analytics before the next audit.
• Massive content library (100+ pieces): Start with the top 20 by traffic or the most recent 30. Expand in phases.
• User wants to keep everything: Explain the cost of thin content (SEO dilution, brand perception). Suggest archiving instead of deleting if they are uncomfortable.
• No clear content gaps: Research competitor content or audience questions to identify missing topics.
• Too many updates needed: Prioritize by estimated impact. Update the top 5 first, then reassess.