In a best-case scenario, the WMS site you’ve inherited is a well-oiled machine. This would mean that:
- The content is up-to-date and accessible
- Navigation and layouts are well-constructed
- Tools and features have been properly configured
- Privacy and policy guidelines have been adhered to and
- Site documentation (i.e. a site inventory or recent content audit) is available for you to review
If you're very lucky, the previous site manager has even given you a tour of the site and filled you in on the status of any web projects that might be in progress.
If any of these items are not accurate, it's a good idea for you to check for issues you should address. Here's a list of steps you can take:
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Review your site content
Complete a content audit. Read our article, Spring cleaning: site content auditing! for instructions. You might not have time to do a full content audit right away. Start by looking at the most frequently visited pages and then continue with the rest of the site as you have time. Refer to your site's Google Analytics report to identify pages you should look at first. You can request Google Analytics reports from Digital Communications.
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Check access permissions
Verify your site's access permissions are up-to-date by checking your Site Users report in your Dashboard. You can also visit the IT Support site to request a list of your site's users. Access permissions are rarely reviewed. When they are, it isn't uncommon for site managers to discover that staff members who no longer work in their department still have editor access. Keep in mind that requests for permissions updates can only be submitted by site administrators or site sponsors.
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Fix broken links
Fix the problem links listed in your site's broken links report. The most critical issues to address are the 4XX client errors and 5XX server errors (i.e. "404 Not Found", "503 Service Unavailable"). You should also follow up on the 3XX redirection codes (i.e. "301 Moved Permanently") where appropriate. For full details on fixing broken links on your site, read this IT Knowledge Base article.
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Redesign your site
This step won't always be necessary, but if your site is in need of a refresh you might consider doing a full-on site redesign. Read our article, Getting ready for a site redesign, for information and resources to help you plan and execute a redesign project.
Help resources
Need help? Access the support resources below for information and assistance:
- Web Services training & events
- Report an issue / Ask a question about the Web Management System
- WMS documentation in the IT Knowledge Base
This article was originally published, 12/18/2018 and revised on 1/24/2023.
