1. Choose inventory fields
Record each URL, page title, purpose, owner, content type, last review date, and relevant performance signals. Add an action column so the inventory supports decisions rather than becoming a list nobody uses.
Use stable identifiers and record the final response code so a page can be distinguished from a similarly named draft. Include important downloads and media that people reach directly from search or external links.
2. Collect the source material
Use the current sitemap and a crawl or manual review to find pages. Include PDFs and important images when they serve visitors, and note pages that may be hidden from normal navigation.
Capture current titles, headings, links, and media references before editing. This makes it easier to compare the new site with the source and spot information that was unintentionally dropped.
3. Assess usefulness and accuracy
Ask whether each item answers a current visitor need, is factually correct, and has a clear owner. Check Search Console or analytics data as context, not as the only measure of a page’s value.
Use evidence such as traffic, conversions, links, and stakeholder knowledge together. Low visits alone do not prove a page has no value, especially for essential support or policy information.
4. Turn the inventory into a plan
Mark each item to retain, improve, merge, redirect, or retire. Assign owners and next steps so the inventory leads into actual migration work.
Turn each row into a clear decision and owner. Pair this sheet with the migration plan and redirect map before changing URLs.
