Check your content before publication. This is where you can use different tactics. Some you already know, others may be new.
- Use spell check on your computer.
- Leave it for a while and look at it again later.
- Read your text aloud.
- Have a colleague, such as an editor-in-chief, proofread your text.
- Use the checklist below
- Do a content critique session.
- Do a user test or an A/B test.
Read more about:
Use the content creation checklist
Before publishing, make sure your content meets the following five points:
- Findable
- Readable
- Understandable
- Accessible
- Actionable
Use the checklist below to make sure your content adheres to these guidelines.
General requirements
- Page exists in 2 languages: NL and ENG (British spelling). Content is identical in both languages.
- The right content type is selected – see the article Content types
- Proofreading is done (no typos and spelling mistakes)
- No broken links
- Page is added to the menu (if the page is not accessible through an overview like news or agenda)
- Content reads and looks as human-made (if you involved AI) – see Content creation with AI
Web-writing and page structure
- Written in active voice, and other requirements of the Style guide are considered
- Adjusted to my audience’s reading and understanding level (language level B1 - see CEFR)
- Introduction is short but powerful (explained in 150-200 words what the page is about)
- The most important information is at the top of the page (not applicable to blogs and columns)
- Page contains a clear Call to Action (CTA) – “Register now”, “Download the brochure”, etc. (if applicable)
- Short paragraphs (max 3-5 sentences or 1-2 thoughts)
- Subheadings used (formatted as headings, not just putting text in bold/italic)
- Bullet points/numbered lists used
- Hyperlinks are descriptive
Keywords
- Keyword in the page title (Paginatitel, limit 65 symbols including the addition "| Radboud Universiteit" / "Radboud University)
- Keyword in the header (Kop) and subheadings
- Keywords in the body text (not overused)
- Keyword in the link text
Tip: See more information in the series of articles Conducting keyword research.
Media
- High-quality and on-brand images/videos – see the article Corporate identity
- Alt-text for images (max 100 characters) - see the article Media
- Videos are captioned
Meta-data
- Target audience(s) is selected in the backend
- Summary describes the topic of the content, for use in internal overviews, and is max. 250 characters
- SEO description describes the topic of the content, for use in search results, and is max. 150-165 characters.
Tip: Avoid phrases like: “Read more about…, “On this page you will find…” in summaries and descriptions as they just take up space. See more information in the article SEO tab.
Organize a content crit session
A content crit session (or "crit" for short) is a session where you and your team discuss a piece of content. Crits are a way to involve the team in the content and ensure consistency.
You don't have to wait until the end of the content creation process to organize a crit. You can do this at any time. In fact, it's often easier to do this earlier because people won't be as attached to their content yet and can process feedback more easily.
Organize a crit:
- Gather colleagues from various disciplines, from writers to designers to developers.
- Share content on a screen.
- Explain the purpose of the content. What need is being met?
- Invite people to ask questions about the content, such as:
- Why was that word chosen?
- Could that also be a bulleted list?
- Is there a design or technical solution to this problem?
- Get everyone talking.
- Take notes.
- Keep it short.
Crits can be challenging. No one likes to be criticized for his or her work. To provide a safe environment:
- Talk about the content, not the person who created it.
- Be honest, but remain kind.
- Assume that the person who created the content did the best job possible, with the knowledge and information available at the time.