How can you ensure your content is inclusive during a content audit?

Before hitting audit mode, identify your audience personas. Who are you trying to reach? Consider diversity in factors like age, gender identity, ethnicity, ability, and more. This understanding shapes inclusive content that resonates.

To make your content inclusive during an audit, check for diverse representation. Ensure your images, language, and examples reflect different backgrounds. You may ask for feedback from a diverse group to catch any blind spots. Make it a habit to regularly review and update content to stay inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

Is your content overly formal or jargon-heavy? Ditch the stuffy language! We want clear, conversational language that everyone can grasp. Think about how you'd explain a concept to a friend. Avoid stereotypes and unconscious bias in your tone too. For instance, instead of saying "businessman," consider "business professional" This small shift opens up your content to a wider audience. Aim for friendly, informative, and respectful. Your content should feel welcoming, not alienating.

This is important! Review the tone and voice used in your content to ensure it resonates with a wide audience. Avoid language that may be exclusionary or offensive, and aim for inclusivity and sensitivity in messaging.

Audit your content for biased language or gendered terms. Use inclusive language like "they/them" for singular non-binary individuals, and avoid assuming everyone celebrates holidays or has the same family structure.

Review your visuals! Do your images represent the diversity of your audience? Are there hidden biases or stereotypes? For example, are all the doctors in your stock photos white men? Do all the families look like a traditional nuclear family with a mom, dad, and kids? Look for opportunities to showcase a wider range of ethnicities, ages, abilities, body types, and gender identities. This doesn't mean every image needs to be a forced diversity showcase, but it does mean consciously selecting visuals that reflect the real world and the people you're trying to reach.

Beyond people, be mindful of the overall message your visuals convey. Are there stereotypical gender roles depicted, or outdated ideas about professions? Avoid reinforcing biases through your imagery. High-quality, relevant visuals that reflect your inclusive message will resonate far more than generic stock photos.

I also do this everytime, Examine the visuals and media accompanying your content to ensure they depict diverse representation and avoid reinforcing stereotypes. Incorporate images, videos, and graphics that showcase inclusivity and diversity in a positive light.

Pay attention to the language and images used in your content. Avoid language that may be insensitive to certain groups of people. Consider whether the images and illustrations used accurately reflect the diversity of your audience.

Evaluate the accessibility of your content to ensure it can be easily consumed by individuals with disabilities. Pay attention to factors such as screen reader compatibility, alt text for images, captioning for videos, and readability for all users.

Here are some tips to ensure your content is inclusive during a content audit: Assess representation across races, genders, ages, abilities, etc. Review imagery and visuals for diversity and avoid stereotypes. Use inclusive language and avoid insensitive terms. Consult diverse team members for feedback. Evaluate tone and voice for a welcoming, respectful approach. Check accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Update or remove outdated, insensitive, or non-inclusive content. Establish content guidelines for maintaining inclusivity. The key is to critically examine your content through the lens of diversity and inclusivity, involve diverse perspectives, and continuously improve to better resonate with and represent all audiences.