How do you manage content revisions from many sources?

1 Define your content governance and workflow

Before you start creating or revising any content, you need to establish a clear content governance and workflow. This means defining who is responsible for what, how the content is created, reviewed, approved, and published, and what tools and guidelines are used. A content governance and workflow document can help you communicate your roles, processes, and standards to everyone involved in the content creation and revision cycle. It can also help you avoid duplication, inconsistency, and delays.

2 Use a collaborative platform and tools

One of the best ways to manage content revisions from many sources is to use a collaborative platform and tools that allow you to track changes, share feedback, and resolve issues in real time. For example, you can use Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or other cloud-based applications that enable you to create, edit, and comment on documents online. You can also use tools like Trello, Asana, or Airtable to manage your content tasks, deadlines, and workflows. These tools can help you keep everyone on the same page and reduce the risk of losing or overlooking important revisions.

3 Establish a revision policy and protocol

Another tip to manage content revisions from many sources is to establish a revision policy and protocol that specifies how many revisions are allowed, how they are requested, how they are implemented, and how they are verified. A revision policy and protocol can help you set clear expectations and boundaries for your content creators, reviewers, and approvers. It can also help you prioritize and organize your revisions and ensure that they are done in a timely and efficient manner.

4 Use a style guide and a checklist

A style guide and a checklist are essential tools to help you manage content revisions from many sources. A style guide is a document that outlines your content standards, such as tone, voice, grammar, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and branding. A checklist is a list of items that you need to check before you submit or publish your content, such as accuracy, clarity, relevance, readability, and SEO. A style guide and a checklist can help you maintain consistency and quality across your content and reduce the need for unnecessary or excessive revisions.

5 Solicit and incorporate feedback wisely

Feedback is an important part of the content revision process, but it can also be a source of confusion and conflict if not handled properly. To manage content revisions from many sources, you need to solicit and incorporate feedback wisely. This means asking for feedback from the right people at the right time, using specific and constructive questions, listening to and acknowledging feedback, and deciding which feedback to accept or reject based on your content goals and standards. You also need to communicate your feedback decisions clearly and respectfully to your content contributors and stakeholders.

6 Test and evaluate your content

The final tip to manage content revisions from many sources is to test and evaluate your content before you publish it. Testing and evaluating your content can help you identify and fix any errors, gaps, or issues that may have been overlooked or introduced during the revision process. You can use various methods to test and evaluate your content, such as user testing, analytics, surveys, or audits. Testing and evaluating your content can help you ensure that your content meets your objectives and satisfies your audience.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?