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Archiving pages

When a page is no longer needed it can be archived. However, there are a number of considerations and checks that need to be carried out before archiving a page.

Should the page be archived?

Before deciding to archive a page, it’s important to carefully consider whether the content can be reworked to maintain its relevance. Ask yourself if the information on the page is still valuable to your audience and if it can be updated or improved to reflect current needs. Sometimes, an update or refresh can keep it useful for visitors.

Additionally, think about whether the page will be needed in the future. Archiving a page might seem like a good idea now, but if the content is likely to be relevant again, it might be worth keeping it accessible. Temporarily archiving a page can impact your site’s SEO, as archived pages can lead to a loss of valuable page ranking. This can negatively affect the overall visibility and traffic of your website. For more details on how archiving can impact SEO, please refer to the Search engine optimisation (SEO) section below.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can make an informed decision about whether to archive a page or rework it to maintain its relevance.

Search engine optimisation (SEO)

Before archiving a web page, it is crucial to consider the impact on search engine optimization (SEO). 

Archiving a page can lead to the loss of valuable page ranking, which can negatively affect the overall visibility and traffic of your website. Pages that have accumulated significant SEO value over time contribute to the site’s authority and search engine ranking. Removing these pages without proper consideration can result in a drop in search engine rankings, leading to decreased organic traffic. 

Additionally, it is important to implement redirects for archived pages to ensure that users and search engines are directed to relevant content. This helps maintain the SEO value and provides a seamless user experience by preventing broken links and ensuring that visitors can still find the information they are looking for. Ask yourself “Is there a similar or suitable page that we should be redirecting users to?”. If the answer is yes, raise a ticket with the Web Team to discuss or request redirects.

URLs in print and email communications

When archiving a page, it is crucial to consider the impact on URLs that have been used in print and email communications. These URLs may still be accessed by users, and encountering broken links can lead to a poor user experience. 

Here are some key points to consider:

  • Before archiving a page, identify any URLs that have been used in print and email communications. Ensure that these URLs are updated or redirected to relevant content to prevent broken links.
  • Set up redirects for archived pages to ensure that users who access these URLs are directed to up-to-date content. This helps maintain a seamless user experience and ensures that users can still find the information they need.
  • Inform stakeholders and users about the changes to URLs. This can be done through email notifications, updates on the website, or other communication channels.
  • After archiving a page, Google Analytics can be used to monitor access to the URLs used in print and email communications. This can help identify any issues and ensure that users are being directed to the correct content.

Before requesting page archiving, editors should attempt to identify, and update or remove any links to that page from other pages. 

Request archiving

Once you have carried our the checks above and are satisfied that archiving the page will have no unintended consequences, you can start the process to archive:

  1. Set the page status to ‘Needs Archiving’, this will alert the Web Team who will process the request within 1 working day.
  2. If there are in-links (pages which are still linking to the page to be archived) remaining, the Web Team will either adress the editor making the request in the event there are more than 5 in-links  detected. The Web Team will adjust up to 5 in-links and then archive the original page. A page which has been processed will be identified by the lack of the ‘Latest version’ tab or by consulting the revision history of that page. 
  3. Once the in-links have been adjusted, the editor will contact the Web Team who will then archive the original page. 
  4. If redirects are required.