This digital guide focuses mainly on websites, and to a lesser extent social media. Developing an omni-channel digital content strategy is a broader challenge and not covered here.
Before you begin
What is a content strategy?
A content strategy is a document that outlines the steps you’ll take to make sure you have digital content people want to read, watch or listen to. It ensures your digital content serves an obvious purpose and your organisation’s objectives.
Why create a content strategy?
Improve the user experience
Slot gameWhen you use a strategic approach to creating your digital content you’ll be making your users’ lives easier by giving them what they’re looking for at the right time. Without a strategy you’ll often find your content doesn’t actually meet your users’ needs. When you realise this, you’ll have to rebuild it.
Improve the quality of the information
Slot gameA content strategy allows your agency or department to create high-quality content through:
- knowing you’re only publishing genuinely useful relevant information
- good publishing processes and standards (including approval processes)
- consistent content structures
- consistent messaging and branding across your business units
- quality results in Google search rankings
Streamline your content production
A solid strategy gives you a map to follow. It will make it easier to streamline production and plan ahead by creating better:
- workflows
- governance
- understanding of goals
- buy-in from management and stakeholders.
Gain confidence
Be confident your content conveys the right message and represents your brand across platforms.
Remove unnecessary clutter
Government websites are notorious for containing too much information, making it difficult to find, use and understand. A content strategy enables you to make deliberate decisions about the types of content that should be archived and a framework to make this happen within government.
Start research as soon as possible
Start research early, including researching user needs, testing, engaging external parties, sign-off times and costs. Refer to research user experience (UX) - digital guide for practical advice and templates.
Engage your department’s digital team early
Slot gameEngage early with your organisation’s digital team. They may be able to advise and support you.
What does the Victorian Government recommend?
All Victorian Government online services should create a content strategy to ensure any new or existing online product or service provides high-quality, useful information.
What standards must be met?
Branding
Apply Brand Victoria. Refer to apply Brand Victoria - digital guide (specifically written for digital).
Privacy
Comply with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. Refer to protect privacy - digital guide or the website.
Slot gameIf your digital presence collects personal information, then the physical location of the servers where it’s stored must have the same level of legal protection for private data as we offer citizens in Victoria.
Accessibility
Comply with the and the AA standard.
If your audience is primarily people with a disability (for example, National Disability Insurance Scheme clients), your site must pass the AAA standard.
Refer to Make content accessible - digital guide.
Manage public records
Slot gameThe Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) (under of the Public Records Act 1973) sets the standards for managing the public records your department or agency creates. Always check with your department's or agency’s records or information management specialist first for the approach to compliance.
Refer to manage online records - digital guide for more information or the .
Getting it approved
For a new digital presence (website or social media account)
Slot gameIf you’re creating a content strategy for a new digital presence, you must gain approval. This can be done with the appropriate governance body, your department’s Digital Management Committee (DMC) (or its equivalent).
For an existing digital presence (website or social media account)
Slot gameApproval is not necessary. Departments and agencies are encouraged to determine their own compliance and report to the appropriate internal group. Once again check with your DMC (or its equivalent).
Check if you need extra approvals
Note: You may need extra approvals for content elements like branding. These approvals often come from different parts of the business. Check your department’s intranet for details of the approval process.
Section 1: Planning a new website or website redesign
Section 2: Publishing great content
You can check your draft for clarity and ease of reading using online tools. For most purposes, the free online is worth considering.
Related How-to guides
Slot gameReviewed 17 November 2020
