Content Planning

Except for an Essential Basic website, all projects require content planning. 

Content-driven websites need a lot more thought about the content. 

Depending on who is in charge of the content, the job may be more about content gathering rather than content planning.

Please read about content gathering and competitive analysis.

These are examples of content being broken down into section, without giving much reference to the layout, but working more on the logical flow and grouping of content. There are hints of layout, but this is more of a content-driven process.

What is Content Planning?

Content planning is deciding out what content to put on the website and how to approach the task.

It is also working out where and when the content will come. 

Do we need to research? Will the client provide it? Do you collaborate? Does the content come before or during content structuring.

Visually planning the content

Content planning should be done in a visual manner (within FigJam).

Raw client documents can be pasted into Figma at first. Then moved next to the sections they are pegged for. See content structuring.

 

 

Since content affects the layout and vice versa, you should work on both the visual plan and the content in balance and at the same time.

Identifying content needed

Some clients needs help in working out what content to have and what sections to have.

Identifying content flow and structure
Other clients require help in working out the logical flow and order of the content. In other words, how to structure a page so that the information is presented in a hierarchical and digestible form, with the most important facts at the top of the page.
Study the content

Regardless of whether you are using a Content Driven or Visual Driven approach. You must study the content client has given you or any other content you have.
It will help you understand the business, and that will help you build a better website.

Does it need breaking down?

You should try to envision the quantity of content that is suitable for the type of project you are working on — and break down the various bits of content you should obtain.

Fixing up client content

Client content can often be long. It won’t be in the digestible form that the website needs.

For most projects, apart from Basic and Commerce—this is part of the service.