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Content Directory

What is a Content Inventory?

A content inventory is a systematic catalog of all content on a website. It serves as the foundation for content audits, SEO optimizations and strategic content planning. By completely capturing all pages, articles, videos and other content, you get a clear overview of your content landscape.

Goals of a Content Inventory

001. Complete Overview

  • Capture all available content
  • Identify Content Holes
  • Understand content structure

002. SEO Optimization

  • Evaluate search engine performance
  • Identify optimization potential
  • Prioritize content improvements

003. Content Framework

  • Foundation for content planning
  • Support for content decisions
  • Measure content ROI

Content Inventory Process

6 Steps from Crawling to Reporting:

  1. Website Crawling → 2. Content Collection → 3. Data Analysis → 4. Categorization → 5. Evaluation → 6. Reporting

001. Website Crawling

  • Automated capture of all URLs
  • Extraction of metadata
  • Capture of content structure

002. Content Collection

  • Collection of all relevant data
  • Capture of text content
  • Documentation of media elements

003. Data Analysis

  • Evaluation of collected data
  • Identification of patterns
  • Detection of anomalies

Content Categories

Category
Examples
SEO Relevance
Priority
Blog Articles
How-to Guides, Tutorials
Very High
High
Product Pages
Product Descriptions, Categories
High
Very High
Landing Pages
Campaign Pages, Conversion Pages
Medium
High
Static Pages
Imprint, Privacy Policy, About Us
Low
Low
Media Content
Videos, Images, PDFs
Medium
Medium

Captured Data Points

001. Technical Data

  • URL and Status Code
  • Page Title and Meta Description
  • H1-H6 Headings
  • Content Length (Word Count)
  • Last Update

002. SEO Data

  • Keyword Density
  • Internal Linking
  • External Linking
  • Alt Tags for Images
  • Schema Markup

003. Performance Data

  • Load Time
  • Performance Metrics
  • Mobile Friendliness
  • Indexing Status

Content Evaluation Criteria

Content Evaluation

SEO Performance (40%)
Keyword Rankings, Organic Traffic, Click-Through Rate, Bounce Rate
Content Quality (25%)
Relevance to Target Audience, Information Currency, Content Completeness, Readability and Structure
Technical Quality (20%)
Load Time, Mobile Optimization, Structured Data, Internal Linking
Engagement (15%)
Dwell Time, Page Views, Social Shares, Comments and Interactions

Content Inventory Tools

001. Crawling Software

  • Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Sitebulb
  • DeepCrawl
  • Botify

002. Analysis Tools

  • Google Analytics
  • Google Search Console
  • Adobe Analytics
  • Hotjar

003. Content Management

  • Confluence
  • Notion
  • Airtable
  • Excel/Google Sheets

Content Prioritization

Content Prioritization

High Priority (30%)
Content with High Traffic Potential, Important Product Pages, Strategic Landing Pages
Medium Priority (50%)
Blog Articles with Medium Performance, Category Pages, Support Documentation
Low Priority (20%)
Outdated Content, Duplicate Content, Test Pages

Content Gaps Identification

001. Keyword Gaps

  • Missing Keywords in Top Rankings
  • Unoccupied Long-Tail Keywords
  • Competitor Analysis

002. Content Gaps

  • Missing Topic Areas
  • Incomplete Product Information
  • Missing FAQ Sections

003. Structural Gaps

  • Missing Category Pages
  • Incomplete Navigation
  • Missing Internal Linking

Content Inventory Checklist

Content Inventory Checklist

001. Preparation

  • ☐ Configure Crawling Tool
  • ☐ Define Target Keywords
  • ☐ Set Evaluation Criteria
  • ☐ Plan Timeline

002. Execution

  • ☐ Complete Website Crawling
  • ☐ Capture Content Data
  • ☐ Collect SEO Metrics
  • ☐ Analyze Performance Data

003. Evaluation

  • ☐ Categorize Content
  • ☐ Assign Evaluation Scores
  • ☐ Set Priorities
  • ☐ Identify Gaps

004. Documentation

  • ☐ Document Results
  • ☐ Create Action Recommendations
  • ☐ Develop Monitoring Plan
  • ☐ Plan Regular Reviews

Content Inventory Best Practices

001. Regular Execution

  • Quarterly Inventory
  • Continuous Monitoring
  • Annual Completeness Check

002. Automation

  • Automated Crawling Processes
  • Automated Reports
  • Workflow Integration

003. Team Coordination

  • Clear Responsibilities
  • Regular Coordination
  • Documented Processes

Avoid Common Mistakes

Tip: Use multiple tools for comprehensive data collection

Warning: Don't forget to crawl mobile and international versions

001. Incomplete Collection

  • Missing Subdomains
  • Forgotten Mobile Versions
  • Overlooked PDF Documents

002. Outdated Data

  • Non-updated Inventories
  • Missing Monitoring Processes
  • Neglected Reviews

003. Wrong Prioritization

  • Focus on Quantity Instead of Quality
  • Neglect of Long-Tail Keywords
  • Overlook Content Gaps

Content Inventory Reporting

Frequently Asked Questions about Content Inventory

How often should a content inventory be conducted?

A content inventory should be conducted at least quarterly, with continuous monitoring and annual completeness checks.

Which tools are best suited for content inventory?

The best tools are Screaming Frog SEO Spider for crawling, Google Analytics for performance data, and Airtable for content management.

How do I prioritize content for optimizations?

Prioritize by SEO performance (40%), content quality (25%), technical quality (20%), and engagement (15%).

What are the most common mistakes in content inventory?

Common mistakes are incomplete collection, outdated data, and wrong prioritization of content.

How do I document content inventory results?

Create an executive summary, detailed analysis, and action plan with prioritized measures and timelines.

001. Executive Summary

  • Overview of Content Landscape
  • Most Important Insights
  • Action Recommendations

002. Detailed Analysis

  • Content Categories Performance
  • SEO Metrics Development
  • Identified Gaps

003. Action Plan

  • Prioritized Measures
  • Timeline and Responsibilities
  • Success Measurement

Related Topics

Last Update: 22. October 2025