How do I organize my content site’s articles and update history for a buyer?

Start by pulling an inventory of every page from the site itself, so the list matches what visitors see. Next to each article, add who wrote it, when it first went live, when it was last changed, and what was altered. If you used freelancers, note that too, since it points to who holds the original files. Add a short note beside any article that depends on a freelancer, a source or an image licensed from someone else.

Group the articles by topic or purpose. A buyer will want to know which pieces anchor the site, which are supporting, and which are thin or no longer useful. Flag those you have meant to retire or merge, and say why. It is better to say it than to have the buyer discover it. Keep the sheet current through to closing, so what the buyer sees on day one matches what is actually on the site.

Keep a separate log of larger events: redesigns, address changes, moved sections, deleted pages and any time the site’s traffic moved sharply. Pair each entry with the date and what you did. Put the sheet and the log in a shared folder and walk the buyer through them once.

Key takeaways

• List every page with author, dates and a note on each change.
• Group articles by role and flag any you plan to retire.
• Keep a separate dated log of redesigns, moves and deletions.