Designing Blog Post Templates for Website Content Audit Findings and Recommendations
A content audit is only useful if the findings lead to action. Too often, audits end in a sprawling spreadsheet that clients cannot act on. A blog post template gives that data a clear structure: what to keep, what to rewrite, and what to remove. On design-logix.co.uk, we use a repeatable format that turns audit findings into recommendations that are easy to scan, discuss, and brief into production.
Start with the audit summary
Open with a short summary that explains the scope of the audit: how many URLs were reviewed, which sections of the site were included, and what criteria were applied. This sets expectations and prevents the reader from asking basic questions later.
Follow the summary with a blockquote that captures the single most important insight from the audit. For example:
"Nearly half of the blog is either outdated or duplicated, but the top ten posts still drive most organic traffic."
A quotation like this gives the rest of the template a clear narrative direction.
Explain the keep, rewrite, remove framework
The core of the template is a three-part classification system. Every URL or content group receives one of three labels, and each label comes with a short rationale and a next step.
- Keep: content that performs well, matches search intent, and needs no structural change.
- Rewrite: content with potential but weak structure, thin coverage, or outdated facts.
- Remove: content that is obsolete, duplicated, or irrelevant to the audience.
This framework keeps recommendations honest. It forces the auditor to justify each decision rather than listing vague concerns.
Present findings in a structured table
Use a table to summarise the audit at a glance before diving into detail. A simple table with columns for URL, category, reason, and recommended action makes the findings comparable across dozens of pages.
| URL | Category | Reason | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| /blog/old-guide | Remove | Outdated and duplicated | 301 redirect |
| /blog/seo-basics | Rewrite | Thin content, high impressions | Expand and update |
| /blog/brand-story | Keep | Strong engagement | Monitor only |
The table acts as an index. Each row can link to a longer section later in the post.
Detail the rewrite and removal recommendations
After the table, work through the rewrite and removal lists in order of priority. Use a numbered list to show the recommended sequence, so the reader knows what to tackle first.
- Rewrite the highest-traffic thin pages before removing anything.
- Consolidate duplicate posts into one canonical version.
- Remove or redirect low-value pages only after the replacements are live.
For each recommendation, explain the expected outcome: improved rankings, clearer user journeys, or reduced maintenance. This turns a list of edits into a business case.
Close with next steps
End the template with a short action plan. Assign owners, estimate effort, and set a review date. The audit is not the deliverable; the changes it triggers are. A consistent template makes those changes easier to approve and easier to measure.
