Enter Once Use Everywhere Reducing Duplicate Content

The same Georgia State information may appear in directories, department websites, college websites, program pages, research centers and other university systems.

While repeating information can seem convenient for users, every additional copy creates another piece of content that someone must maintain.

The more copies we create, the greater the opportunity for outdated or inconsistent information.

A more sustainable approach is to enter information once, connect it intelligently and reuse it everywhere.

Why Duplicate Content Creates Problems

Consider information about a faculty member. That information might appear in a:

·      University directory

·      Department website

·      College website

·      Academic program

·      Research center

If each location maintains its own version, a change to the faculty member’s title, expertise or other information may need to be updated multiple times.

The same issue can occur with program requirements, application deadlines, tuition information, contact information and other university content.

Before Copying Information

Ask:

1. Does this information already have an authoritative source?

2. Who is responsible for keeping it current?

3. Does my website need to maintain another copy?

4. Could I reference or connect to the authoritative information instead?

5. What will happen when this information changes?

These questions help shift the focus from filling individual pages to creating reliable connections between GSU information.

Example

Imagine the same program requirement appears on five different GSU pages.

If the requirement changes, five pages may need to be identified and updated. If one is missed, students can encounter conflicting information.

Instead, the university can move toward identifying the authoritative record and connecting directories, departments, programs, research, search and other experiences to trusted information.

The presentation illustrates this as a move away from repeated data entry and inconsistent information toward one authoritative record that can support multiple destinations.

Your Website Is Part of a Larger Ecosystem

This does not mean websites are no longer important. It means an individual webpage does not need to independently own every piece of information it presents.

Faculty connect to research. Research connects to programs. Programs connect to admissions and careers. Those relationships allow separate systems to begin functioning like one university experience.

Before creating another copy, ask whether you can create a connection instead.

Update once. Improve everywhere.

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