Keeping your website up to date builds trust with residents and ensures that public information stays accurate and useful. The Stale Content Report helps you manage this by identifying pages that may be out of date so you can review them at the right time, with minimal guesswork.
AI Content Advisor reviews all published pages and groups them into content categories, each with its own review cycle. The report calculates how long it’s been since each page was last updated and highlights those that are overdue for review.
Permissions and Access
The Stale Content Report is available to all customers whose user accounts are part of the Organization in the CivicPlus Organization service. This ensures that content reviewers and communications staff can easily monitor and maintain their site’s accuracy.
Who Can View the Report
Any user associated with your CivicPlus Organization has access to view the Stale Content Report. There are no additional roles or permissions required beyond being part of the Organization.
Requesting Access
If you’re unable to view the Stale Content Report, you may not yet be linked to the Organization. Please contact your Site Administrator to request access. They can confirm your Organization membership and update your user profile if needed.
When Categorization Happens
Content is categorized automatically in two key moments:
Initial Setup: When AI Content Advisor is first enabled, your entire website is scanned. Each published page is analyzed and categorized using AI to ensure your report starts with a complete picture.
New Content: As new pages are published, they are automatically analyzed and assigned a category so they appear in the report with the appropriate review timeline.
This process ensures that every page on your site has a clear, consistent review cycle from the start.
How Categorization Works
AI Content Advisor uses a combination of content analysis techniques, including keyword patterns, structure, and intent, to determine which of the six predefined categories best fits each page. These categories include:
Evergreen
Service
Time-Sensitive
Programmatic/Recurring
Contact
Engagement
Each category has its own recommended review cycle, ranging from every 90 days to every 36 months.
Content Categories and Review Cycles
Evergreen
Review every 36 months
Examples: Policies, Department Descriptions
Content that provides long-term, stable information, like how your government is structured or your official mission. These pages rarely change, but should be reviewed occasionally to ensure accuracy.
Traits:
Describes permanent functions or policies
Not tied to specific events or dates
Serves as reference material
Service
Review every 12 months
Examples: Apply, Pay, Report content
Pages that guide residents through tasks such as paying bills or applying for permits. These are critical for usability and should be reviewed at least once a year, or sooner if a process or fee changes.
Traits:
Includes steps or instructions
Often links to forms or transactions
Accuracy directly impacts user experience
Time-Sensitive
Review every 90 days
Examples: Alerts, News, Notices
Short-lived content that quickly becomes outdated. These pages should be removed, updated, or archived once their relevance ends.
Traits:
Tied to specific dates or events
Should expire or be actively managed
May cause confusion if left unchanged
Programmatic/Recurring
Review every six months
Examples: Elections, Programs
Content tied to recurring events or cycles like elections, seasonal activities, or budget timelines. These pages need updates before each new cycle.
Traits:
Follows a predictable schedule
Mixes stable and time-sensitive information
Requires periodic refreshes
Contact
Review every six months
Examples: Staff, Boards, Directories
Pages that help residents get in touch with the right people or departments. Even small changes, like a staff name or phone number, can quickly make this content outdated.
Traits:
Lists individuals, departments, or facilities
Includes contact details like emails and phone numbers
Needs regular checks for accuracy
Engagement
Review every six months
Examples: Events, Surveys
Interactive content that invites public participation. Once an event passes or a survey closes, these pages should be updated or removed.
Traits:
Promotes community involvement
Often linked to specific deadlines
Changes frequently with new activities