Content Archiving for Records: What Actually Works
Retaining published content as a record, where regulation or litigation requires it.
Dana Whitfield
Where most projects go wrong
The usual mistakes:
- Screenshots as the archive
- Only the latest version retained
- Archives nobody can search
- Retention periods set arbitrarily
What good looks like instead
- Archive published pages and campaigns systematically
- Capture revisions, not only current versions
- Keep archives searchable
- Align retention with regulatory requirements
- Test retrieval periodically
Why it matters
Published claims may need to be produced years later, and screenshots are weak evidence.
The specs that matter
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Retention rules | some industries must retain communications |
| Completeness | archives should capture what the audience saw |
| Search | archives must be retrievable |
| Changes | revisions should be captured, not just current versions |
Knowing when to hand it over
Tip: Bring in help when regulators may request past content.
Where this comes from
- FINRA — Rule 2210 Communications with the Public
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Security and Privacy Controls
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
Working on something like this?
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Where to go next
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