{"id":19973,"date":"2023-11-28T15:07:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T20:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/?p=19973"},"modified":"2026-03-19T06:18:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T10:18:41","slug":"cutheme-ready-preparing-your-site-for-a-seamless-migration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2023\/cutheme-ready-preparing-your-site-for-a-seamless-migration\/","title":{"rendered":"cuTheme Ready &#8211; Prepare your Site for a Seamless Migration!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        cuTheme Ready &#8211; Prepare your Site for a Seamless Migration!\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>Reviewing your website thoroughly before migrating it, lets you start off on the right foot and can make for a smoother transition. It is also beneficial to your current visitors!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are four steps to help you prepare your website for migration to cuTheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"w-full max-w-xl mx-auto overflow-hidden bg-white rounded-lg shadow-lg cu-stackedlist cu-component not-contained not-prose\">\n    <h2 class=\"px-6 py-4 text-base font-semibold border-b rounded-t-lg md:text-xl bg-gray-50 text-cu-black-800\">\n        Table of Contents\n    <\/h2>\n    <div class=\"grid cu-scrollto cu-stackedlist--toc cu-stackedlist--1 md:grid-cols-1\">\n            <div class=\"space-y-1\">\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        1.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#step-1-do-a-content-audit\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Step 1: Do a Content Audit\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        2.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#step-2-ensure-your-content-is-accessible\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Step 2: Ensure your Content is Accessible\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                                        <div class=\"space-y-1\">\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        2.1\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#resources\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Resources\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        3.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#step-3-review-your-navigation-menu\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Step 3: Review Your Navigation Menu\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                                        <div class=\"space-y-1\">\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        3.1\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#simplify-your-navigation\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Simplify your Navigation\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        3.2\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#resources\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Resources\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        4.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#step-4-review-and-renew-your-homepage\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Step 4: Review and Renew Your Homepage\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                                        <div class=\"space-y-1\">\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        4.1\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#have-clear-calls-to-action-ctas\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Have Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        4.2\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#create-a-visual-hierarchy\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Create a Visual Hierarchy\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        4.3\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#use-dynamic-elements\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Use Dynamic Elements\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        4.4\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#update-images\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Update Images\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-10 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        4.5\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#resources\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Resources\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        5.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#download-our-cutheme-readiness-checklist\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Download our cuTheme Readiness Checklist\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"step-1-do-a-content-audit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Do a Content Audit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Evaluate the relevance and quality of your content. Remove outdated information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Delete old pages and posts. Clear out obsolete news, events, people listings, files, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rewrite content for the web to optimize for both Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and accessibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for and fix broken links<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webworkshops\/website-review-training\/module-3-do-a-content-audit\/\">Website Review Training &#8211; How to do a Content Audit<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2022\/spring-cleaning-the-virtual-version\/\">Spring Cleaning your Website <\/a>&#8211; not limited to spring \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2023\/web-accessibility-and-search-engine-optimization\/\">Tips for optimizing for SEO and accessibility<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"step-2-ensure-your-content-is-accessible\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Ensure your Content is Accessible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Review your website&#8217;s accessibility according to AODA guidelines.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure that it&#8217;s easily navigable for users with disabilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Including proper alt text for images<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use headings and subheadings and use in the correct order (hierarchically)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is good practice to ensure a site that is easy to navigate and use for all visitors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"resources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webworkshops\/accessibility-training\/\">Online accessibility training &#8211; <\/a>Learn how to make more accessible text, images, tables and videos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webworkshops\/accessibility\/web-accessibility-checklist\/\">Web accessibility checklist<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alt Text<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2022\/alt-text-1-improving-your-image-with-web-services\/\">All about Alt Text<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2022\/describing-people-in-alt-text\/\">Describing people in Alt text<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"step-3-review-your-navigation-menu\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Review Your Navigation Menu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The menu in cuTheme is top-of-page only (no side option). You may need to rethink your navigation depending on the length. We recommend reviewing it periodically anyway as things evolve on your site!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"simplify-your-navigation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Simplify your Navigation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Streamline your menu items to make navigation intuitive and efficient. Consider categorizing content logically and using sub-items where necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limit top-level menu items to (4-7 is what we recommend). This makes it easier to navigate for the user, plus ensures it will fit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review top-level items. Top-level menu items with subpages won\u2019t act as landing pages in cuTheme. Do you need to rethink your structure?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"resources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2023\/menu-magic-create-a-great-user-experience\/\">Menu magic <\/a>&#8211; Tips for improving user experience via navigation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2023\/coming-out-on-top-the-new-top-nav-menu-in-cutheme\/\">Coming out on top: the new top nav menu in cuTheme<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"step-4-review-and-renew-your-homepage\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Review and Renew Your Homepage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\"><em class=\"myprefix-text-italic\">Note: <\/em><\/strong>This step is optional for migration, but can enhance your site immediately and ensure your homepage is in top shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>cuTheme will present you with a lot more design options for your homepage. However, <em><strong>content is still Queen<\/strong><\/em>! Now is a great time to rethink the most important elements of your homepage.&nbsp; Prep the content now and then style it up in cuTheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"have-clear-calls-to-action-ctas\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Have Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Place a prominent CTA that aligns with your primary goal (e.g., register for a program, get to a service, contact your department). Make it stand out without overwhelming the page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"create-a-visual-hierarchy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create a Visual Hierarchy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Organize content using a clear visual hierarchy. Use headings, images, and white space strategically to guide visitors through the page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"use-dynamic-elements\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Dynamic Elements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consider incorporating dynamic elements like videos and news posts to engage visitors and convey information effectively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"update-images\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Update Images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sure to refresh images from time to time so they are current. This keeps your homepage from looking stale and dated,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"resources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2023\/back-to-school-ensuring-a-happy-healthy-homepage\/\">Reorganize your homepage <\/a>&#8211; Tips &amp; ideas for renewing your homepage content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2020\/tips-tricks-calls-to-action\/\">Calls to Action<\/a> &#8211; What they are, examples, and best practices!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2022\/web-writing-crash-course-3-structure\/\">Structure content on your pages<\/a> &#8211; From our Writing for the Web Series, tips making your pages easy to scan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Video<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2022\/aye-aye-caption-generating-transcripts-and-closed-captioning-from-youtube-videos\/\">Generate transcripts and captions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/accessibility\/video\/\">Make video accessible<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Images<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2022\/the-ultimate-guide-to-finding-images-for-your-website\/\">Finding images for your site<\/a> &#8211; the ultimate guide &#8230;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/2022\/picture-perfect-optimizing-your-images-for-seo-and-accessibility\/\">Optimizing your images for SEO and accessibility<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"download-our-cutheme-readiness-checklist\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Download our cuTheme Readiness Checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/cuTheme-Readiness-Checklist.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cuTheme Readiness Checklist<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reviewing your website thoroughly before migrating it, lets you start off on the right foot and can make for a smoother transition. It is also beneficial to your current visitors! Here are four steps to help you prepare your website for migration to cuTheme. Step 1: Do a Content Audit Resources Step 2: Ensure your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[273,390],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cutheme-announcements","category-keep"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19973"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21171,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19973\/revisions\/21171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/webservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}