Today was one of those days—filled with putting out fires, helping others, and making progress on a content migration. It was exhausting, but also fulfilling in the ways that matter most to me.

When people hear content migration, they often think it’s just moving content from one system to another. What they don’t see is the behind-the-scenes effort that makes a migration successful:

• Managing SME Reviews: Coordinating with subject matter experts (SMEs), ensuring they review content for accuracy, and keeping everything moving despite busy schedules.
• Team Assignments and Peer Reviews: Balancing workloads, assigning content to writers, and ensuring peer reviews happen before SMEs even see the content.
• Follow-ups and More Follow-ups: A migration doesn’t stop because someone missed an email. Tracking deadlines, sending reminders, and keeping conversations moving is a full-time job.
• Answering SME Questions: After training, SMEs often have questions about reviewing content and tracking outstanding items. Helping them navigate these changes is key to keeping the process smooth.
• Navigating a New System While Still Delivering: Learning the quirks of a new platform while actively producing content is like fixing a plane mid-flight. The work doesn’t stop just because the system is changing.
• Documenting Everything Needed: A successful migration isn’t just about moving content; it’s about making sure everyone knows how to find, use, and contribute to documentation in the new system. Creating clear materials (such as best practices and instructions) helps prevent confusion and ensures long-term success.

Content migrations involve ongoing coordination, follow-ups, and problem-solving. If you’ve been through a migration, what strategies helped you manage SME reviews, team assignments, or learning a new system while delivering on deadlines? If you’re in the middle of a migration, what’s been your biggest challenge so far?