This guidance supports better connections between websites and establishing a more unified online presence for Cochrane.  It applies to:

• any website that is hosted on the cochrane domain
• any other microsites or project sites that are created or maintained by Cochrane 

Before setting up a Cochrane website

New websites should only be created if owners have the capacity and content to maintain an active and engaging website. 

Before proposing a website, Cochrane Groups/ Project owners should define:

• Audiences: Who are they trying to reach (e.g., patients, researchers, policymakers, funders, media)? Why is a website the most effective channel?
• Needs: What do they need to communicate? Why is a separate site necessary vs. a section on cochrane.org?
• Proposed content: What information would be presented on the website? How would this be structured? What is the amount and depth of content that will be present? How often would this be updated?
• Capacity: Do they have the capacity to manage and update the website? Do they have someone who can be a named website owner?  

Maintaining a Cochrane website

Once websites are set up, we expect that they are maintained in line with Cochrane’s guidelines and policies. We expect that all Cochrane websites must:

• be known to the central Cochrane team
• have a named contact as website owner
• carry a Cochrane logo
• follow Cochrane’s brand guidelines
• be as accessible as possible, ideally meeting the WCAG 2.2 guidelines
• be reviewed by the website owner at a minimum of every 6 months

We have produced a Group Website Guidelines and Admin Manual for webmasters* to help Groups manage their websites:

• Guidelines: The part of the manual provides webmasters a checklist of items and instructions on how to maintain and get their group's website up to Cochrane standards. It is very important that each site is well maintained so that visitors find current and accurate information that reflects the hard work that is put into producing Cochrane Reviews.
• Admin Manual: This part of the manual explains webmasters how to use the admin interface to perform all usual operations required when managing a website.

* Note: this version of the admin manual reflects the latest changes that came in place after the update of the Drupal platform to its latest version (Drupal 10).

Need more help?

• You can send your technical questions and help requests to support@cochrane.org.

Archiving a Cochrane website

A website should be archived when:

• the objectives have been met or project concluded
• there is no capacity to maintain the website
• content becomes outdated or duplicated by cochrane.org

The process of archiving will be undertaken with the central team and will involve reviewing and migrating content (where appropriate), setting up redirects, and archiving the website.