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How-ToSep 2026 · 9 min read

Tag, Convert, or Delete: A Decision Tree for Every PDF on Your Website

Staring at 3,000 PDFs and not sure where to start? You do not need a committee. You need five questions. Run any document through this tree and you will know exactly what to do with it.

Every PDF gets one of three fates. Tag it to make the file compliant, convert it into a real web page, or delete it. This tree gets you to the answer in under a minute per document. For the full workflow around it, see the complete 2027 remediation playbook.

Tag = keep the file, make it passConvert = rebuild as a pageDelete = remove or archive
1

Does anyone still need this document?

No
DeleteIf it is outdated, superseded, or duplicates content already on a page, remove it or move it to a designated archive. This is the cheapest fix there is.
Yes
NextKeep going to question 2.
2

Is it required to be a file (legal record, official form, print layout)?

Yes
TagSigned records, official forms, and documents that must preserve an exact layout stay as files. Remediate the tags, reading order, and alt text so the file passes.
No
NextIf the content just needs to be read, it does not need to be a PDF. Go to question 3.
3

Do residents read this content on your site (not just download it)?

Yes
ConvertBudgets, reports, guides, notices, FAQs. Rebuild them as pages so they are searchable, mobile friendly, and translatable. Keep the PDF attached as a download.
Rarely
NextGo to question 4.
4

Is it high traffic or tied to a live service?

Yes
ConvertHigh-traffic and service-critical content earns a page even if it is currently a download. That is where the accessibility and usability payoff is largest.
No
TagLow-traffic informational files that someone still occasionally needs get tagged and left as files. Batch these; they are lower priority.
5

Will more documents like this keep getting uploaded?

Yes
GovernWhatever you decide today, put a gate on new uploads so the backlog does not refill. That is the difference between a project and a treadmill.

Worked Examples

A 2015 comprehensive plan nobody has opened in yearsDelete
This year is dog license application formTag
The FY2026 adopted budget residents search forConvert
A one-page trash pickup schedule PDFConvert
A signed intergovernmental agreement (official record)Tag
A duplicate of a press release already on a news pageDelete

Then Do the Work

Once every document has a verb, the tools follow the decision:

Get the list to run through the tree

A free scan gives you every PDF on your site with a risk score, so you know which ones to tag, convert, or delete.

Run a Free PDF Audit

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