---
title: VCEDC Past Programs Page Strategy
type: article
created: '2026-04-05'
updated: '2026-04-05'
source_docs:
- raw/2025-10-30-vcedc-website-meeting-98145876.md
tags:
- vcedc
- website
- content-strategy
- video-hosting
- youtube
- events
layer: 2
client_source: null
industry_context: null
transferable: true
---

# VCEDC Past Programs Page Strategy

## Overview

During the October 2025 staging review, the team identified a gap in the events architecture: the main Events page was not designed to surface recorded past programming, and the existing SiteCast video landing page was being discontinued. The solution was to create a dedicated **Past Programs** page to house all recorded events, linked from the main Events page.

This decision also resolved a broader question about video hosting strategy — all recordings will be embedded from the official VCEDC YouTube channel rather than hosted directly on the site.

See also: [[clients/vcedc/_index]] | [[knowledge/website/vcedc-video-hosting-strategy]]

---

## The Problem

The main Events page is designed to show **upcoming events only**. Once an event passes, there was no clear place for visitors to find recordings. The previous approach (SiteCast) was a separate licensed landing page unconnected to the new website, and it is being discontinued at end of year.

Key user need identified in the meeting:

> *"If I missed the Women in Business event and wanted to see the recording, where would I find it?"*

The answer was: nowhere obvious. That gap needed to be closed before launch.

---

## Decision: Dedicated Past Programs Page

Rather than mixing past and upcoming events on a single page (which would clutter the primary call-to-action of event registration), the team agreed to:

1. **Keep the main Events page focused on upcoming events only.**
2. **Create a new "Past Programs" page** to house all recorded programming.
3. **Add a link on the Events page** directing visitors to Past Programs — a single sentence or CTA, e.g., *"To watch previous VCEDC virtual programming, click here."*

This structure means:
- The Events page stays clean and action-oriented (register, attend).
- Past Programs can grow indefinitely without requiring deletions or archiving.
- Recorded content remains discoverable without cluttering the primary events flow.

---

## Video Embedding: YouTube as the Source

All videos on the Past Programs page will be **embedded from the official VCEDC YouTube channel**, not hosted directly on the WordPress site.

**Rationale:**
- Vilas County has areas with slow internet connectivity. Direct video hosting would cause buffering or failed loads for many users.
- YouTube handles delivery, compression, and bandwidth — improving performance for all visitors.
- AAG now has access to the VCEDC YouTube channel to manage uploads and embeds.

**YouTube channel hygiene:**
- Outdated or off-brand videos can be set to **"Unlisted"** — they disappear from the public YouTube feed but existing embedded links continue to work.
- The channel banner should be updated to reflect the current VCEDC brand.

---

## Relationship to SiteCast

SiteCast was a separate, licensed landing page (created by a prior vendor) that pulled VCEDC YouTube playlists into a branded page. It is **not connected to the new website** and never has been. It will be discontinued at end of year.

- No content migration is needed — the videos already live on YouTube.
- The SiteCast URL will eventually return a 404; no links from the new site point to it.
- The new Past Programs page effectively replaces SiteCast's function in a way that is integrated with the actual website.

---

## Implementation Tasks

| Task | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Create Past Programs page in WordPress | Melissa (AAG) | Pending |
| Add link/CTA from Events page to Past Programs | Melissa (AAG) | Pending |
| Embed VCEDC YouTube recordings on Past Programs page | Melissa (AAG) | Pending |
| Set outdated YouTube videos to Unlisted | Melissa (AAG) | Pending |
| Update VCEDC YouTube channel banner | Melissa (AAG) | Pending |
| Confirm AAG has full YouTube channel access | Tracey (VCEDC) | Pending |

---

## Content Notes

- The Past Programs page should focus on **recorded virtual programming** (Lunch & Learns, training sessions, etc.). Live in-person events that were not recorded do not need to appear here.
- Do not label events as "recorded" on the registration/upcoming listing — this reduces live attendance. Announce recordings after the fact.
- Page copy and structure should be included in the Word document content workflow: Melissa will provide a draft doc; Kathy will write to the layout.

---

## Related

- [[clients/vcedc/_index]]
- [[knowledge/website/vcedc-video-hosting-strategy]]
- [[meetings/2025-10-30-vcedc-staging-review]]