Best practices for using Content Types

Hi Michiel,

As mentioned you have an opportunity to play with many different configurations.

It seems you're focusing on the idea of the automatic sorting and organizing systems of SharePoint.

Common content types really do differ between environments because SharePoint is a platform that can be used for many different things.

Some examples of Content Types I see are;

• Invoice (order processes)
• SlideDeck (marketing processes)
• Product Info (marketing processes)
• Customer Employee (HR processes)

Also investigate "Document Sets" as they can be very useful for things like a "Product Marketing Set" so it would include multiple Content types including Sales Pitch Deck, Product specifications, Product cost/margin guidelines etc.

I think the golden rule of thumb listed above is correct. In SharePoint when thinking about "Should I" it mostly comes down to reusability..

• Column Vs Site Column = reusability
• Group Column Vs managed Metadata = reusability
• Custom Library Vs Content Type = reusability

This all comes with a massive disclaimer that says that as always not everything always applies at all times because of the nature of the "Platform" of SharePoint it truly can be used for some very different things where the rules might not apply.

Regards,

Antony