> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.projectecho.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Best practices for triage and prioritization

> Practical habits for reviewing new feedback and deciding what to build next.

Good triage keeps your backlog trustworthy. Use boards, statuses, Priority, and Effort so the roadmap reflects real intent—not every raw idea.

## Start with a simple workflow

1. **Collect** — New portal and staff submissions land in **Pending**.
2. **Clarify** — Move promising items to **Reviewing**; ask follow-up questions in comments.
3. **Decide** — Promote clear opportunities to **Planned**, or **Closed** if you will not pursue them.
4. **Ship** — Use **In Progress**, then **Completed** when live. Link completed work to a changelog entry when you announce it.

## Use boards to reduce noise

* Separate **Bugs** from **Features** (or similar) so urgent defects are not lost in idea threads.
* Avoid creating a board for every feature area—too many boards slow triage.
* Hide boards from the portal when they are internal-only (**Settings → Feedback portal → Visibility**).

## Prioritize with signals, not volume alone

* Check vote counts and comments, but also consider who asked and how the request fits strategy.
* Set **Priority** for urgency; set **Effort** for relative cost.
* If you enable scoring under **Settings → Feedback → Scoring**, use it as a conversation starter, not an automatic ranking.

## Keep the portal honest

* Only show statuses and boards you want customers to see.
* Move inactive work to **Closed** (usually Hidden on the portal) instead of leaving stale **Planned** items forever.
* Publish changelog posts when you complete linked requests so voters see progress.

## Cadence that works

* Triage **Pending** on a fixed schedule (daily or a few times a week).
* Review **Planned** before committing roadmap capacity.
* After each release, update statuses and ship a short changelog.

Need a second opinion on setup? Email [support@projectecho.io](mailto:support@projectecho.io).


## Related topics

- [Link changelog posts to requests](/roadmap-and-changelog/link-changelog-to-requests.md)
- [Customize request statuses](/boards-and-prioritization/customize-request-statuses.md)
- [Create and manage boards](/boards-and-prioritization/create-and-manage-boards.md)
- [Turn priority and effort fields on or off](/boards-and-prioritization/turn-priority-effort-on-off.md)
- [Security basics for API keys, embed tokens, and webhooks](/api-mcp-and-embed/security-api-keys-tokens-webhooks.md)