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Top 10 Best Practices for a Community Website
www.intelliware.com
How does your website stack up to other
online destinations that your citizens visit?
www.intelliware.com
Regardless of the size of your municipality, a
great online experience makes good business
sense.
www.intelliware.com
The following are the top 10 best practices for
building a community website
www.intelliware.com
1. Provide self service options
• Cut customer service overhead while improving service
• Implement easy-to-use online services and serve your
community around the clock at a lower cost
www.intelliware.com
2. Comply with Accessibility legislation
• Removing barriers for people with disabilities is the law
• Public sector websites must be WCAG / AODA compliant
• Offer text alternatives, make your site readable, keyboard
accessible and compatible with assistive technology
www.intelliware.com
3. Optimize for mobile
• 22 million Canadians have a mobile device (comScore 2012)
• Anytime, anywhere access to your website is no longer
optional
• Don’t make your mobile strategy an afterthought
• A well thought-out plan will control costs and deliver the
highest value to the most people
www.intelliware.com
4. Be social
• Social media is a critical communications channel today
• Integrate social media with your website and you’ll send a
strong, positive message that you’re willing to engage in two-
way dialogue with your citizens
www.intelliware.com
5. Employ user experience best practices
• Make sure it’s easy for people to find the information they need
• If you get it wrong, visitors will get frustrated and won’t come
back
• Get it right and you’ll have deeper engagement, stronger
satisfaction, higher productivity and reduced service calls
9
www.intelliware.com
6. Create a high-impact design
• Encourage people to visit you – both online and in person
• Make a great first impression to drive tourism dollars
• Showcase all your community has to offer with high-impact
design and clear communications
10
www.intelliware.com
7. Take advantage of e-Commerce, m-Commerce
• People demand service 24/7/365
• Electronic payments enable municipalities to provide higher
quality service at a lower cost
11
www.intelliware.com
8. Measure and test
• Personal opinion shouldn’t be the driver in influencing design
and future iterations of your website
• Keep metrics and analytics top of mind as you build your site
• This allows you to really understand what’s working and where
you can improve
12
www.intelliware.com
9. Think through navigation carefully
• Clear navigation and information architecture provide the
backbone of an effective website
• Present content in a meaningful, intuitive way
• Consider your audiences and cater to their specific needs
13
www.intelliware.com
10. Showcase your brand and content consistently
• A clear identity is important for promoting your municipality’s
economic, cultural or historical value
• Over time, your website may have evolved inconsistently
• When redesigning your site, review all content to avoid duplication
and ensure a consistent tone and manner
• Most of all, be sure to keep it up to date and current
14
Learn more:
www.intelliware.com/solutions/portals-websites
15

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Top 10 best practices for a community website

  • 1. Top 10 Best Practices for a Community Website
  • 2. www.intelliware.com How does your website stack up to other online destinations that your citizens visit?
  • 3. www.intelliware.com Regardless of the size of your municipality, a great online experience makes good business sense.
  • 4. www.intelliware.com The following are the top 10 best practices for building a community website
  • 5. www.intelliware.com 1. Provide self service options • Cut customer service overhead while improving service • Implement easy-to-use online services and serve your community around the clock at a lower cost
  • 6. www.intelliware.com 2. Comply with Accessibility legislation • Removing barriers for people with disabilities is the law • Public sector websites must be WCAG / AODA compliant • Offer text alternatives, make your site readable, keyboard accessible and compatible with assistive technology
  • 7. www.intelliware.com 3. Optimize for mobile • 22 million Canadians have a mobile device (comScore 2012) • Anytime, anywhere access to your website is no longer optional • Don’t make your mobile strategy an afterthought • A well thought-out plan will control costs and deliver the highest value to the most people
  • 8. www.intelliware.com 4. Be social • Social media is a critical communications channel today • Integrate social media with your website and you’ll send a strong, positive message that you’re willing to engage in two- way dialogue with your citizens
  • 9. www.intelliware.com 5. Employ user experience best practices • Make sure it’s easy for people to find the information they need • If you get it wrong, visitors will get frustrated and won’t come back • Get it right and you’ll have deeper engagement, stronger satisfaction, higher productivity and reduced service calls 9
  • 10. www.intelliware.com 6. Create a high-impact design • Encourage people to visit you – both online and in person • Make a great first impression to drive tourism dollars • Showcase all your community has to offer with high-impact design and clear communications 10
  • 11. www.intelliware.com 7. Take advantage of e-Commerce, m-Commerce • People demand service 24/7/365 • Electronic payments enable municipalities to provide higher quality service at a lower cost 11
  • 12. www.intelliware.com 8. Measure and test • Personal opinion shouldn’t be the driver in influencing design and future iterations of your website • Keep metrics and analytics top of mind as you build your site • This allows you to really understand what’s working and where you can improve 12
  • 13. www.intelliware.com 9. Think through navigation carefully • Clear navigation and information architecture provide the backbone of an effective website • Present content in a meaningful, intuitive way • Consider your audiences and cater to their specific needs 13
  • 14. www.intelliware.com 10. Showcase your brand and content consistently • A clear identity is important for promoting your municipality’s economic, cultural or historical value • Over time, your website may have evolved inconsistently • When redesigning your site, review all content to avoid duplication and ensure a consistent tone and manner • Most of all, be sure to keep it up to date and current 14