-Guest Article by Scott Field, Revize: The Government Website Experts-
Government and municipal websites tend to be behind the curve when it comes to features and usability. As we move into the New Year this needs to change but first, it must become a priority. Considering a redesign can be overwhelming and you may not know what to look for. Here are the top four things your website should have to keep up during 2019:
If your website design is not mobile-first, you are neglecting a huge percentage of your audience. More than 50% of internet access comes from mobile devices and this is only going to increase over time. Mobile-first designs help attract a younger audience and simplify things for the older generation. Moreover, as millennials have become the largest demographic in the United States, designing with mobile in mind will help to better connect with them. Surveys show that if you want to connect with the new generation you should be thinking mobile-first. Designing for mobile means your site should be fast, simple, and easy to use. This is the first step in creating an engaging website for your community.
ADA compliance is a hot topic and has many local governments on high alert. However, making your website ADA compliant is not as daunting as it seems and it helps those with disabilities feel included when they visit your site. Over the course of 2018, there has been a 30% increase, bringing the total number to over 10,000 lawsuits against non-ADA-compliant websites, and this is only the beginning. Attorneys are exploiting those that are non-compliant and using this to demand monetary settlements that well exceed the cost to become compliant. Do not let this happen to you and your community.
Government website hacking effects nearly 45% on a daily basis, and this is just what they are aware of now. Local governments sometimes do not take the threat of attack as serious it has become today. HTTPS and firewalls should be standard whenever you are setting up or redesigning your website. Cybersecurity can be a very difficult and technical subject that does not make much sense to your average government employee. A reputable provider can provide the security to give you the peace of mind that your community is safe from cyber-attacks.
So your website works on mobile devices, is ADA compliant, and secure; now what? Maybe the most important aspect of your website is the overall design. Although it may not be necessary to have a functioning site, in the eyes of the end user, the design is how they will judge you. Design trends point to a simple, clean, and easy to use website. Using video backgrounds, mega-menus, and news centers are just a few things you can do to make your website beautiful.
These are just some of the things your website must have to be successful in 2019. Remember there are many aspects when it comes to your website design that you have to consider. As we begin the year 2019, if your website is not up to date, this should be at the top of your list of things to do this year. When choosing a company to build your new website, go with one with years of experience, secure hosting, and an easy to operate content management system (CMS), to list a few, like Revize: The Government Website Experts.
Scott M. Field is a United States Army veteran and Marketing Specialist. After serving in the military, Scott went on to study business in San Francisco. After college, Scott worked in the technology industry conducting marketing, advertising, and business development. Currently, Scott works for Revize: The Government Website Experts as their marketing specialist.
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