Local government urged to move to more impactful website approach

Assessment criteria for the next Socitm Better connected survey, due to be published on 1 March, have changed since the last survey, with a new focus on simplified website design and content. The association for ICT professionals in local public services warns the shift in survey assessment criteria could result in some significant changes in the rankings.

 

Council websites that embrace the concept of ‘top tasks’ and promote the importance of quick and simple customer journeys for website users from search engine or home page through to resolution are more likely to be at the top of the rankings, Socitm says.

 

Martin Greenwood, Programme Director for Socitm Insight and editor of the report, said: “The new top tasks approach means much stronger emphasis in the assessment on achieving a successful customer journey.

 

“Some sites that might have been rated three or four star under the old system which put more emphasis on ‘all-round’ competence may do less well now, and conversely, some sites not quite so well rated in 2011 may do better this year, especially those focused on top tasks and simple, clear, uncluttered navigation," he predicted.

 

Another report published by Socitm earlier this month found that public sector IT managers are exerting even more influence as local public services turn to technology to bring service delivery costs down and cope with dramatically reduced budgets.