AMAZING CITIES

 

The Internet is a wonderful tool and it has revolutionized the way we conduct our daily lives.  Cities have also embraced this new technology and it has proven to be an effective way to communicate with citizens, visitors and prospective businesses.  Cities have invested thousands of taxpayer dollars in developing city web sites and the successful ones are reaping the rewards of increased efficiency, better communication and wide exposure.  Unfortunately, poorly designed and managed, city web sites litter the Internet and frustrate citizens and visitors alike.  These are 5 of the most common mistakes on city web sites:

1. FAILURE OF CITY LEADERS MONITOR THE SITE-As I speak around the country, I often mention something that I saw on a city web site and I get a blank stare from the Mayor or Council member.  Many will admit that they very seldom visit their own city's site.  In the digital world, this is as bad as failing to see a tree lying in the middle of your busiest street.  The city web site is often the first stop by many people who are visiting or doing business in your city.  We need to visit often and note items that need attention.  We would never go by a police cruiser parked in front of City Hall with four flat tires, however, each day millions of people visit city web sites with dead links and outdated information. 

2. HAVING TECHNICAL PEOPLE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THE SITE-This is surely not a knock on the IT department, but leaving decisions on content to the technical gurus can be a fatal mistake for your city web site.  The web site should reflect the character and direction of the leadership and management of the city.  I recommend forming a diverse committee to meet on a monthly basis to suggest ideas and improvements for the city web site.  Things are changing at a rapid pace and we need to stay current and provide the best content to keep the city web site updated and relevant.  Can we video stream the Parking Authority Meetings or add a searchable complaint system?  These are things that can better communicate and inform the public.  The IT department can tell us if it's possible, leadership can make it happen.

3. FAILURE TO REALIZE WHY IT'S CALLED THE WORLD WIDE WEB-While I doubt many people will confuse Paris, Texas with Paris, France; you would be surprised at how many city web sites seem to think that the only visitors will be from within their state or country.  Most site selection companies use the Internet as their primary information outlet.  Should a company from Oregon looking for a plant site need to get out an atlas to find out about a community.  We need to think big.  When you are in Richmond, tell the visitor whether it is in Indiana or Virginia!  In this global economy, most visitors or companies will not be "driving into town".  Give them the information they need and make it easy to find.

4. OUT OF DATE INFORMATION-The worst thing on a city web site is to look at the Calendar of Events and see a listing for the 2002 Spring Fling.  There is no excuse for having a stale web site.  The Internet is a dynamic, fast changing tool and we need to reflect that in our city web sites.  New technology makes it possible for easy updating of content.  Citizens, visitors and business prospects need relevant, up-to-date information.  A business will not survive with outdated price lists and inaccurate contact information and neither can we.

5. FUZZY CONTACT INFORMATION-I was looking for a mailing address to send a proposal to a city recently and I felt sure that I could get the mailing address on their city web site.  Wrong!!!  I spent about five minutes, (an eternity on the web) and finally gave up.  Not everyone is dealing in e-mail.  We need to make it easy to communicate.  E-mail addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, street addresses are all a necessity and cost us nothing to add to our site.