{"id":1714,"date":"2020-02-29T12:16:28","date_gmt":"2020-02-29T12:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/?p=1714"},"modified":"2022-07-06T07:37:58","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T07:37:58","slug":"7-tips-for-a-well-designed-government-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/7-tips-for-a-well-designed-government-website\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips for a Well-Designed Government Website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Baner_size_01-1-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"Government Website \" class=\"wp-image-7560\" width=\"910\" height=\"303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Baner_size_01-1-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Baner_size_01-1-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Baner_size_01-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Baner_size_01-1-155x52.jpg 155w, https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Baner_size_01-1.jpg 1026w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes designing a government website different from designing a corporate one? From a user experience and usability point of view, one big difference is whom it\u2019s created for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A corporate website does well when it is engaging, on-brand, and easy for a <strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-neeon-button-dark-gray-color\">specific audience<\/mark><\/strong> to use.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A government website, on the other hand, must serve <strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-neeon-button-dark-gray-color\">all citizens<\/mark><\/strong>.&nbsp;This means catering to differences in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Tech proficiency<\/li><li>Age<\/li><li>Ability<\/li><li>Language<\/li><li>Devices<\/li><li>Education<\/li><li>Access to the internet<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efefef\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-neeon-button-dark-gray-color\">Tip<\/mark>: <\/strong>To create a well-designed government website, offer an inclusive experience for all citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Well-designed government websites meet user expectations. Why?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Simple answer: To build trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Government websites are visited by people with varying levels of hands-on experience with the internet, technology, and websites. However, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that many users will expect the seamless experiences they get on corporate\/private sector websites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That kind of user-friendly, intuitive experience feels familiar to many users now. So, offering the same kind of experience can help build trust. And if you want citizens to use the website with confidence, trust is crucial.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efefef\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-neeon-button-dark-gray-color\">Tip<\/mark>: <\/strong>To build trust and encourage citizens to use the website, deliver a strong user experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/services\/website-design.html\"><strong>How a well-designed website can boost confidence in your organization<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping in mind that limited resources can sometimes be an issue, here are some design tips for creating an effective, user-friendly, well-designed government website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Choose a color associated with trust<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important for people to feel like their information is safe on your website. There should be an instant feeling of trust when they reach your website, and color plays a big role in establishing that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A top choice for many businesses is the color blue, which is often used on government websites because it calls up ideas of security and reliability. That\u2019s why we also see a lot of blue in branding within two major industries where trust is a make-or-break factor: finance and healthcare.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many social media brands\u2014such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter\u2014use blue to signal that they are trustworthy, which is important because people trust social media platforms with their personal data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you feature it predominantly or use it strategically and sparingly, blue is an effective color to include for building trust.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/uxstudioteam.com\/website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/image2-e1574248398792-1024x526.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"642\" height=\"330\"\/><figcaption><em>Color-emotion associations, as seen on UX Studio<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>2. Keep website navigation minimalistic<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On well-designed government websites, navigation is typically very simple. This makes it easy for any visitor to follow.&nbsp; At every point, the user should know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>a. Where they currently are<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>b. Where they are going<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video aligncenter\"><video controls loop src=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/drib-final-1.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption><em>\u2018NetSpring Stealth Site\u2019 by Jonathan Moreira, via Dribbble.Com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efefef\"> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-neeon-button-dark-gray-color\">Tip<\/mark>: <\/strong>For easy navigation, make sure to use simple language that a diverse audience will understand easily.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Make UX design a priority<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The usability of the website\u2014as well as how users interact with it\u2014is very important, especially when you are catering to diverse users.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To create a well-designed government website, choose an agency with the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/services\/graphic-design.html\">desired expertise&nbsp;<\/a>in understanding customer requirements and providing effective design solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls loop src=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Comp-1_10.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption><em>\u2018Taxchoice &#8211; Inner page interaction\u2019 by Alexander Mihailovskis, via Dribbble.Com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>4. Evaluate your hosting provider\u2019s security features<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Citizens expect their data to be secure and the website to be reliable. Ensure your hosting provider can deliver that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>5. Prioritize SEO and keep all information updated<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It doesn\u2019t matter how good your website is if people don\u2019t know it\u2019s there. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to launch a website that uses the right keywords, unique titles and descriptions, image SEO, and other search engine optimization best practices. Regularly updating information will also improve your rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>6. Factor in accessibility<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned earlier, inclusivity is key for a well-designed government website. A significant factor is accessibility. Citizens with disabilities should be able to use your website with ease.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, voice command functions can give users with visual impairments access to important information and services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.dribbble.com\/users\/522558\/screenshots\/5352898\/media\/c9cfd3f81f6b4921739558790996e564.gif\" alt=\"KPMG App - Speech-to-text feature\"\/><figcaption><em>\u2018KPMG App &#8211; Speech-to-text feature\u2019 by Yalantis, via Dribble.Com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efefef\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-neeon-button-dark-gray-color\">Tip<\/mark>:<\/strong> Validate your HTML to ensure it is being used correctly. This will allow assistive technology to function smoothly and interpret the page content correctly, making it accessible for users.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, consider people with limited access to the internet or slow internet connections.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>7. Choose an agency that can demonstrate trustworthiness<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To put the points above into action and create a well-designed government website, work with a competent agency with a history of reliability. Ask to see past work, customer testimonials, and review company policies on transparency. For example, Chittlesoft has a strong&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/aboutus.html\">commitment to transparency<\/a>&nbsp;and our customers know their interests are of utmost importance to us.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To build a website that helps you achieve your goals,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/contactus.html\">give us a call today<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.row {\n  display: flex;\n}\n.row .col {\n  flex: 1;\n}\n.nav .nav-item\n{\n      padding-bottom: 10px;\n}\n\n\/* Accordion styles *\/\n.tabs {\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  overflow: hidden;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 4px -2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);\n}\n\n.tab {\n  width: 100%;\n  color: white;\n  overflow: hidden;\n}\n.tab-label {\n  display: flex;\n  justify-content: space-between;\n  padding: 1em;\n  background: #2c3e50;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  \/* Icon *\/\n}\n.tab-label:hover {\n  background: #1a252f;\n}\n.tab-label::after {\n  content: \"\u276f\";\n  width: 1em;\n  height: 1em;\n  text-align: center;\n  transition: all 0.35s;\n}\n.tab-content {\n  max-height: 0;\n  padding: 0 1em;\n  color: #2c3e50;\n  background: white;\n  transition: all 0.35s;\n}\n.tab-close {\n  display: flex;\n  justify-content: flex-end;\n  padding: 1em;\n  font-size: 0.75em;\n  background: #2c3e50;\n  cursor: pointer;\n}\n.tab-close:hover {\n  background: #1a252f;\n}\n\ninput:checked + .tab-label {\n  background: #1a252f;\n}\ninput:checked + .tab-label::after {\n  transform: rotate(90deg);\n}\ninput:checked ~ .tab-content {\n  max-height: 100%;\n  padding: 1em;\n}\n.FAQS-section{\n  display: none;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"row\">\n  <div class=\"col\">\n    <div class=\"tabs\">\n      <div class=\"tab\">\n        <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"FAQsBlock\" class=\"FAQS-section\">\n        <label class=\"tab-label\" for=\"FAQsBlock\">FAQs:<\/label>\n        <div class=\"tab-content\">\n          <ul class=\"\">              \n            <div class=\"nav-item\">\n\n                <h3>1. What is the purpose of a government website?<\/h3>\n\n                <p>Government websites exist to provide information and services to the public. Through government portals, citizens can submit queries, applications, and more. <\/p>\n\n \t\t<p>These websites also serve as a place for citizens to learn about their history, elected officials, and more. A well-designed government website that is kept up-to-date \t\talso becomes a good source of information on current events and important announcements. <\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"nav-item\">\n                <h3>2. Why is it important to have a well-designed government website?<\/h3>\n\n                <p> Good design and functionality promote trust and connection, which is essential for the website to be effective. That\u2019s why a well-designed government website prioritizes \t\tsecurity as well as usability, and works smoothly across devices. <\/p>\n\n            <\/div>    \n            <div class=\"nav-item\">\n                <h3>3. What are some examples of government websites? <\/h3>\n\n                <p> Here are the official websites of some national governments: <\/p>\n\t\t<p> India: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.india.gov.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.india.gov.in\/<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<p> The U.S.: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<p> The U.K.: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<p> Japan: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.japan.go.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.japan.go.jp\/<\/a><\/p>\t\n\n\t\t  <p>  Additionally, specific government initiatives and local government organizations have websites designed to inform and serve their people better. Some examples:<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p> Open Government Data Platform, India: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.gov.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/data.gov.in\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p> San Jose, local government website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanjoseca.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.sanjoseca.gov\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p> Education Finland: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.educationfinland.fi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.educationfinland.fi\/<\/a> <\/p>\n            <\/div>                                                               \n          <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>      \n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.row {\n  display: flex;\n}\n.row .col {\n  flex: 1;\n}\n.nav .nav-item\n{\n      padding-bottom: 10px;\n}\n\n\/* Accordion styles *\/\n.tabs {\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  overflow: hidden;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 4px -2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);\n}\n\n.tab {\n  width: 100%;\n  color: white;\n  overflow: hidden;\n}\n.tab-label {\n  display: flex;\n  justify-content: space-between;\n  padding: 1em;\n  background: #2c3e50;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  \/* Icon *\/\n}\n.tab-label:hover {\n  background: #1a252f;\n}\n.tab-label::after {\n  content: \"\u276f\";\n  width: 1em;\n  height: 1em;\n  text-align: center;\n  transition: all 0.35s;\n}\n.tab-content {\n  max-height: 0;\n  padding: 0 1em;\n  color: #2c3e50;\n  background: white;\n  transition: all 0.35s;\n}\n.tab-close {\n  display: flex;\n  justify-content: flex-end;\n  padding: 1em;\n  font-size: 0.75em;\n  background: #2c3e50;\n  cursor: pointer;\n}\n.tab-close:hover {\n  background: #1a252f;\n}\n\ninput:checked + .tab-label {\n  background: #1a252f;\n}\ninput:checked + .tab-label::after {\n  transform: rotate(90deg);\n}\ninput:checked ~ .tab-content {\n  max-height: 100%;\n  padding: 1em;\n}\n\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"row\">\n  <div class=\"col\">\n    <div class=\"tabs\">\n      <div class=\"tab\">\n        <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"chck1\">\n        <label class=\"tab-label\" for=\"chck1\">Key References:<\/label>\n        <div class=\"tab-content\">\n          <ul class=\"\">              \n            <li class=\"nav-item\">\n                 The UK government&#8217;s design principles and examples of how they&#8217;ve been used.\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/government-design-principles \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/government-design-principles<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"nav-item\">\n                 Color basics and psychology\n                 <a href=\"https:\/\/uxdesign.cc\/color-effect-b78fae8bb72f \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/uxdesign.cc\/color-effect-b78fae8bb72f <\/a>\n            <\/li>         \n            <li class=\"nav-item\">\n                 Color Psychology \u2013 Brilliant Helping Hand in UX Design\n                 <a href=\"https:\/\/uxstudioteam.com\/ux-blog\/color-psychology-in-ux-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/uxstudioteam.com\/ux-blog\/color-psychology-in-ux-design\/<\/a>\n            <\/li>            \n            <li class=\"nav-item\">\n                 Developing Accessible Websites, University of Washington \n                 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washington.edu\/accessibility\/web\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.washington.edu\/accessibility\/web\/<\/a>\n            <\/li>   \n            <li class=\"nav-item\">\n                 Freepik\n                 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freepik.com\/photos\/mobile-internet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mobile internet photo created by rawpixel.com &#8211; www.freepik.com<\/a>\n            <\/li>                   \n          <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>      \n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What makes designing a government website different from designing a corporate one? From a user experience and usability point of view, one big difference is whom it\u2019s created for. A corporate website does well when it is engaging, on-brand, and easy for a specific audience to use.&nbsp;&nbsp; A government website, on the other hand, must [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[100,99],"class_list":["post-1714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design","tag-ux-design","tag-websites"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1714"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8554,"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1714\/revisions\/8554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chittlesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}