Dec 29

1.  Define purpose/vision for the site

  • What is the purpose of the site?
  • What are the goals of the site?

 

2.  Develop goals for the site

  • How would you define a successful Web site for your organization?
  • What does success look like?  How will you know when you have been successful?
  • How would you describe the site?
  • From an organization’s viewpoint?
  • From a user’s viewpoint?

3.  Define audiences & goals

  • Who are the users of the site?  (Primary and secondary users)
  • How would you describe the users?  (User characteristics, i.e., age, experience, education, etc.)
  • Why will they come to the site?  (User needs, interests, and goals)
  • When and where will users access the site?  (User environment and context)
  • How will users access the site?  (User computer settings, i.e., connection speed, resolution, etc.)

 

4.  Conduct task analysis and prioritize tasks

  • What will users do on the site?  (User tasks, content, features and functionality)
  • Which tasks are critical to users’ success on the Web site?  (Criticality)
  • Which tasks are most important to users?  (Importance)
  • Which features of the site will users use the most?  (Frequency)
  • Which features are prone to usability issues?  (Vulnerability)
  • Which tasks are critical to the organization’s success on the Web site?
  • How often will users frequent your Web site?
  • What will compel users to return to your Web site?

 

5.  Determine measurable usability objectives

  • Which tasks should users be able to accomplish easily with few errors?  (Efficiency)
  • Which tasks should users be able to finish quickly and efficiently?  (Effectiveness)
  • What level of satisfaction should users have after using the site?  (Enjoyability)

 

 

6.  Discuss expectations, requirements & preferences

  • What is your vision of what the site should do?
  • Describe your initial view of the project.  What do you think the project should entail?
  • What prompted the redesign?
  • Who will be the key point of contact?
  • Are there any restraints, mandates, or guidelines for the site?
  • Are there any sites you would like to model or a particular style that you prefer?
  • What characteristics/attributes/attitude should the site convey to users?

 

7.  Determine accessibility requirements and needs

  • Is the site currently accessible?
  • What type of accessibility testing has been done?
  • What types of accessibility tools are being used?
  • Who is the key point of contact on accessibility issues?

8.  Identify available resources and training needs

  • What level of resources is available for site updating and maintenance?
  • Do you have content writers skilled in writing for the Web?
  • Are there graphic designers on staff?
  • Who will be responsible for programming and maintaining the site?
  • Who is in charge of site marketing and promotion?

 

9.  Discuss initial technology needs

  • What are your hosting needs?
  • Do you currently have a domain name or do you need a new one?
  • Are you currently using a content management system?  If so, which one?
  • Are you currently logging Web metrics?  If so, what metrics are you currently capturing?
  • Do you currently have a search engine?  If so, what type of search are you using?

 

10.  Timeline and Project Plan

Dec 21

The Web Managers Advisory Council has developed this comprehensive self-assessment “checklist” to help you assess how well your agency meets federal website requirements. It’s based on current laws and regulations, OMB Policies for Federal Public Websites, and other directives that pertain to federal public websites*.

To meet the requirements, agencies should be able to answer “yes” to the questions below.

  • E-Government Act of 2002: Does your site comply with policies and standards to implement the E-Government Act of 2002, Section 207(d)?Source: E-Government Act of 2002
  • A-130: Does your site comply with OMB Circular A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources?Source: OMB Circular A-130: Management of Federal Information Resources

    See also: Major Implications of A-130 for Federal Web Managers
    (PDF, 103 KB, Jun 2005, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

  • Approved Domains: Is your URL a .gov, .fed.us, or .mil domain?Source: OMB Policy, Section 6
  • Agency Sponsorship: Do you provide “clear and unambiguous public notification of the agency’s involvement in or sponsorship” of your website? Source: OMB Policy, Section 6
  • Linking Policy: Does your web site have a linking policy for how you link to other sites, including “management controls for linking within and beyond your agency”? Source: OMB Policy, Section 3
  • Disclaimers: Does your site have appropriate disclaimers and “ clearly identify the limitations inherent in the information” that is provided on your site or on sites you link to? Source: OMB Policy, Section 3
  • External Links Review: Does your site have “ reasonable management controls to assure external links remain active”? Source: OMB Policy, Section 3
  • Required Links and Content: Does your site include “mandatory links and post (or link to) the [required] information on your principal website and any known major entry points?” See Required Content and Links page for complete list

    Source: OMB Policy, Section 3

  • Advertising: Have you ensured that your site is “not used to advertise for private individuals, firms, or corporations, or imply in any manner that the government endorses or favors any specific commercial product, commodity, or service”? Source: .gov domain registration program guidelines
  • Communication with the Public: Have you established and maintained “communications with members of the public and with state and local governments” to ensure you create content that meets their respective needs?” Source: OMB Policy, Section 4
  • Privacy Policy:
    • Does your site post a “Privacy Act Statement” that tells visitors the organization’s legal authority for collecting personal data and how the data will be used?
    • Does your website have “a link to your privacy policy from:
      • your principal web site;
      • any known, major entry points to your sites;
      • any web page that collects substantial information in identifiable form.”
    • Does your site conduct privacy impact assessments?
    • Does your site translate privacy policies into a standardized machine-readable format?Sources: OMB Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002 (See Section 3D)

      E-Government Act of 2002

  • Security: Does your site comply with Section 207(f)(1)(b)(iv) of the E-Gov Act of 2002, which requires organizations to have security protocols to protect information? Source: E-Government Act of 2002
  • Accessibility (Section 508): Does your site comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), designed to make online information and services fully available to citizens with disabilities? Source: Section 508
  • FOIA: Does your site comply with existing laws and directives that relate to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)? Source: FOIA
  • Information Quality Guidelines: Does your site comply with section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, Public Law 106-554, “Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Organizations?” Source: Information Quality Guidelines
  • Access for People with Limited English Proficiency: Does your site provide “meaningful access” to government information and services for people with limited English proficiency”? Source: LEP Executive Order
  • Paperwork Reduction Act: Have you received OMB approval before collecting information from the public (such as forms, general questionnaires, surveys, instructions, and other types of collections)? And do you display the current OMB control number? Source: Paperwork Reduction Act
  • Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA): Do you use electronic forms, electronic filing, and electronic signatures to conduct official business with the public, whenever practicable? Source: GPEA
  • Web Records: Does your site comply with existing laws and regulations related to the management of public web records? Source: Web Records
  • Digital Rights and Copyright: If your organization uses or duplicates information available from the private sector as part of an information resource, product or service, do you ensure that the property rights of the private sector source are adequately protected? (These protections apply to any material posted to federal public websites, such as documents, graphics, or audio files.) Source: Digitial Rights and Copyright
  • GPRA : Have you made your annual performance plans “readily available to the public” via your website? Source: GPRA
  • Restrictions on Lobbying: Does your site comply with existing laws that prohibit federal public websites from being used for direct or indirect lobbying? Source: Restrictions on Lobbying
  • Priorities and Schedules for Posting Content:
    • Have you created an inventory of content that all targeted audiences need or want? (The inventory should identify categories of information, such as press releases, publications, and budget documents – not specific documents)
    • Have you determined a schedule for posting additional content in the future?
    • Have you incorporated this requirement in management plans?
    • Have you posted the inventory, priorities, and schedule for posting additional content on your website, for public comment?

    Source: Priorities and Schedules

  • Search: Does your agency’s principle public website and any major entry point include a search function? (exception may be smaller websites)Source: OMB Policies, Section 5

* Important Note: These requirements apply to executive departments and agencies and their public websites. Some requirements may not apply to Intranet websites or to judicial or legislative agencies, as specified in each individual policy, law, or other directive.

Last Updated: December 19, 2005

Dec 2

Bad Domain Names
All of these are companies that didn’t spend quite enough time considering how their online names might appear - and be misread…
1.    Who Represents is where you can find the name of the agent that represents any celebrity. Their Web site is
www.whorepresents.com/
2.    Experts Exchange is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange Advice and views at
www.expertsexchange.com/
3.    Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at
www.penisland.net/
4.    Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at
www.therapistfinder.com/
5.    There’s the Italian Power Generator company,
www.powergenitalia.com/
6.    And don’t forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New South Wales,
www.molestationnursery.com/
7.    If you’re looking for IP computer software, there?s always
www.ipanywhere.com/
8.    The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is
www.cummingfirst.com/
9.    And the designers at Speed of Art await you at their wacky Web site,
www.speedofart.com/