/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/topics/best-practices/ Recent content in Best practices on Digital.gov Hugo en-us /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/12/20/fy-24-governmentwide-section-508-assessment/ Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/12/20/fy-24-governmentwide-section-508-assessment/ The FY 2024 Governmentwide Section 508 Assessment highlights progress and ongoing challenges in federal digital accessibility efforts. This assessment provides key findings on governmentwide accessibility maturity and actionable recommendations. The recommendations include stronger enforcement of 508 standards, increased resourcing, and integrating accessibility into the technology lifecycle to enhance compliance and access for all. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/12/05/18f-project-defaults/ Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/12/05/18f-project-defaults/ 18F collaborated on 31 government digital service projects in 2024, including the IRS Direct File Pilot and Notify.gov. To streamline processes, they shared five default templates for other project teams to adopt and improve efficiency and transparency on their own projects. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/26/navigating-digital-acquisitions/ Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/26/navigating-digital-acquisitions/ Learn the best practices for agile acquisitions—from building and buying solutions, to overcoming common roadblocks. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/08/transition-post-3-managing-electronic-messages-and-social-media-accounts/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/08/transition-post-3-managing-electronic-messages-and-social-media-accounts/ The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) released a new blog on the management of federal records and transitions for federal agencies. Shedding light on the usage of agency-managed communication platforms and social media accounts, agencies are given instructions on how to best comply with the requirements outlined in the Federal Records Act. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/04/youve-launched-now-what-planning-for-the-future-of-your-content/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/04/youve-launched-now-what-planning-for-the-future-of-your-content/ Creating quality digital content is not a one-time endeavor. Explore these approaches to managing and improving excellent digital content over time. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/01/tips-for-building-a-small-scrappy-digital-team/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/11/01/tips-for-building-a-small-scrappy-digital-team/ Explore hiring strategies, how to leverage contractors, and creative approaches for building your digital team. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/10/29/broadening-public-participation-and-community-engagement-with-the-federal-government/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/10/29/broadening-public-participation-and-community-engagement-with-the-federal-government/ Government works best when it incorporates transparent engagement and feedback from the public. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is enhancing public participation in federal decision-making through draft guidance and a proposed toolkit. These resources aim to standardize best practices, improve accessibility, and ensure underserved communities have meaningful opportunities to contribute. By prioritizing transparency and collaboration, OMB seeks to create politics that reflect the voices and needs of the public. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/10/10/are-social-media-influencers-right-for-your-digital-media-campaign/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/10/10/are-social-media-influencers-right-for-your-digital-media-campaign/ Learn how to work with social media influencers to achieve your goals, while accounting for different budgets. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/10/07/building-a-culture-of-customer-experience-across-government/ Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/10/07/building-a-culture-of-customer-experience-across-government/ The Life Experience teams contain lessons for establishing a culture of customer experience in government, shifting to a focus on organizational practices. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/09/12/a-revised-and-expanded-guide-for-de-risking-government-technology-projects/ Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/09/12/a-revised-and-expanded-guide-for-de-risking-government-technology-projects/ 18F recently launched an updated version of the 2020 De-risking Government Technology Guide, offering a new section on vendor management, and combining the State Software Budgeting Handbook and Federal Field Guide into one unified resource. The guide offers practical methods for reducing risks in government tech projects, drawing from 18F’s experience and state employee input. This revision reflects the evolving needs of government agencies, providing key insights on custom software development, vendor collaboration, and performance-based contracting. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/27/how-multicultural-research-guides-usagovs-benefit-finder/ Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/27/how-multicultural-research-guides-usagovs-benefit-finder/ Discover how USA.gov tailors its benefit finder experience for both English and Spanish-speaking users through culturally nuanced content. Through dual-track language research, a bilingual support team, and A/B testing, USA.gov ensures that more users receive relevant, empathetic, and user-friendly content. The USA.gov team also identified and addressed recruitment challenges to interatively improve its ongoing research processes. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/26/how-login-gov-uses-roadmapping-to-build-trust-with-its-partners-and-the-public/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/26/how-login-gov-uses-roadmapping-to-build-trust-with-its-partners-and-the-public/ To increase transparency, the Login.gov team publishes a program roadmap that lays out their upcoming initiatives. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/20/user-research-and-the-paperwork-reduction-act/ Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/20/user-research-and-the-paperwork-reduction-act/ User research is an important part of customer experience transformation. Different types of research require different approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Through seven case studies, the U.S. Digital Service shows how agencies conducted valuable user research that did not require PRA approval and successfully integrated findings into their projects. Their work illustrates how thoughtful user research transforms delivery of services and helps agencies build trust in government. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/13/10-years-of-the-u-s-digital-service-transforming-government-for-the-digital-age/ Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/13/10-years-of-the-u-s-digital-service-transforming-government-for-the-digital-age/ Over the past decade, the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) has collaborated with more than 30 federal agencies to create user-friendly, reliable, and seamless digital experiences. Their work prioritizing human-centered design and engineering includes improving services for veterans with Veterans Affairs, launching the Internal Revenue Service Direct File Pilot, and supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, USDS remains committed to building trust, fostering innovation, and scaling digital capacity across the federal government, ensuring better service for all Americans. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/12/the-department-of-justice-recognizes-anniversary-of-executive-order-13166-improving-access-to-services-for-persons-with-limited-english-proficiency/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/12/the-department-of-justice-recognizes-anniversary-of-executive-order-13166-improving-access-to-services-for-persons-with-limited-english-proficiency/ The Department of Justice recently marked the 24th anniversary of Executive Order 13166, which aims to improve access to federal services for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). Its Civil Rights Division reviewed language access plans across federal agencies, emphasizing progress in hiring and staff training, improving language assistance services, and expanding multilingual content. The department is committed to eliminating language barriers in federal programs, improving communication and access for all communities. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/06/developing-an-easier-way-to-recruit-user-research-participants/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/08/06/developing-an-easier-way-to-recruit-user-research-participants/ USA.gov and 10x recently partnered to develop a new user research recruitment page. The page launched in February 2024 and has attracted hundreds of sign-ups. It allows participants to assist in testing government websites for compensation, and helps teams find participants that match needed demographics. By simplifying the process and expanding recruitment of diverse populations, the initiative aims to support and streamline user research. It plans to add recruitment opportunities in additional languages and recruit more specific audiences for future studies. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/23/reassessing-priorities-adapting-to-additional-work-without-additional-resources/ Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/23/reassessing-priorities-adapting-to-additional-work-without-additional-resources/ The Office of Natural Resources Revenue’s Open Data, Design, and Development (ODD) team is taking on management of a fourth website, despite being short-staffed. As a result, they have revisited and reprioritized their yearly goals. To do so, they utilized a prioritization matrix, developed a structured impact assessment, and laid out a transition plan. Their process ensured realistic workload adjustments, improved team morale, and highlighted the importance of practical goal-setting, especially when teams are short-staffed. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/16/introducing-the-department-of-homeland-security-customer-experience-toolkit/ Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/16/introducing-the-department-of-homeland-security-customer-experience-toolkit/ The Department of Homeland Security’s Customer Experience Directorate developed a customer experience (CX) toolkit to help agencies implement CX strategies using a human-centered design approach. The toolkit offers resources to enhance service delivery, processes, and systems, following a “Ready, Set, Grow” framework for planning and implementation. It aims to serve as a reference for organizations bringing CX practices to their own agencies. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/16/designing-for-people-with-disabilities/ Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/16/designing-for-people-with-disabilities/ The User Experience (UX) team at USA.gov’s Public Experience Portfolio recently conducted a study to analyze the experiences of individuals who access USA.gov through assistive technology. The team partnered with a local organization to gather insights from a diverse group of participants, many of whom are blind or deaf. The study revealed various habits and challenges faced by these users, such as a preference for mobile sites, difficulty with website carousels, and a reliance on clear headings and action-oriented descriptions. These findings can guide improvements in accessibility, such as clever link labeling and better navigation aids for assistive technology users. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/09/18f-engineering-craft-practices-at-10/ Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/09/18f-engineering-craft-practices-at-10/ 18F recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by renewing its commitment to refining and sharing best practices through regular publications, tech talks, and updates to the 18F Engineering Guide. They also created a permanent principal consulting engineer role to enhance digital service delivery and support skill development within the organization. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/09/18fs-engineering-craft-practices-at-10/ Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/09/18fs-engineering-craft-practices-at-10/ 18F recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by renewing its commitment to refining and sharing best practices through regular publications, tech talks, and updates to The 18F Engineering Guide. They also instructed a permanent principal consulting engineer role to enhance digital service delivery and support skill development within the organization. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/08/a-small-teams-journey-through-digital-maturity/ Mon, 08 Jul 2024 15:55:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/08/a-small-teams-journey-through-digital-maturity/ As a small team, Digital.gov adopted user research and customer experience early. That foundation helps develop evidence-based strategies for today. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/08/bridge-the-gap-between-policy-and-implementation-impactful-solutions-and-strategies-for-success-from-digital-gov-spring-2024-summit/ Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:55:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/07/08/bridge-the-gap-between-policy-and-implementation-impactful-solutions-and-strategies-for-success-from-digital-gov-spring-2024-summit/ The summit highlighted digital transformation, emphasizing the significance of recent OMB memos for improving accessibility and customer experience. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/26/digital-front-door-expanding-access-to-va/ Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/26/digital-front-door-expanding-access-to-va/ More Veterans are turning to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for healthcare and benefits, accessing these services online through tools like the VA Health and Benefits mobile app and VA.gov. With over 2.28 million app downloads and 17.8 million monthly visitors on VA.gov, these digital tools provide faster, easier, and more inclusive access to VA services. Learn more about how these technologies are often Veterans’ first interaction with VA by watching their latest video, Digital Front Door: Expanding Access to VA. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/18/back-to-basics-in-the-age-of-ai/ Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/18/back-to-basics-in-the-age-of-ai/ The federal government is actively discussing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). It has the potential to transform our digital service delivery, automate tasks, and enhance data analysis. However, AI also presents challenges and risks such as bias and ethical concerns. The team at 18F provides a quick overview of AI, its place in government today, and the techniques and frameworks they are currently using to navigate this complex new landscape. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/06/case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/06/case-study-increasing-access-to-required-bankruptcy-meetings/ The Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) oversees the administration of bankruptcy cases and private trustees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual Section 341 bankruptcy meetings lead to more participation from both consumers and creditors, minimized delays, and saved time and money for all. Learn about USTP’s human-centered design process for a pilot program in three states to increase public access to these virtual meetings. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/06/case-study-removing-barriers-to-applying-for-a-presidential-pardon/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/06/case-study-removing-barriers-to-applying-for-a-presidential-pardon/ At the Department of Justice, Access DOJ and the Office of the Pardon Attorney (PARDON) partnered to simplify and streamline the presidential pardon application process. By conducting usability testing and gathering feedback, they identified key issues with the existing application, such as its complexity and length. See how redesigning the forms to be more accessible and understandable led to a more efficient process for both applicants and staff. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/06/federal-customer-experience-omb-has-taken-actions-to-implement-cross-agency-priority-goals/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/06/federal-customer-experience-omb-has-taken-actions-to-implement-cross-agency-priority-goals/ In 2021, the President’s Management Agenda identified federal customer experience as a priority area for improvement. To implement this priority area, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) set two long-term, cross-agency priority (CAP) goals. In this study, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviews OMB and selected federal agencies’ efforts towards these CAP goals. Learn about actions taken by OMB and selected High Impact Service Providers (HISPs), how OMB has facilitated interagency collaboration, and the extent to which OMB has overseen and assessed progress on these CAP goals. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/04/fedramp-governance/ Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/04/fedramp-governance/ The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) has recently updated its governance structure to better serve its customers. Learn about their recently-formed FedRAMP Board, composed of federal executives; the FedRAMP Technical Advisory Group (TAG), composed of technology experts; and updates made to the Federal Security Cloud Advisory Committee (FSCAC). These groups collectively aim to strengthen and expand FedRAMP’s cloud service capabilities. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/04/three-tips-for-using-meta-descriptions/ Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/06/04/three-tips-for-using-meta-descriptions/ At USA.gov and USAGov en Español, the goal is to make content more useful to the public, and meta descriptions are one way to help people quickly find the government information they’re looking for. These brief summaries of webpage content appear in search engine results to entice users to click through, attracting visitors to agency websites. Regularly updating these descriptions based on user data can enhance their effectiveness. Read in more detail about their three tips to create effective meta descriptions: identify commonly searched keywords, write engaging and actionable descriptions, and ensure each one is unique. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/05/20/a-five-step-plan-for-communicating-with-leadership/ Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/05/20/a-five-step-plan-for-communicating-with-leadership/ How to engage leadership personally, adapt communication styles, and choose appropriate timing for effective interactions and feedback. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/05/14/one-year-with-the-new-usagov/ Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/05/14/one-year-with-the-new-usagov/ It has been a year since USA.gov and USAGov en Español were relaunched using human-centered design principles. Using task backlog, the USAGov team has addressed content gaps, improved discoverability, and implemented technical updates. Through usability tests, visitor comments, and click behavior the team was able to unravel and respond to user feedback and unmet needs, leading to noticeable increases in visitor satisfaction and task accomplishment. Moving forward, the focus will shift to enhancing public engagement with the government, improving the search for benefits-related content, and exploring interactive and personalized user experiences. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/25/risk-communications-crisis-communications-and-community-engagement-summit/ Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/25/risk-communications-crisis-communications-and-community-engagement-summit/ The Federal Emergency Management Agency Office of External Affairs is convening risk and crisis communicators and community leaders who are on the front-line of the climate and emerging hazard crises. Attend the free, June 10, 2024, summit virtually, or in Washington, DC. The agenda includes: the sharing invaluable tools and insights, how to implement culturally competent and accessible communications, how to integrate behavior change strategies, and more. An ASL interpreter will be provided. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/23/creating-a-blueprint-for-quality-how-the-px-contact-center-helps-agents-grow-their-skills/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/23/creating-a-blueprint-for-quality-how-the-px-contact-center-helps-agents-grow-their-skills/ Every day, live agents at USA.gov’s Public Experience (PX) Contact Center answer questions from the public about government benefits and services. Learn how the PX Contact Center develops a workforce of excellent agents, using immersive onboarding, tailored and continuous training, feedback loops, and calibration meetings to empower their agents to deliver accurate information. USA.gov’s system for employee and contact center management ensures that every customer interaction leaves a lasting impact. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/22/google-analytics-4-transition-strategies-for-federal-websites/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/22/google-analytics-4-transition-strategies-for-federal-websites/ Learn how the Open Data, Design, and Development (ODDD) team at the Department of the Interior (DOI) transitioned from Google Analytics - Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4! Discover how the ODDD team coordinated with the Digital Analytics Program, developed explorations (instead of custom reports), and set up their own DOI agency property. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/17/progress-towards-delivering-a-digital-first-public-experience/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/17/progress-towards-delivering-a-digital-first-public-experience/ Each year, more than 400 million individuals, families, businesses, organizations, and local governments get information and services from about 430 federal agencies and sub-agencies. The Biden-Harris administration is driving a bold vision for how government agencies serve their customers digitally with OMB’s ten-year roadmap for a modern digital experience. Agencies have already made significant strides. Learn about recent successes by the IRS, CDC, NASA, and FEMA, and how OMB will continue to collaborate with agencies to ensure ongoing improvement in digital government services. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/03/18f-practices-in-action-spoiler-this-stuff-works/ Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/03/18f-practices-in-action-spoiler-this-stuff-works/ How well do 18F software development practices work? The 18F team reflected on a recent project for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) .gov registry to gauge the effectiveness of six recommendations aligned with what they actually did. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/03/reconsidering-the-consent-form-the-least-user-friendly-aspect-of-ux-research/ Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/03/reconsidering-the-consent-form-the-least-user-friendly-aspect-of-ux-research/ The Open Data, Design, and Development (ODDD) team has replaced signed consent forms with a more accessible user research agreement process, offering multiple opt-in points. This ensures informed consent and participant autonomy. Explore why and how the ODDD team implemented this comprehensive participant consent process in their user research. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/01/how-usagov-uses-data-to-improve-content/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/04/01/how-usagov-uses-data-to-improve-content/ Each month, USAGov’s content designers spend many hours ensuring that the content on USA.gov and USAGov en Español is up-to-date, accurate, and meets user needs. Learn how their team does holistic reviews of each topic section based on a rolling calendar with the goal of updating all content at least every 6 months. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/02/20/optimizing-the-federal-digital-experience-aligning-content-governance-coordination-and-database-development/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/02/20/optimizing-the-federal-digital-experience-aligning-content-governance-coordination-and-database-development/ This blog post dives into the details of building a dynamic content database and audit for onrr.gov. Learn how effective subject matter expert (SME) coordination, strategic content planning, and application of visualization tools contribute to enhancing content governance and user experience on a federal website. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/02/09/timeless-top-10-best-practices-for-great-government-websites/ Fri, 09 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/02/09/timeless-top-10-best-practices-for-great-government-websites/ While the field of federal web management continues to evolve, the core best practices have remained essentially unchanged for two decades. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/02/06/getting-the-word-out-about-voter-registration-votegovs-first-social-media-takeover-with-usagov/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/02/06/getting-the-word-out-about-voter-registration-votegovs-first-social-media-takeover-with-usagov/ Last fall, vote.gov and the USAGov program partnered for their first-ever social media takeover on National Voter Registration Day. The campaign, which encouraged the public to register to vote, reached 36,000 people across USAGov’s platforms and generated over 2,000 engagements. The partnership raised awareness for vote.gov, boosted vote.gov’s website traffic, and laid the groundwork for the future collaborations and resource-sharing between the two entities. This collaboration between vote.gov and USAGov offers a model for social media takeovers and partnerships between federal agencies and teams. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/moving-to-gov/ Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:13:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/moving-to-gov/ If you’re moving to .gov from another top-level domain, like .com, .org, or .us, here are some best practices to help you plan that transition. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/09/22/why-the-american-people-deserve-a-digital-government/ Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:26:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/09/22/why-the-american-people-deserve-a-digital-government/ OMB recently released new policy guidance for government that includes a variety of actions and standards to help federal agencies design, develop, and deliver modern websites and digital services. Memo M-23-22, Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience, will make it seamless for the public to obtain government information and services online, and help agencies fully implement the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA). /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/08/22/seven-tips-on-facilitating-unplanned-topics-in-meetings/ Tue, 22 Aug 2023 12:53:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/08/22/seven-tips-on-facilitating-unplanned-topics-in-meetings/ Facilitating a workshop can feel like a daunting task. Here at 18F, we’ve identified seven tips to keep your workshop organized and flowing, despite unplanned scenarios. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/03/23/am-i-doing-it-right-a-check-up-for-agile-teams/ Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:42:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/03/23/am-i-doing-it-right-a-check-up-for-agile-teams/ Even on the best teams, things need to be monitored and adjusted. If you are doing this for the first time, it can be even harder. In this article, I share some signals of what success looks like and what to do if you are stuck in one of the many common pitfalls. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2021/10/21/the-weekly-ship-what-it-is-why-useful-and-how-to-create-your-own/ Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:52:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2021/10/21/the-weekly-ship-what-it-is-why-useful-and-how-to-create-your-own/ summary /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2021/10/19/navigating-atos/ Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:02:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2021/10/19/navigating-atos/ sum /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2020/10/26/discovery-bpa-evaluation-process-how-to-operationalize-this-practice/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 11:20:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2020/10/26/discovery-bpa-evaluation-process-how-to-operationalize-this-practice/ This guide provides acquisition professionals the steps and resources needed to operationalize the evaluation process developed for the Discovery BPA. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/guidelines-for-digital-gov-event-presenters/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 12:43:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/guidelines-for-digital-gov-event-presenters/ A checklist of requirements for people who are presenting at a Digital.gov event. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/federal-cloud-computing-strategy/ Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/resources/federal-cloud-computing-strategy/ Founded on three key pillars of successful cloud adoption—security, procurement, and workforce—the Cloud Smart strategy includes 11 action items from the Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/event/2025/01/16/uswds-monthly-call-january-2025/ Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/event/2025/01/16/uswds-monthly-call-january-2025/ Learn the U.S. Web Design System basics, how to get started with the design system, and what’s coming next for USWDS in 2025. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/09/17/how-our-developers-and-accessibility-specialists-work-together/ Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2024/09/17/how-our-developers-and-accessibility-specialists-work-together/ Planning for accessibility is critical to creating more inclusive digital experiences. Discover how developers and accessibility specialists from USA.gov collaborate early in the development process to ensure that their government websites are accessible for everyone. By following established accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, USA.gov proactively reduces the need for later fixes. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/event/2024/03/13/spring-2024-community-summit/ Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0500 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/event/2024/03/13/spring-2024-community-summit/ Digital service experts across the federal government will share case studies and best practices on delivering a digital-first public experience. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/07/31/have-you-critiqued-your-critique-process/ Mon, 31 Jul 2017 12:00:00 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/07/31/have-you-critiqued-your-critique-process/ DEMO Whenever I hear someone complain about the process of a design critique, I’m always a bit surprised. Blame it on the fact /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/06/29/cybersecuring-the-internet-of-things/ Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:00:47 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/06/29/cybersecuring-the-internet-of-things/ I recently had the chance to talk with the legendary Vint Cerf, one of the founding fathers of the internet. We had a wide-ranging discussion about the past, present and future of the internet, network security and what it would take to successfully, safely and reliably merge the digital and physical worlds, a concept known /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/06/15/four-challenges-of-adopting-team-structures-and-how-leaders-can-mitigate-them/ Thu, 15 Jun 2017 12:00:00 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/06/15/four-challenges-of-adopting-team-structures-and-how-leaders-can-mitigate-them/ If you’re considering “going agile,” one of the critical components of such a transformation will be adopting team structures. In your current, pre-teaming state, your developers are probably working by themselves, and may be engaging directly with stakeholders. Agile will place your developers into teams. Teaming is important, as it will enable your development staff /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/06/07/the-data-briefing-design-driven-enterprise-architecture-creating-the-new-federal-government-agency/ Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:00:19 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/06/07/the-data-briefing-design-driven-enterprise-architecture-creating-the-new-federal-government-agency/ It’s been a while since I’ve checked in on enterprise architecture (EA). My last in-depth work with EA was around 2011 when I was on detail to the Office of Personnel Management’s Open Government Team. The EA model I worked with was the top-down organizational design of information technology assets, data assets, and business processes. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/05/15/webinar-recap-measuring-your-mobile-users/ Mon, 15 May 2017 11:00:23 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/05/15/webinar-recap-measuring-your-mobile-users/ This Digital Analytics Program and MobileGov Community webinar focuses on using DAP’s analytics tools and best practices for mobile reporting. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/05/10/the-data-briefing-how-to-best-prepare-federal-government-datasets-for-chatbots/ Wed, 10 May 2017 11:00:46 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/05/10/the-data-briefing-how-to-best-prepare-federal-government-datasets-for-chatbots/ Forbes magazine recently ran an article showcasing six handy mobile apps that were built using federal government open data. The apps range from the Alternative Fueling Station Locator to ZocDoc (a doctor locator). What I especially like about the Forbes article is that the author describes the federal government data sets behind each app. There /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/05/04/cybersecurity-protecting-manufacturing-technology-and-innovation/ Thu, 04 May 2017 15:00:45 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/05/04/cybersecurity-protecting-manufacturing-technology-and-innovation/ Recently a segment on my favorite morning news program stopped me in my tracks. The young and attractive hosts (why are they always so young and attractive?) were demonstrating new appliances including a smart refrigerator. The fridge was equipped with all kinds of high-tech features including touch screen displays, a camera inside that allows you /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/04/17/improving-stakeholder-collaboration-can-improve-software-development-performance/ Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:00:17 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/04/17/improving-stakeholder-collaboration-can-improve-software-development-performance/ It’s important for software development organizations to make it as easy as possible to enable improved stakeholder behavior. Development stakeholders can include business development representatives, product managers, and senior project managers, and they are typically carrying the weight of the organization’s mission. They are concerned about the organization’s goals, and are usually focused on ensuring /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/01/19/the-life-changing-magic-of-writing-release-notes/ Thu, 19 Jan 2017 02:00:17 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2017/01/19/the-life-changing-magic-of-writing-release-notes/ A key part of agile development is constantly shipping new features. The team behind the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) beta website ships new features at least once every two weeks. Sometimes the features are big, noticeable changes, such as the new home page we recently launched. And other times they’re small (a copy edit, an /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/10/31/three-small-steps-you-can-take-to-reboot-agile-in-your-organization/ Mon, 31 Oct 2016 11:00:10 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/10/31/three-small-steps-you-can-take-to-reboot-agile-in-your-organization/ This past summer, 18F held an agile workshop for the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. An agency with roots going back to World War II, NTIS is facing a future that requires a strategic realignment towards open data and services. This strategic alignment will also require that NTIS /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/10/28/laying-the-foundation-for-a-more-secure-modern-government/ Fri, 28 Oct 2016 03:00:16 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/10/28/laying-the-foundation-for-a-more-secure-modern-government/ Summary: Building on efforts to boost Federal cybersecurity & as part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, today we’re releasing a proposed guidance to modernize Federal IT. America’s spirit of ingenuity and entrepreneurship created the world’s most innovative economy and keeps us dominant in today’s digital age. Indeed, in 1985 about 2,000 people used the Internet; /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/10/26/the-data-briefing-help-predict-the-future-of-federal-government-data/ Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:00:55 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/10/26/the-data-briefing-help-predict-the-future-of-federal-government-data/ In December, I plan to write two postings detailing a scenario analysis for the next ten years of the Federal government’s data technologies. Governments are on the cusp of amazing technological advances propelled by artificial intelligence, blockchain technologies, and the Internet of Things. Also, governments will face new challenges such as the recent global cyber /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/09/27/webinar-recap-snaps-and-stripes-sharing-public-service-stories-with-snapchat/ Tue, 27 Sep 2016 11:00:50 -0400 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2016/09/27/webinar-recap-snaps-and-stripes-sharing-public-service-stories-with-snapchat/ Snapchat has quickly become an incredibly effective digital storytelling medium, and content creators across multiple government agencies have adopted it as an important part of their programs. /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/sources/cio-council/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 /preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/sources/cio-council/ The U.S. Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the CIO Council establish standards against which the success of all agency programs can be measured.