Content Strategy

Why the American People Deserve a Digital Government

OMB 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).— via The White House

Sep 22, 2023

Creating a functional inventory database for website content audits

The Office of Natural Resources Revenue recently completed a site-wide content inventory and audit. Here is how they modified an existing content inventory spreadsheet to act as a functional database for enhancing content throughout the site.— via Office of Natural Resources Revenue

Sep 21, 2023

NASA Releases First Season of Spanish-language Podcast

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, NASA is releasing new content for Universo curioso de la NASA, the agency’s first Spanish-language podcast. A five-episode season will start Tuesday, September 19, with new episodes released weekly. In each episode, Universo curioso will highlight the contributions of NASA’s Hispanic and Latino workforce to the agency’s groundbreaking work in Earth and space exploration. The season features interviews with NASA experts, including an astronaut, a space weather scientist, an astrochemist, and oceanographers. Episodes focus on some of NASA’s top missions, bringing the wonder of exploration, space technology, and scientific discoveries to Spanish-speaking audiences around the world.— via National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Sep 15, 2023

From pageviews to progress

A 10-year recap of GSA’s Digital Analytics Program (DAP) highlights its impact on federal government agencies and the public, high-level observations using government-wide website analytics and trends, and new goals set for the next decade to help generate useful answers to meaningful questions to make government websites better.

Jack Avery

Marina Fox

Tim Lowden

Sep 12, 2023

A conversation about content audits

Content audits can be tedious. Two content designers discuss why we do them anyway, and how to get started.

Michelle Rago

Ryan Johnson

Sep 12, 2023

Making the case for sentence case on USAGov’s websites

What is the best case style to use for titles and headings? For the new USAGov websites, we discuss the decision to use sentence case on USAGov products.— via USA.gov

Sep 05, 2023

4 steps writers and editors can take to demonstrate value

As plain language writers and editors, we need to demonstrate the value we bring to projects. This writeup explains how to calculate the costs of our work and articulate its value.

Katherine Spivey

Meredith Larson

Aug 08, 2023

How to choose the right metrics for your intranet

Explore key metrics to optimize your agency’s intranet to foster improved user engagement, experience, and overall satisfaction.

Jessica Dunbar

Jun 13, 2023

Making the big move - Special report: Search in support of federal web modernization

For the past several years Search.gov has reported each year on the top public needs based on the search terms they used.

This special report will take a different approach. It still offers a high level view of the public experience of seeking services and information from the government. But it also tells the story of change, and how these changes affect search and findability.

— via Search.gov

Jun 05, 2023

Why vote.gov supports multiple languages

According to a 2019 U.S. Census Bureau survey, nearly 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home. To help make the voting process accessible to everyone who is eligible, vote.gov works with state election offices, federal agencies, and non-partisan organizations to create a national source of accurate voting information and clear registration instructions in multiple languages.— via USA.gov

May 16, 2023

A digital accessibility catalyst for your next policy refresh

Use GSA’s IT Accessibility Policy Framework to update digital accessibility language in your agency’s policies.

Andrew Nielson

May 15, 2023

The art of storytelling in a hybrid world

Combined with technology and audience awareness, our increasingly digital, hybrid world can still leverage that in-person charm through the art of storytelling.

Frances Carden

Apr 20, 2023

Introducing the new USA.gov

We’re excited to share that the new USA.gov and USAGov en Español are live. However, we’re not finished. See what we’ll be working on in the future.— via USA.gov

Apr 18, 2023

Who’s your website manager?

The importance of HR and accountability to improving digital service delivery at federal agencies.

Gail Sprinkle

Rachel Flagg

Mar 24, 2023

Plain language on onrr.gov: coordination and implementation with web content owners

Strategies, examples, and lessons learned from coordinating with content owners to enhance plain language on onrr.gov.— via Office of Natural Resources Revenue

Mar 16, 2023

A happy compromise between people-first and plain language

Find out how the National Institute of Corrections is using people-first plain language in its communications. See what words and phrases they’re changing.

Celia A. Terrazas

Mar 07, 2023

Building Beta: The Foundation

The USAGov program has been developing a new iteration of our bilingual sites, USA.gov and USAGov en Español. In the process of building beta.USA.gov and beta.USA.gov en Español, we’ve been rethinking our work style and priorities. Follow the “Building Beta” series to learn how we’re reimagining the way we approach product management, usability, accessibility, content creation, analytics, and outreach.— via USA.gov

Mar 07, 2023

Understanding design in 10 questions

How the discipline of design can help your agency improve customer experience.

Ana Monroe

Mar 03, 2023

Digital governance at GSA

A peek into GSA’s internal processes for managing their websites and improving digital experience.

Rachel Flagg

Feb 23, 2023

Three Tips for Using Facebook and Instagram Stories

At USA.gov and USAGov en Español, we’re always looking for better ways to connect people to government information through social media. Using stories has helped us increase our engagement rate and our number of followers as we deliver helpful information to people. Stories may be a good addition to your agency’s social media strategy, too. These three tips can help you get started.— via USA.gov

Feb 21, 2023

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