Driving the economic development of a city or county is one of the primary goals of any local official. A healthy economy means active, affluent residents and increased income for the city itself. Officials have mastered a number of tools to help their organization prosper but an often overlooked avenue for driving economic development is perhaps one of the easiest: a great website.

 

Most local governments have functioning websites, but these are often merely e-brochures – small informational sites with no real content value beyond what someone could get from a quick web search. But there are a number of ways that an official can utilize a city’s website to do so much more than provide simple contact information. Here are three great ways to leverage a city’s web presence to drive economic growth within the community.

1. Current News – As readership of traditional print-based media continues to decline, many people are moving online to get their news. Your website is a great way to disseminate pertinent news. By providing the latest news on elections, construction projects, road and school closings, and even a Civic Events calendar, a city can ensure that its citizens are well informed. The key here is to regularly update content on the city’s website so that web users keep coming back for more.

2. eCommerce – A simple eCommerce addition to a city website can add a lot of value. An online storefront will allow a city to sell branded merchandise like t-shirts, hats, stickers, and other items that citizens can use to show their civic pride.

3. City Management – Perhaps the biggest driver of economic growth comes in the form of online city management features. There are a number of software packages that allow people to pay traffic tickets, taxes, and other fines, right online. There are also packages that allow people to register for civic classes, sports teams and events, or even register for various licenses and approvals right online. The advantages are numerous:

• Cut down foot traffic at city facilities
• Decrease processing times, allowing employees to focus on other responsibilities
• Allow people to pay or register at any time, not just during business hours
• Increases the number of people who pay tickets and taxes or register for classes or events

A well designed, content-driven website can help a city save time and resources as well as increase revenue from taxes, tickets, and events. Robust news and event calendar features means higher election and event attendance and less calls and foot traffic at city facilities.  Some of these solutions may not be right for all organizations, but keeping an eye out for ways to use the web to drive economic growth can greatly benefit any sized organization.