Better connected 2011

Produced by: Socitm Insight

Type: Reports

Better connected 2011, now the 13th edition, is a comprehensive publication, providing a unique blend of hard facts, informed researcher opinion and constructive advice about the state of local authority websites.

Introduction

The purpose of Better connected is to identify good practice in the development of local authority websites based on extensive evidence-based research.

This is our 13th annual survey of all local authority websites (plus others belonging to Socitm Insight subscribers in the public sector). In total, 482 websites have been examined. A team of reviewers carried out a structured survey with 136 questions for local authority websites, followed by six shorter surveys on specific topics. This research has been supplemented by eight additional sets of data, supplied by our partner organisations.

The structure of this report follows the criteria for high-quality local authority websites that develop the ideas that websites should be 'useful, usable and used' (Version 3 of that framework published, September 2009).

Headline results - available to all

The report and supporting files for download appear at the bottom of this page. The file Headline results for public use is available to all, free of charge, providing you are registered on the Socitm website. Use this link to register for free. All other files are restricted to employees of organisations that are paid up subscribers to Socitm Insight and have registered personally on this website.

This year's report

The Main report (236 pages) is available now as an electronic version and as a printed report from 22 March 2011. For subscribers only, there will be a Full results report available by 15 March. This will be an expanded version (280 pages approx) only available electronically.

The Full results report

(280 pages approx) is an expanded version only available electronically. It has the same structure as the Main report, but contains much greater detail in Sections 2, 3 and 4, plus five extra appendices.

Part A - The present - this year's results

Section 1 - Overview of this year's results

We provide the national picture in terms of overall rankings using our star system for ranking sites (one star to four stars). This is followed by our Top 20, our analysis by type of council, our view of improvement trends and, finally, an examination of some of our favourite sites

Section 2 - This year's results - useful content

We describe the detailed analysis of the results, focusing firstly on content. We report here on the information content about six common topics that might interest typical visitors, and then examine other aspects of content such as use of links, currency of information, news value, provision of services, response to e-mail and the practice of participation.

Section 3 - This year's results - usability

The second stage of the results focuses on ease of use. This covers use of navigational aids such as A to Z lists, search engines and locational data, general navigation, accessibility, readability of top tasks and, finally, technical resilience. All these points contribute to the usability of a local authority website.

Section 4 - This year's results - usage

Our third perspective is focused on usage. Switching from the product to the customer, we examine different aspects of the demand side, highlighting trends in take-up and visitor feedback. We provide the latest information about internet access, visitor usage and satisfaction and advise about better marketing. We conclude with a very interesting case study about the success of online school-related services for parents/carers in England.

Part B - The future - issues to face

Section 5 - National influences on strategic direction

We offer an overview of national policies, initiatives and legislation that will have a strategic impact on the development of websites in the next three to five years.

Section 6 - Striving for a website fit for self-service

Having analysed in detail the current state of council websites and how they are used, and having also considered the strategic implication of national policy development, we argue that council websites must achieve a new level of performance. In planning for website improvement we recommend three inter-connected themes supported by three pieces of research.

Section 7 - Connecting with people via social media

Digital media are expanding well beyond the traditional website. Here we investigate how councils are connecting through their websites with all types of people networks using probably the six most common social networking facilities - Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, blogs and LinkedIn.

Section 8 - Connecting with people via neighbourhood sites

We have commissioned a special article based on research, originally carried out for Capital Ambition, into hundreds of local neighbourhood sites in London from two experts who have studied their rise and analysed their impact on relationships with councils.

Section 9 - Conclusions

How did your council do?

We have sent to each fully-paid up local authority subscriber to Socitm Insight more detailed analysis of the results of the accessibility testing supplied by the RNIB. This was sent to the nominated contact, who may well not be the web manager, or even in the same section or directorate. If, as the web manager, or member of the web team, you would like a copy sent direct to you, then e-mail insight@socitm.net and we will send it by return.

Here, subscribers to Socitm Insight can download the summary of the results of the main survey, which also contain for the first time detailed analysis of every topic and theme in the survey. They can also download all supporting material as follows:

• A 'pdf' version is available of both the Main report and the Full results version
• An index of all council references as examples of good practice and entries in top lists, etc
• The accessibility results from RNIB
• A summary of Sitemorse results on technical performance
• Results from Local Directgov for broken links
• A summary of Hitwise results on market share of take-up
• Supporting surveys:
  • severe weather
  • sample e-mail test,
  • phone contacts
  • mystery shopping in libraries
  • mobile device (iPhone)
  • social media
    
• Results of survey from rest of public sector of other organisations who subscribe to Socitm Insight
• Presentation of key messages (Sections 1, 5 and 6 of main report)

Insight subscribers receive the material free of charge.

Open data

One of the key messages in last year's report was the importance of promoting open data. As an example, like last year, we are publishing for the first time the results of our assessments (Appendix 1) as open data on www.socitm.net and make them available for re-use (non-commercially).

Non-subscribers

The charge for non-Insight subscribers, including Socitm members whose organisations do not subscribe to Insight are given below. More from our flyer.

Price list

Subscription	Main report
Socitm Insight Subscribers	Free
Non-Insight subscribers - Socitm members	£475
Non-Insight subscribers - all other organisations	£495
Purchase now

Back copies of the annual survey may be available (subject to stock). Call 01604 497774 or email enquiries@socitm.net  for details.

Please note that

• the charges are for the printed version of the report which will  be available after 22 March 2011
• the supporting spreadsheets are only available to subscribers.   

Licence conditions

Socitm holds copyright to the content and images on this website and database rights to the structure and relationships of the data.

The Better connected 2011 headline results data is available under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA licence which allows sharing and reuse for non-commercial purposes. However, Socitm must be attributed as per the attribution notice below. If you wish to use the information without attribution you must contact us for a licence.

If you do reuse the information, it would be great if you could let us know by e-mailing insight@socitm.net.

Attribution

In order for people to trace the information back to its source, we require attribution in the following form:

• Use of any data must be accompanied by a hyperlink reading "from Socitm Insight" and linking to www.socitm.net/betterconnected.
• If you are making the information available via your own API ,you need to make sure your users comply with these conditions.

Please contact insight@socitm.net if you would like to request additional data or wish to vary the licence terms.

Socitm is based in England and these terms are subject to English law and to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Last modified: 30th August 2011