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We are excited to bring you stories from around the world that can affect what you do and how you do it. Work focusing on customer service, citizen engagement and more.

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Pie chart shows that 36% of respondents said that a content manager could effectively manage more than 1,000 pages.

How Many Web Pages Can One Person Manage?

It’s a question that gets to the heart of managing Web content: How many Web pages can one person manage? Organizations need to know for staffing and resourcing purposes, and to make sure content managers are focusing on high-priority areas. Content managers need to know for effective program and project management. Ask the question in your …

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Sarah Kaczmarek

Above & Beyond Metrics: Tell a Story with Reports

Last week I presented a webinar for DigitalGov University,  Above & Beyond Metrics: Tell a Story with Reports.  In this presentation I gave some  helpful tips to interpret and present your metrics in a meaningful and engaging manner.  Here are the highlights: How to Interpret Your Metrics in Context Consider the purpose of your site. Take …

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“Think-Aloud” Protocol Can Influence Results of Usability Testing

A common practice in usability testing is to ask individual test participants to describe what they are doing as they complete the tasks in a test scenario. The “Think-Aloud” protocol, or method, asks test participants to maintain a running commentary about what they are doing and why. By analyzing verbal feedback from test participants, usability professionals gain valuable information …

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Anthony Calabrese is Digital Communications Manager at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

12 Big Ideas & Predictions for 2013

We saw some big changes across the federal government with the introduction of the Digital Government Strategy in 2012. And it was a big year for innovation at the Department of Health & Human Services, where I’m part of a great team that’s working to transform us into the digital age. Looking forward, 2013 promises to …

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“Hiding” Right Out There in the Open

Reblogged from the data.gov blog. Want to know what the weather is? Today we have so many ways to find out:  check one of many sites on the Internet – or, more likely, you’ll find the temperature and links to forecasts conveniently on your e-mail provider’s home page. Then there are, of course, TV, radio …

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FedRAMP – The Gateway Into Secure Cloud Computing

FedRAMP (The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a government-wide program that aims to offer agencies a standard approach to IT security, authorization, and ongoing monitoring for cloud products and services. It’s the federal government’s gateway into secure cloud computing. Since the administration implemented the “Cloud First” policy, some agencies have found it tough …

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Slide showing the results of the 4 different conditions plotted against accuracy.

“Think-Aloud” Protocol Can Influence Usability Testing

We got feedback from usability experts and they have additional information they would like to share. Take a look at their new post.  A common practice in usability testing is to ask people to describe what they are doing as they complete a task. The “Think-Aloud” protocol, or method, asks test participants to verbally express their thoughts, feelings, and reactions …

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Mobile Gov & the Digital Government Strategy Wikithon

Reblogged from the Mobile Gov Blog. Have a question about Mobile Gov? Want to help improve Mobile Gov efforts? This Thursday’s Mobile Gov Wikithon from 2-4 in downtown D.C. will offer you the chance to meet Mobile Gov innovators and get tips on mobile product ideation and improvements to your current and future mobile products. …

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Maximizing the Value of Open Data Initiatives

Public agencies are under pressure to create new capabilities to open government data. A common assumption when opening government data is that simply supplying more data freely and in more formats will lead to more use. In turn, that use will lead to value creation and will motivate government to make the necessary changes to …

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A Content Management System can help support your agency's mission by making it easier to publish structured, open content.

Content Management Systems Toolkit

If your agency is thinking about implementing a new Content Management System (CMS), or updating your current CMS, check out the new CMS toolkit on HowTo.gov. A CMS can streamline your agency’s content publication processes, and make it easier to publish structured, open content. The toolkit will help you: Choose the right CMS for your …

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Mobile search

Mobile Search Increases in 2012

Reblogged from the  Mobile Gov Blog. Last week Rimm-Kaufman Group published its new Digital Marketing Report (free download with your email address), which covers the fourth quarter of 2012. They found a staggering increase in the use of mobile search. Specific findings include: Nearly 20% of organic search and direct visits were mobile in Q4. …

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Mobile devices have a number of applications and tools that agencies can use to engage citizens.

What We are Reading: Social Media

Another great roundup of social media articles for  the week of  January 14, 2013. SMI: Eight ways to encourage content engagement  In a bid to better understand what makes consumers like and engage with content, MIT Sloan’s Management Review studied 98 global brands and more than 1,000 wall posts and has identified eight key actions to …

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GSA's new Pinterest account illustrates how quickly and easily agencies can begin sharing images on mobile devices and desktops. Image courtesy of GSA.

Pinterest Brings Social Image Sharing to Government

The federal government can now share tens of thousands of public-use photos via Pinterest, the third most popular social media platform in the U.S. That’s because the company recently adopted Fed-friendly Terms of Service. With more than 100 million visits each month to the free tool, the benefit to citizens and agencies alike may be worth pinning …

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Mobile Gov Opportunities and the Digital Gov Strategy

Come hear how agencies agencies are using the Digital Government Strategy to make government anytime, anywhere on any device! On January 24 at 11.am., DigitalGov University will host a webinar, Mobile Gov Opportunities and the Digital Strategy, where agencies will show how they are implementing the Digital Government Strategy with their Mobile Gov efforts. The event will highlight …

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