Site allows immediate changes in the event of emergencies, and the search option has been streamlined
The City of Sarasota has launched a redesigned website with an emphasis on mobility, search options and streamlining information, the city has announced.
“With the sharp new look, comes a new url: SarasotaFL.Gov (No need to type “www” —just SarasotaFL.Gov),” a news release points out.
“We want to continue to adopt modern technology [in the city], so it’s important that our website reflects that,” said Herminio Rodriguez, information technology director, in the release. “This website is now compatible and user friendly with mobile devices,” he added in the release. “Most users want the option to use a few key words to conduct a search on the site, so the search feature is a prominent aspect of the homepage.”
“City staff worked extensively with a well-known website designer, Vision Internet, which has overhauled many municipal sites across the country,” including those of the City of North Port, the City of Venice and Sarasota County, the release continues.
The new website is dynamic, the release notes, allowing for immediate changes to spotlight urgent, time-sensitive information. “This will be especially powerful during an emergency, such as Hurricane Irma, when important messages can be highlighted on the homepage,” the release adds.
The homepage also will feature videos that “capture the essence of this coastal, cultural arts community, showcasing community assets and popular destinations from Bobby Jones Golf Club to Bayfront Park to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens,” the release says.
The previous City of Sarasota website was in existence for six years, the release notes, adding that the site needed modernizing to keep up with technology, as well as with the ways users interact with a website. Sixty-six percent of users access the City of Sarasota website via a desktop computer, compared to the 34% who use a mobile device, the release points out. “These numbers are expected to invert in the coming years,” the release says.
The City of Sarasota website has a daily average of 5,000 unique page views; more than 1 million unique page views occur per year, the release continues. During Hurricane Irma, the number of daily visits more than doubled, to 12,000, as people visited the site for critical information, the release adds.
Those who visit the previous website, SarasotaGov.org, will automatically be redirected to SarasotaFL.Gov.