Your city or town’s website isn’t just a place where residents get information. It’s how they interact with government, pay their bills, access forms, check schedules and stay informed.
But here’s the issue: too many municipalities end up hiring a designer who makes the site look nice without building it to be functional, fast and user-friendly.
Choosing a website partner isn’t just about the portfolio. It’s about making sure your website is actually helping your staff, serving your residents and pushing your initiatives forward.
Here’s an actionable checklist of what to look for when choosing a website designer for your municipality.
1. Prioritize Function Over Flash
Design should be clean and professional, but residents aren’t coming to admire your layout. They’re coming to do something.
Look for:
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Easy navigation with clear menu categories
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Logical organization of content and services
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Mobile-first design that works on all screen sizes
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Quick access to top features: payments, forms council minutes, etc.
Don’t get distracted by trendy designs that bury the essentials.
2. Ask for Real Experience with Municipal Clients
You need a partner who understands the unique needs of a city or town, not someone learning on the fly. Many website designers will “say” they get your needs but offer no real proof.
Ask:
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Have you built sites for municipalities or public agencies?
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Can we see live examples of your work in the government space?
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How do you handle compliance with ADA and accessibility standards?
A great agency will know what residents expect and what staff needs behind the scenes.
3. Make Sure the Site Is Easy to Update
You shouldn’t have to call a developer every time you want to post an announcement or change a meeting time.
Look for:
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A content management system (CMS) that’s simple
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Training included for your staff members and team
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The ability to add news updates, alerts or form changes without needing code
Ease-of-use equals long-term success.
4. Insist on ADA Accessibility Compliance
Accessibility isn’t optional. Your website must meet current ADA standards so everyone in your community, regardless of ability, can use it.
Make sure your vendor provides:
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Accessibility-friendly color contrast and font sizing
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Keyboard navigation support
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Alt text for all images
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Ongoing compliance checks and audits
Ask if accessibility is baked into their process.
5. Check for Built-In Emergency Alerts and Notifications
Municipal websites need to communicate quickly during power outages, water issues, weather events or other emergencies.
Your new site should include:
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Homepage alert banners or pop-ups
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Email or text signup forms for residents
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The ability to update alerts in seconds
If the platform doesn’t support real-time communication, it’s a non-starter.
6. Review Their Hosting, Backups and Security
Municipal websites are targets for cyber threats. A cheap hosting package or lack of regular backups puts your entire site at risk.
Make sure your designer or agency provides:
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Secure, encrypted hosting with SSL
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Daily backups with restoration capabilities
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Ongoing maintenance and security updates
Security and stability should never be optional.
7. Make Sure It Integrates with What You Already Use
You don’t want a site that works against your currentsystems. You want one that plays nice with the tools and platforms your team already relies on.
Examples:
Ask for custom integrations, not workarounds.
8. Insist on a Search That Works
People will use your search bar before they use your menu. If it doesn’t return useful results, they’ll get frustrated.
A good website partner will:
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Implement a powerful search function
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Optimize all pages and documents so they’re searchable
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Ensure important info shows up first (and is easy to see)
A working search feature saves residents time and saves your staff from calls and emails.
9. Ask About Timeline and Communication
You don’t want a site launch that drags on for 8+ months with no updates. You also don’t want a process full of jargon or unclear expectations.
Ask them:
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What’s your timeline for a municipal site build?
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How often will we get progress updates?
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Will we have a single point of contact?
You should feel supported, not left in the dark.
10. Get Clear on What Happens After the Launch
Building and launching the site is usually a first step. Ask how they’ll support you moving forward.
Key questions:
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Do you offer monthly support or maintenance plans?
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Who handles updates or upgrades? Can my staff do it?
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Can we request edits or support down the line?
The relationship shouldn’t end when the site goes live.
The Right Website Partner Makes All the Difference
A municipality website is all about function. That means serving your residents well, helping staff work efficiently and staying responsive to the needs of your community.
That’s where Slamdot comes in. We’ve been building clean, accessible, easy-to-use municipal websites for over 20 years.
With transparent pricing and a focus on long-term performance, we ensure you get a municipal website visitors look forward to engaging with.
Want to learn how? Contact us today for a free proposal!
