The WSDOT Web site is the most powerful communications tool we have. With 1.5 billion page views in 2006, the site is our primary way to reach audiences with our information and messages unfiltered by other sources. This Manual, which will be updated frequently, provides tips to maximize the effectiveness of the WSDOT Web site.
Earning Trust
Lack of public trust in government is an on-going issue. We must earn their trust. We can do that by providing good and accurate information in an easy-to-use format that is dynamic and interesting to the reader. When people realize they can visit our site to learn about WSDOT projects, programs and policies, and how our work directly benefits them, we earn their trust one person at a time.
People come to our Web site for a variety of reasons. Our site is designed to assist people in getting the information they want, and, once there, to point them to other places where they can learn more about what we do. To be effective, this must be done in a coordinated, cohesive way that maximizes the user experience. Adhering to the guidelines set here will facilitate that happening.
The WSDOT Web site is also a powerful tool for aiding WSDOT employees, consultants, vendors and customers to quickly access the resources they need.
This Manual is your key to developing and maintaining customer-friendly Web pages.
It all starts here
Start organizing your thoughts and key messages for the Web and extend those out to other mediums from here. It also means your Web content should be posted before your press release drops or your event takes place.
The WSDOT Brand
A brand is the emotional response people have to a product or business. At WSDOT, we are cultivating a brand that portrays the agency as credible, capable and effective in delivering projects and in spending taxpayer money wisely. All our communications must support that idea.
We build our brand every day, whether we like it or not, by the way we do business. Read more about branding...
Customer Focused
Our customers need to understand what we do, why we do it the way we do, and most importantly, how it benefits them. Make sure your pages address these issues as succinctly as possible in Plain Talk.
Have questions?
Please e-mail WSDOT WebHelp or call WebHelp at 360.705.7079.