Goss Congratulates Exeter City Council For Website Success

Online, May 26, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Socitm, the Society of IT Managers in the public sector, publish the annual Better Connected 2012 report into the quality and performance of 433 local authority websites.

Exeter City Council, who have their websites powered by GOSS iCM (intelligent Content Management), were mentioned by the reviewers for their overall top task approach. "This site is attractive, easy to use - and goes the extra mile, making available very useful information in addition to the council services. Language used throughout the site is accessible, appropriate and encouraging. Jargon-free and user-friendly. Each page asks for feedback on the user's experience, through Govmetric, and offers a link to open an email addressed to the council, with a subject pre-entered as 'thought you might be interested'. A nice touch."

The review continued to praise the top task approach: "Also offers 'Popular tasks' - a short list of tasks, not descriptions, which are actually most used. Each landing page has a panel top centre offering relevant tasks. As a user moves through the site the actions are offered prominently."

The reviewers also highlighted specific areas of the website: "Comprehensive details about committees and councillor - everything except the political control." And for paying council tax "Done well. Clear process, user-friendly language."

Cllr Ian Martin, Exeter City Council's Lead Councillor for Business Transformation and Human Resources, said: "We have worked with our partners, GOSS Interactive, to deliver a customer focused website. So it is extremely pleasing to be recognised by an independent body for delivering an excellent website which engages users and allows them to interact with services online. Providing access to services digitally is a great way of delivering efficiency savings as well as responding to demand by customers for 24/7/365 access to the Council."

Rob McCarthy, CEO, GOSS Interactive adds, "It is great to see Exeter City Council's website recognised for the hard work that the team have put in to make it a successful and customer focused website. As experts in facilitating digital strategy for organisations, GOSS is able to provide a full service for councils who want to develop their online channel strategy and provide more services whilst reducing costs. GOSS Interactive is already helping our clients deliver their future digital strategy, including mobile websites, in preparation for Better Connected 2013."

GOSS Interactive have been delivering GOSS iCM Web Content Management and website publishing software for over 10 years. Today it is in use by major corporations and public sector organisations where it is the market leader in use by over 50 of the 433 UK local authorities.

In the report, over 65% of GOSS clients have been rated amongst the highest in the country with a further 28% maintaining their previous good scores.

Exeter City Council website http://www.exeter.gov.uk