BEAUFORT, S.C. (May 17, 2023) – The City of Beaufort’s website (www.cityofbeaufort.org) will shortly have a fresh look -- a redesign that will make it easier to find information, and is more visually appealing.
The redesign is scheduled to be completed by late afternoon on May 18.
The redesign process has been underway since last fall, and includes new typography, new pictures, and more links on the home page that go to frequently searched items, such as ordinances, the Beaufort Code and zoning map, and job opportunities.
The home page also has a section called Common Service Requests, which includes such items as Business License Applications, Reserve a Park, Freedom of Information request, etc.
There is also a section on the home page devoted to news from the City, and the City’s Facebook page feed. The bottom section shows a five-day calendar of upcoming meetings and events.
“Our intention from the beginning was to both make the website easier for our residents, businesses, and visitors to use, by including more links on the home page, and to capture the beauty of Beaufort through visual images,” said Communications Manager Kathleen Williams.
The new photos are from local photographer Shawn Hill, who also provides video services for the City of Beaufort.
Before the redesign process began, the City put together a survey, which it shared on social media and its website, to get a better idea of what people were looking for when they came to the City’s website. Williams also looked at frequently searched words or terms to determine what additional links should be on the home page.
The basic architecture of the website is not changing, she said, so people who use the website regularly should not have difficulty finding what they are looking for.
Other online improvements are expected over the next year, said City Manager Scott Marshall. This will include new software for online permitting and building inspections, which will help to streamline these essential procedures.
The City is expected to hire a GIS manager (Geographic Information System), who will develop data-based maps that will provide detailed information on a host of topics pertinent to Beaufort, such as details on new projects. The City is also purchasing a new mobile app called See Click Fix, which will be integrated into the website and will allow people to easily notify City departments about issues ranging from unlit streetlights to vegetation that needs to be trimmed.
“The improved interface is designed to find the information you’re looking for in as few clicks as possible,” Marshall said. “We are also looking forward to integrating user-friendly tools on our new website in the coming fiscal year to improve transparency, and provide online access to business services and permit application information.”
Note: Please contact Kathleen Williams at kwilliams@cityofbeaufort.org for suggestions, feedback or concerns about the website.
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