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Image: Olivier Douliery

Gina Pearson, Web manager for Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, relies on a digital dashboard to gauge user satisfaction.

In this report

Web Managers’ Toolbox Looking to improve the usability of your agency’s Web site? Here are several resources to help you get started.

OMB Policies for Federal Public Web Sites, www.firstgov.gov/webcontent: The Office of Management and Budget’s guidelines and best practices for federal Web sites, as developed by the Interagency Committee on Government Information.

Plain Language Action and Information Network, www.plainlanguage.gov: A group of federal agency volunteers who can offer tips on how to translate the jargon on your Web sites into words everybody can understand. The Web site also has many helpful hints.

Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines, by Sanjay Koyani, Robert Bailey and Janice Nall: This GSA-published book has over 187 guidelines in everything from where to put navigational elements to how to format lists.

Section 508 Guidance, www.section508.gov: All federal Web sites must be able to be used by individuals with disabilities, as required by the Rehabilitation Act Amendment (Section 508). This site provides the standards, tools, and discussion forum.

Usability.Gov, www.usability.gov: The Health and Human Services Department’s usability Web site provides a plethora of information: guides to log analysis tools, events and meetings, best practices and links to other sites.

Web Managers Advisory Council, www.webcontent.gov: An interagency group of federal Web managers, sponsored by the General Services Administration. The group’s Web site has tips and notices of upcoming events and seminars, as well as instructions on how to join the council’s mailing list.