Solved: What Makes a Website Trustworthy?

In today’s digital age, your government website is more than just an online presence. It’s a powerful tool for fostering resident trust and strengthening your connection with your community.

Trustworthy websites share five key characteristics or indicators of site credibility. Read on to find out what factors make a website reputable and reliable, so you can create and maintain a website that meets regulatory requirements and demonstrates your dedication to serving all residents equitably.

Website Credibility Checklist: 5 Key Indicators

When it comes to building a website that is trustworthy, reliable, and accessible to all, attention to detail and regular maintenance is critical, along with a commitment to providing your site visitors with clear and accurate information. By following best practices, regularly testing your website across various browsers and devices, and implementing strong security measures, you can ensure you are building a reliable and accessible website experience that instills public trust.

1. Accessibility

Building an accessible website is not only the right thing to do but also helps establish credibility with site users, including those with disabilities or impairments. Follow web accessibility guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure your website is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. Provide alternative text for images, use descriptive headings, and ensure proper color contrast, among other accessibility best practices.

Your government agency has a responsibility to ensure all digital communications are accessible by each and every resident, including those with visual, auditory, and physical impairments. While the WCAG standards are not laws, plaintiffs in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) digital accessibility legal cases have referenced WCAG language to demonstrate where websites or other technologies were inaccessible.

In addition, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) updated its rules on April 24, 2024, requiring state and local governments to ensure their websites and mobile applications comply with WCAG 2.1 level AA in two or three years, depending on the number of people in their jurisdictions. So, there’s no time like the present to take action.

2. Error-Free User Experience

Outdated or broken links, missing images, and errors erode trust and demonstrate unreliability. Regularly update and maintain your website to ensure all links are working, images are displaying correctly, and there are no errors or glitches. Keep your content up-to-date and relevant, and promptly address any technical issues or bugs.

Related Read – The Importance of Quality Civic Website Design

3. Cross-Browser Compatibility

A website that works well on one browser or device may not function properly on another. To build trust and demonstrate reliability, it’s important to test your website across different web browsers (such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge) and devices (such as desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones) to ensure consistent performance and accessibility across all platforms.

Cross-browser issues commonly occur due to:

• Browsers implementing features differently or having bugs, though this is less prevalent now than in the past when browser vendors deliberately diverged to gain a competitive advantage
• Varying levels of support for cutting-edge technologies across browsers necessitate the use of older syntax or cross-compilers to ensure compatibility with older versions
• Device constraints, such as smaller screen sizes or limited processing power, lead to poor display or sluggish performance on certain devices, especially when optimized for desktop environments

4. Clear and Accurate Information

Your website should provide clear and accurate information about your government agency, services, and contact details. Ensure your website content is written in plain language that is easy to understand. Avoid jargon or technical terms that may confuse users.

Related Read – 5 Government Website Trends for 2024

5. Security

Website security is crucial in building trust and proving reliability. Implement strong security measures, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) encryption, to protect user data and transactions. Regularly update your website software, plugins, and themes to patch vulnerabilities. Use strong and unique passwords for all user accounts, and regularly monitor for any suspicious activities. Display security badges or seals on your website to indicate that it is secure.

9 Common Web Attacks and How To Prevent Them

A recent report revealed that basic web attacks accounted for nearly 25% of all data breaches. Despite their lack of sophistication, the following popular web attacks continue to be highly successful:

1. Cross-Site Scripting: Prevent by sanitizing inputs and disallowing special characters.
2. Search and Query Language (SQL) Command Injection: Prevent by sanitizing inputs and limiting permissible SQL functions.
3. Broken Authentication: Prevent with strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and other access controls.
4. Drive-By Download: Prevent by keeping systems updated and limiting plugins to reduce vulnerabilities.
5. Password Attacks: Prevent by implementing MFA, strong password policies, and least privilege principles.
6. Fuzzing: Prevent by keeping software updated, especially with security patches.
7. Known Vulnerabilities: Prevent by vetting suppliers, using code signing, and ensuring threat detection and protection.
8. Man-in-the-Middle: Prevent by using HTTPS/Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.
9. Directory Traversal: Prevent by sanitizing inputs and restricting file system application programming interfaces (APIs).

Next Steps on Your Path to a Trustworthy Website

By ensuring your site reflects the five credibility indicators presented in this article, your website can become a beacon of trust, dependability, and inclusivity for all visitors. Just remember to consistently update and maintain your website, deliver clear and precise information, and adopt robust security measures to guarantee a website that is unwavering in its reliability, security, and accessibility to all.

Explore More – Get a Free Website Accessibility Scan