Domains and using microsites

Using www.croydon.gov.uk

The primary source of council information. If the council is providing a service, then everything users need to know about it should be here.

Using abc.croydon.gov.uk

For use when a service is being provided directly by the council, needs to offer trust and reassurance to the user that they’re using an official service, and as a result offers a consistent branded user experience.

Using www.another.com

Information or service that the council is involved in providing, or needs to show independence from the council.

Microsites

Microsites are not usually suitable because:

• people expect to find information from the council on the main site.
• a new site takes time to rise up the rankings of search engines so people don’t find it (the main site ranks very highly for topics related to Croydon)
• it can duplicate information already existing on the main site, running the risk that content is contradictory between the sites
• there is already an audience of 180,000 people/month on the main site
• extra publicity is required to promote the site
• microsites take time to develop and there’s a cost involved

Example circumstances which can require a separate site are when:

• the site can not be associated directly with the council
• the audience is unique and won't engage with a council branded site
• the site needs to offer a service which isn't possible through an existing site