Updating a government website requires accuracy, clarity, and care. Public websites serve residents, businesses, and stakeholders who rely on the information being correct and accessible.
Following best practices ensures updates are professional, compliant, and secure.
This guide outlines safe and reliable habits for maintaining a government website.
Before making changes, ask:
What information needs to be updated?
Is this time-sensitive?
Has the content been approved?
Does it replace existing content or add new information?
Clarity prevents unnecessary edits and reduces errors.
Avoid making large, sweeping edits all at once.
Instead:
Update one section at a time.
Save or preview frequently.
Review each section before moving to the next.
Smaller changes are easier to review and correct if needed.
Previewing helps you:
Check formatting
Confirm spacing
Verify headings
Test links
Review mobile layout
Never assume content will look correct after editing.
Always preview first.
Government content often includes:
Dates
Times
Locations
Contact information
Public meeting details
Legal language
Before publishing, confirm:
All dates are correct
Phone numbers are accurate
Email addresses are spelled correctly
Links lead to the correct pages
Documents attached are the latest version
Accuracy is critical for public trust.
Government websites must remain accessible.
When updating content:
Use proper heading structure
Avoid using color alone to convey meaning
Add alt text to images
Avoid uploading scanned images of text when possible
Use readable font sizes
Accessibility is not optional — it is a legal requirement.
Once a page is live:
Avoid changing its slug.
Do not modify permalink structures.
Consult your administrator before renaming URLs.
Changing URLs can break public links and archived references.
When editing:
Do not overwrite official records without approval.
Preserve past meeting agendas and minutes.
Confirm retention policies before deleting content.
Many government sites must retain records for compliance purposes.
After adding or editing links:
Click the link in Preview.
Confirm it opens correctly.
Verify it directs to the intended page.
Confirm it works on mobile view as well.
Broken links reduce credibility.
If you update menus:
Save changes.
View the live site.
Test desktop navigation.
Test mobile navigation.
Confirm dropdowns behave properly.
Navigation errors impact user experience immediately.
For larger updates:
Notify relevant departments.
Confirm approval workflows.
Schedule updates outside of critical communication windows if possible.
Document what was changed and when.
Transparency and coordination improve accountability.
When updating pages:
Use consistent heading levels.
Avoid mixing multiple font styles.
Keep spacing uniform.
Maintain alignment patterns.
Consistency reinforces professionalism.
Unless authorized:
Do not modify layout templates.
Do not change theme settings.
Do not deactivate plugins.
Do not alter site-wide settings.
Focus only on content updates within your role.
After completing updates:
Log out of WordPress.
Especially log out on shared or public computers.
This reduces unauthorized access risk.
A reliable editing process looks like this:
Confirm the information to be updated.
Edit the page.
Make small, focused changes.
Preview thoroughly.
Verify links and formatting.
Click Update.
Review the live page.
Document major updates if required.
Following this process reduces mistakes.
Government websites benefit from routine review:
Audit outdated content
Verify contact information
Remove expired notices
Confirm ADA compliance
Review department pages for accuracy
Regular maintenance prevents information drift.
Safe website updates require:
Accuracy
Previewing before publishing
Respect for access roles
Attention to accessibility
Careful handling of public records
Testing navigation and links
Government websites represent official communication. Careful editing protects public trust and ensures compliance.