Website builder

There are two kinds of web site builders: on-line proprietary tools provided by web hosting companies which cater to people who wish to build and publish their website without learning the technical aspects of web page production and software which runs on a computer, creating pages off-line and which can then publish these pages on any host.

On-line website builders typically require customers to sign up with the web hosting company -- most offer free trial periods -- and choose the page design that best suits their purpose. They offer a variety of services, anywhere between creating basic personal web pages or social network content (Widgets) to making full blown business/e-commerce websites, either template based or - on the more flexible platforms - totally design free. Some companies' tools allow the user to see the source code, that is, the HTML behind the page he is building. Many do not, meaning that only certain designated areas on the page can be modified. Usually, these areas are: headers, text and some graphic elements. These web builders are WYSIWIG or “what you see is what you get” meaning that the page can be edited as in a word processor. An example is Moogo.

Off – line web builders cater to professional web designers who need to create pages for more than one client or web host. Modern off-line web builders are usually both WYSIWIG and allow direct editing of source code and CSS styling. They are generally quicker and more flexible to use than on-line builders, but may be expensive to buy. An example is Adobe Dreamweaver (previously Macromedia Dreamweaver). There are some open source web builders which may be downloaded free of charge. Sea Monkey is an example of an open source free web builder.

Marketing

Marketing and incentives are very important for the success of your online services. Agency commitment is vital in ensuring the high adoption of an electronic service. Comprehensive internal and external marketing are also critical to continue to meet customer needs and expectations.

We understand that your budget for service marketing is probably small (if any), and we have experience in developing creative marketing ideas that are free or very low cost. Over the years, we have found that reaching out to your known customer groups through existing events, publications, newsletters, routine mailings, etc., is very effective. Such targeted marketing efforts to your known customer groups are more effective than large scale and often costly broad advertising campaigns.

Marketing an online service includes:

* Identify target markets
* develop and educate customers
* educate and encourage internal staff
* provide customer incentives
* create and deploy a marketing plan

The marketing methods for your online service may include:

* press releases and events
* newspaper ads, brochures, postcards, and other print materials
* association newsletter articles
* PSAs

A marketing plan will ensure optimum exposure. Ultimately, your marketing goals are to provide high customer satisfaction which, in turn, generates additional use of the online service.

Secrets of Marketing Success

* Direct Mailings
* In-person customer training
* Offer online services at a less expensive rate than the traditional methods
* Provide customer service via telephone and email for users learning the new system
* Provide outreach and education at user association meetings
* Provide easy to use and varying billing options
* Attend user association events and conferences

Website Hosting

Static Web Pages

InforME provides website hosting services for State agencies. Nearly every State agency website is hosted on InforME's servers, totalling more than 150,000 individual web pages.

Hosting of static web sites is provided at no cost to agencies, and includes access to the Maine.gov Google search engine, the AutoForms form processing tool, and the What's New tool.

Web Applications

InforME also hosts all eGovernment web applications we have built for State agencies, providing a stable, secure environment for online government transactions. View transaction security policy.

Hosting of non-InforME web applications is possible on a case-by-case basis. Application hosting must be pre-approved, and will involve charges for code review, storage, and maintenance. Alternative hosting options available to agencies include the State's Office of Information Technology and commercial ISPs.

More Information (state agencies only):

* InforME's hosting policy
* Hosting environment
* Hosting services and related services (FTP, virtual domains)

Website Design

Whether we are re-designing your agency’s website or creating one from scratch, we will work with you to develop a site that is pleasing to the eye, easy to use, meets the needs of your users and your agency, and complies with current State and industry standards.

InforME’s web design process is designed to meet the following goals:

* Evaluate Agency needs
* Emphasize usability, with a focus on the public audience
* Meet accessibility standards established by State of Maine policy and Federal law
* Meet Web Standards established by the State of Maine
* Design high-quality graphical elements
* Ensure compatibility with multiple browsers and platforms
* Provide ease of content maintenance
* Incorporate interactivity where appropriate

InforME’s Director of Creative Services will act as the project manager and will be your liaison to the InforME team for website design projects.

We Offer Experience & Expertise

The InforME Creative Services team brings eGovernment experience and expertise to every project, including graphic design, information architecture, usability, accessibility for the disabled, and multimedia.

InforME's staff is responsible for the award-winning Maine.gov portal, recognized by the Center for Digital Government as the best state government Web portal in the nation in 2004. The design team has superb expertise in website usability and accessibility, and Maine's Web Standards. We built the State's standard website templates and participated in the development of the State's Web Standards and Accessibility Policy. We understand State government and the unique role of government websites. We also champion the public website user and ensure that each website will be user-friendly and truly meet the needs of citizens.

Cost/Funding Method

Web design services are offered on a contract basis. New England Interactive is an approved IT Preferred Vendor for the State. Individual agencies may contract with us directly up to $10,000, and for larger amounts using the streamlined Preferred Vendor process.

Once we understand the scope of your project, we'll provide you with a project summary and cost quote.

Domain registration

Welcome to the home of the national rules and principles for registering and managing a domain name. These rules are an integral part of the Guidelines for UK government websites, Illustrated handbook for web management teams (section 1.9 - updated September 2004).

.gov.uk domain registration

These rules are an integral part of the Guidelines for UK government websites, Illustrated handbook for web management teams (section 1.9 - updated September 2004).

Who is eligible to register a .gov.uk domain name?

The only organisations which can register a .gov.uk domain name are:

* UK government and devolved administration departments and agencies
* local and regional government bodies, including town and parish councils
* other associated and NDPB organisations and projects.

Making an application

Review our domain naming conventions and terms and conditions. Then if you are eligible your application must be made by an appropriate Internet Service Provider, using the correct UKERNA template formats. If the supporting information detailed in rules paragraph 1.9.3.1 is not provided the application will automatically be rejected.

The national rules

These are available in HTML, PDF and MS Word formats.

* National rules - HTML version (section 1.9 of the Web Guidelines)
* National rules - PDF version (236KB)
* National rules - MS Word version (306kb)

.EU domain name

The object of this note is to provide guidance to the UK public sector on the registration and validation of an .EU domain name that may be applied for during the .EU phased registration period (also known the Sunrise Period).

* .EU domain name – guidance to the UK public sector – HTML version
* .EU domain name – guidance to the UK public sector – PDF version

How can I find out if a domain name is available?

Being shown available on the JANET Lookup Service or any WHOIS does not mean that the name you are seeking is acceptable. The .gov.uk Naming and Approvals Committee review individual names within the context of the .gov.uk domain and the information provided by the applicant.

* JANET WHOIS Lookup Service [external website]

.gov.uk Naming and Approvals Committee

* Terms of reference

Further advice

Please direct any queries on the rules or on specific names to:

* naming@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Wide Area Network Services

Nearly all of the data transport in state government — including city, county and educational network traffic — is combined onto DIS’ managed Wide Area Network infrastructure. Gathering this much demand in one place means we can competitively acquire large amounts of bandwidth, driving down costs while boosting speed and capacity. Our aim is to help you focus on your core business, so we act as your single point of contact for designing, ordering, implementing and operating networks — dispatching staff around the clock to resolve problems and work with vendors.

The Campus Fiber Network

A high-speed fiber optic backbone service that interconnects voice, video and data communications for customers located in over 30 buildings on the state Capitol Campus in Olympia.

Advanced Transport Services (ATS)

ATS is a reliable and economical wide area network transport service provided over a secure Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) infrastructure. Customer sites are connected to DIS regional nodes sites. The nodes sites are located in Olympia, Lacey, Seattle, Vancouver, Yakima and Spokane. The nodes sites are connected together using high-speed SONET and Ethernet circuits from various service providers. ATS offers customers the security of a private IP network built on a shared, fault-tolerant, high-speed IP network infrastructure.

Interconnect Services

DIS designs, orders, implements and manages a complete package of vendor services and equipment that connects customer field offices to the nearest DIS node site. Combined with Advanced Transport Services, Interconnect Services provides customers a complete multi-access networking service with DIS acting as a single point of contact.

Internet Services

DIS provides state and local government customers with high speed, secured and unsecured Internet access. This service includes Domain Name services and IP addressing.

InterGovernmental Network (IGN) Services

The IGN is the common, standard Internet protocol-based data network used by DIS customers to connect to state agencies, counties, and cities with known end points, managed gateways, and applications. The IGN is an example of the State of Washington's enterprise architecture principle of commonality.

SGN

The State Government Network (SGN) is the common, standard Internet Protocol-based network to be used by state agencies to connect separate locations within and among those agencies.

Ethernet

A local-area network (LAN) architecture. Ethernet uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates up to 1Gbps. The Ethernet specification served as the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. Ethernet uses the CSMA/CD access method to handle simultaneous demands. It is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards.

Frame Relay

Frame relay is a data link network protocol designed to transfer data on Wide Area Networks (WANs). Frame relay works over fiber optic or ISDN lines. The protocol offers low latency and to reduce overhead, does not perform any error correction, which is instead handled by other components of the network. Frame relay has traditionally provided a cost-effective way for telecommunications to transmit data over long distances.

DSL

DSL technologies use sophisticated modulation schemes to pack data onto copper wires. They are sometimes referred to as last-mile technologies because they are used only for connections from a telephone switching station to an office, not between switching stations.

Webcasting

Webcasting is a powerful, versatile and innovative new communication channel. Ask us about streaming live video over the Web, or using video-on-demand from your Internet or intranet site.

Basic webcast

You can customize this simple interface with your own colors, logo and titles. The basic webcast works with a single camera to bring a presentation to life or record a message from your Director. Use this basic service if you don't need audience interaction.

Intermediate webcast

Multiple cameras and audience interaction create a sense of being there for your viewers. Our intermediate-level webcast service delivers a sophisticated interface that allows viewers to e-mail questions to a panel or presenters in real time, download course or event materials, and link out to program-related Web sites.

Advanced webcast

Watch real innovation in action as our production team creates customized live and video-on-demand presentations with a full spectrum of interactive features including polling, surveys, moderated chat, and question-and-answer sessions. You control the presentation, or have us operate your slide deck in real time. Advanced webcasting also means fast publication to your Web site.