Thursday morning, Osceola County unveiled a new official website version of Osceola.org, which officials say offers a more user-friendly interface and faster load times they say will "enhance the online experience" for users.
Among the goals accomplished in making this streamline has been to eliminate unnecessary pages, streamline navigation for ease, and improve the website’s ‘search’ function to create a more efficient platform for users.
"Osceola County is focused on providing services to our community quickly and efficiently, and this cutting-edge website is another tool in the toolbox to continue providing them,” said Osceola County Commission Chair Cheryl Grieb. “The County website is the first and sometimes only stop for important information about Osceola for many of our residents. This design will help ensure that the website is an easily accessible, safe, and reliable resource for our residents and businesses to engage with their government.”
Those who go to the website Thursday will find new top-page tabs: My Property, Services, Doing Business, Community, Government and Join Our Team -- it's a bit different than when you went to bed on Wednesday, but most of the same top-line services are in those tabs; they may just be in slightly different spots. The goal was to provide users with frequently-searched-for information with a reduced amount of time and clicks.
Key new features of the website include:
- New What’s Near Me? feature: Allows users to find County facilities, parks, polling places, fire stations, and more based on their location.
- Enhanced (predictive) search functionality: The new search bar at the top of the website helps users identify the pages they need with greater accuracy.
- Designed for fewer clicks to access information: Strategic content layout based on analytics and popular content ensures quicker access.
- Redesigned News & Events section: Easier access to the latest updates and upcoming events.
The design and user adaptability is important to county, as Osceola.org is a hub for county information. In 2023, Osceola.org received 3.1 million page views and more than 880,000 unique visits.
Any previously bookmarked pages may need to be updated with new links due to the redesign. Users are encouraged to email communications@osceola.org with feedback, especially if they find any missing or broken links.
