Latest

Alt text and accessible images

Posted on May 23, 2024

Web image alternative text – ‘alt text’ – describes an image. It explains image content and purpose to users who cannot see it, such as those using screen readers. Why alt text matters 🌟 Legal: It’s the law. Equal access: People who can’t fully see or hear content can understand it. Search engine optimization: Images...

Screenshot of a web form with a red border box around an equation form field.

Adding equations to web forms

Posted on May 16, 2024

An equation (example) is a form field that asks users to solve a simple math question. Why use equations Bots and bad actors use forms to disrupt internal systems (email, CRMs). Equations help stop them from sending multiple form submissions. They are helpful when CAPTCHAs aren’t enough. ProudCity and equations ProudCity Forms supports equations. Reminders...

Sitemaps and local government websites

Posted on March 14, 2024

About A sitemap is like a website's map, guiding search engines to all its pages. It's an XML file listing page URLs and additional info for better search engine crawling. While it doesn't guarantee inclusion in search results, it enhances the chances by providing metadata like last update, change frequency, and importance. All government websites...

Icon of computer with code brackets on the monitor

Metadata and local government websites

Posted on March 1, 2024

Metadata is the information about a web page that is not visible on the page but is embedded in the <header> tag of the HTML code. Importance of metadata Complete metadata can have a significant impact on how citizens experience government digital services. It can be the difference between a user quickly assessing search or...

Embedded content

Posted on January 9, 2024

Content embedding allows for snippets of code (like HTML, javascript) to be easily added to a web page so that information from external sources can be viewed without leaving the website. Embedded content types include <iframe>, <embed> and <object> with the iframe being the most commonly used. Common embeds used on government websites include: Newsletter...

Adding CAPTCHAs to your online forms

Posted on December 19, 2023

About CAPTCHA CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) is a challenge-response test in computing designed to differentiate between human users and automated machines (like spambots). Websites commonly use CAPTCHAs to thwart automated bots from executing specific actions, such as form submissions, account creation or engaging in malicious activities. CAPTCHA...

Clearing browser cache/cookies

Posted on December 15, 2023

Clearing your browser's cache and cookies is like tidying up your internet space. Why clear cache/cookies It helps in a few ways: Seeing fresh information: Ensures you see the newest version of a website after it gets a makeover. Fixing weird page issues: Solves problems like pictures not showing up or pages acting strangely. Privacy...

Changing your government website domain to .gov

Posted on December 14, 2023

ProudCity encourages our partners to register .gov domains, and we support the transitions to these. How to change your domain to a .gov: Register your .gov domain. This process is managed by the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. Once you've officially secured your new .gov domain, submit a ProudCity .gov domain change support ticket....

End of year local government website clean-up checklist

Posted on December 14, 2023

The end of the year is the perfect time to review your website and tidy things up. Extraneous user accounts can pose security risks, and outdated information that is no longer relevant makes it harder for people to find what they are looking for. Start cleaning Here’s a checklist to help you quickly take care...

Configure form settings

Posted on November 20, 2023

How to configure form notifications: Login to MyProudCity dashboard. Go to 'Forms'. Select form you want to edit (or hover over 'Settings' > 'Notifications'). Hover over 'Settings' > 'Notifications'. Select 'Add new' or edit a current notification. Configure notification and select 'Update notification'.

Configuring browser privacy settings

Posted on November 8, 2023

If you're experiencing issues getting logged out of the MyProudCity admin, this is most likely due to browser privacy settings that allow for third-party cookies. How to resolved this based on your browser. Google Chrome Make sure you've updated to the latest version of Google Chrome. Set your privacy settings to 'Block third party cookies...

Enable form legacy mark-up

Posted on October 19, 2023

Form design defaults to a mobile-friendly format that may look unconventional on laptop or desktop devices. You can resolve the theme issue on your form by enabling legacy markup in the form settings. Steps: Login to MyProudCity dashboard. Click 'Forms'. Select form you want to manage. Click settings. At the bottom of the form, toggle...

Export form entries

Posted on October 5, 2023

All ProudCity Forms entries can be exported in a .csv file. How to export form entries: Login to MyProudCity dashboard. Click 'Forms'. Click 'Import/Export' link below 'Forms'. Select a form. Select desired fields (or all). Click download button (a .csv file will save to your computer). Related Forms help ProudCity Forms

Customizing your website footer

Posted on September 13, 2023

How to customize the footer on your ProudCity-powered website: Login to your MyProudCity dashboard. Select 'Customize' in left admin menu. Select 'Widgets'. Select 'Footer'. Use the 'Add a widget' tool to add content to the footer. Select 'Publish' to save footer changes.

How to customize menu locations

Posted on August 1, 2023

You can display menus in two locations on your ProudCity powered website: Primary navigation (to the right of your logo) Top bar (above main navigation) How to customize menu locations: Login to your MyProudCity dashboard. Select 'Customize'. Select 'Menus'. Select 'View all locations' under 'Menu locations'. Select the menu you want to display for 'Primary...

How to customize CSS

Posted on August 1, 2023

To customize the CSS (cascading style sheet) on your ProudCity powered website: Login to your MyProudCity dashboard. Select 'Customize' on the left admin menu. Select 'Additional CSS'. Edit the CSS. Select 'Publish'. View changes on live site. Note Any edits to the CSS may override the main ProudCity template layouts. Be sure to review your...

How to customize the top bar

Posted on July 26, 2023

The 'Top bar' is an optional design element you can add to your ProudCity-powered website. Configurations Top bar configurations include: Top bar title Top bar link URL Top bar accessibility title Select if action icons should appear in top bar Customize the top bar Login to your MyProudCity dashboard. Go to 'Customize' in leftnav menu....

How to customize site identity

Posted on July 21, 2023

You can easily manage universal site identity items including: Site title (shows in browser bar after page title) Site tagline (used with shortcode) Site logo (shows in the header and footer and should have a transparent background) Site icon (shows in browser tabs, bookmark bars and within WordPress mobile apps) Default social image (shows when...

How to add custom links to menus

Posted on July 7, 2023

Custom links in menus let you easily link to external websites. How to add a custom link to a menu: Login to your MyProudCity dashboard. Go to 'Menus'. Select the menu you want to update. Select the 'Add item' button. Select 'Custom Links' option. Add your URL and link text. Select 'Add to menu' and...