Why Your Municipality Needs a Services-First Homepage
When residents visit your municipality’s website, they are not looking for a welcome message. They are trying to do something like pay a bill, find a form, check a schedule, etc.
A services-first homepage puts those actions front and center. This design approach improves usability, reduces frustration, and cuts down on phone calls to town staff.
Let’s look at how to create a homepage that serves your community more effectively.
What Is a Services-First Homepage?
Instead of organizing content by department or internal structure, a services-first homepage focuses on what residents want to do.
Examples of services-first elements:
“Get a Permit”
“Pay a Utility Bill”
“Report an Issue”
“View Meeting Schedule”
“Find Local Ordinances”
Each of these should be linked with buttons or icons directly on your homepage.
Why It Works
It aligns with resident goals:
People don’t know which department handles dog licenses. They just want to register their pet.
It reduces staff interruptions:
If people can easily find what they need, they call less.
It looks more modern and professional:
Clear navigation improves trust and digital reputation.
How to Apply It to Your Town Website
List the top 6–8 tasks residents complete most often
Create homepage buttons or links for each one
Use plain language instead of department names
Organize by action, not government structure
Munibit specializes in this kind of design →
What a Services-First Homepage Might Look Like
Top menu:
Simple labels like “Home,” “Services,” “Contact”
Main area:
Clear icons and labels for common tasks
Secondary content:
News, announcements, or events
Footer:
Office hours, contact info, ADA info
TL;DR: Why Your Municipality Needs a Services-First Homepage
A services-first homepage helps residents:
Find information faster
Complete actions more easily
Trust your municipality’s digital services
Want to upgrade your homepage experience?
Talk to Munibit about a services-first redesign →