We sat down with Ken Wiess, Webmaster at Sarasota County, FL, to talk about the importance of building and maintaining the very best web experience possible.
Sarasota County, Florida, is a haven for beach lovers and home to a bustling local government, committed to providing seamless online services to its residents and visitors. When hurricanes strike or tourists flock to the renowned Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota County’s website becomes the lifeline for its community, handling 1,000,000+ visitors during critical events. The man behind this digital powerhouse is Ken Wiess, the County’s Webmaster.
Ken’s dedication to creating a user-friendly, accessible, and high-performing website has made Sarasota County a leader in digital governance. With Silktide as a partner, Ken has transformed the way Sarasota County manages its web presence, focusing on accessibility, analytics, and continuous improvement.
A day in the life of a webmaster
Ken Wiess isn’t your typical webmaster. His role at Sarasota County Government is as dynamic as the community he serves. He juggles the daily upkeep of a website built on the Granicus CMS with larger initiatives like annual reports, interactive public project pages, and live broadcasting for county meetings. He also trains a network of department liaisons who help update the site, ensuring the platform remains agile and responsive to the County’s diverse needs.
“I’m kind of a jack of all trades,” Ken says. “But the website is my primary focus. I’m constantly prioritizing tasks to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
Training is a significant part of Ken’s role, and he takes a hands-on approach. “Every department has different needs and skill levels, so I like to walk them through the CMS one-on-one. It’s important they understand how to use the tools and features specific to their pages.”
Managing traffic surges and community needs
Sarasota County’s website is more than a digital noticeboard – it’s a critical communication hub. On average, the site attracts 275,000 average visitors a month, with summer traffic swelling as tourists explore its award-winning beaches and parks. However, the stakes get even higher during emergencies like hurricanes, when visitor numbers surge.
“Hurricanes can bring in over one million visitors to our site,” Ken explains. “People are looking for real-time updates, evacuation routes, and recovery resources. It’s critical that our website performs flawlessly during these events.”
Silktide has been invaluable in managing this level of demand. “Their platform allows me to monitor the site’s health daily. I log in every morning to check for any issues or updates and perform manual scans weekly. It’s like having an extra set of eyes on the site at all times,” Ken shares.
Silktide is like having an extra set of eyes on the site at all times.
Sarasota County Government, FL
During a recent redesign, Silktide’s analytics tools helped identify low-performing pages, enabling Ken to streamline the site’s structure. “We were able to cut unnecessary fluff and make the site more intuitive for users,” he says.
Raising the bar for accessibility
For Ken, accessibility isn’t just about meeting federal requirements—it’s about creating an inclusive online environment. With Silktide, the County has taken its accessibility game to the next level.
Silktide empowers us to go beyond the basics. It doesn’t just flag issues – it tells us why they matter and how to fix them. That clarity has been a game-changer.
Sarasota County Government, FL
Before Silktide, Sarasota County relied on Siteimprove for accessibility checks, but Ken found it less user-friendly. “Silktide’s interface is cleaner, simpler, and more intuitive. It’s accessible for both technical users and those who are less tech-savvy.”
Ken recalls using Silktide’s heatmaps and click maps during the redesign process: “Seeing where users were clicking – or not clicking – helped us prioritize the content that really matters. It’s about making decisions based on actual behavior, not guesswork.”
Simplifying analytics with Silktide
Another area where Silktide has shone is analytics. After Google Analytics transitioned to GA4, Sarasota County shifted entirely to Silktide’s analytics tools.
“We didn’t love GA4 – it was too clunky,” Ken says. “Silktide gives us everything we need in a way that’s easy to digest. The reports are clear, actionable, and perfect for our needs.”
From tracking visitor behavior to optimizing page performance, Silktide’s analytics provide insights that Ken uses daily. “It’s not just data for data’s sake. Silktide helps us focus on what’s important,” he adds.
It’s not just data for data’s sake. Silktide helps us focus on what’s important.
Sarasota County Government, FL
A partner in digital excellence
Ken describes Silktide as more than just a tool – it’s a partner in Sarasota County’s digital transformation. “Silktide doesn’t just highlight problems; it helps us solve them. It’s like having an expert guide in your corner.”
When asked how he would sum up Silktide, Ken says, “Silktide empowers you to make your website the best it can be.”
With its intuitive platform and robust features, Silktide has become an essential part of Sarasota County’s web strategy, helping Ken and his team deliver a website that serves the community with excellence.
Looking forward
As Sarasota County continues to innovate, Silktide will remain at the heart of its efforts. With plans to exceed federal accessibility standards and further enhance user experience, the partnership promises a future of continued growth and success.
“We’re always striving to do better,” Ken concludes. “With Silktide, we have the tools and insights to make that happen.”
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