Enhancing Municipal Websites for Better Citizen Engagement
On May 26, 2025, from 14:00 to 15:00 JST, Sembear LLC will host a free webinar titled "Is Renovation Enough? Effective Website Management to Communicate with Citizens." This event is essential for municipal website managers looking to enhance their site’s usability. The webinar will feature practical insights from an active staff member of Moka City in Tochigi Prefecture, who will share their journey toward creating a user-friendly website.
Why This Webinar Matters
In today's digital age, strong online presence is crucial for municipalities. A 2023 survey by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed that 86.2% of individuals use the internet personally, emphasizing the need for municipalities to effectively communicate essential information such as social welfare and disaster response through their websites. However, many local governments often fall short of this goal. Despite acknowledging the importance of online information dissemination, they sometimes become complacent, focusing on aesthetic aspects while ignoring the core mission of delivering information effectively to residents.
The renovation might improve visual appeal or functionality, but if the website fails to deliver vital information to citizens, it cannot be considered successful. It is crucial for municipalities to assess whether they are truly communicating effectively, rather than simply bolstering their digital façade.
The Quest for Clarity
The aspiration to create a clear and comprehensible website is something that resonates with many municipal staff. However, numerous questions arise: How can one achieve this? What steps should be taken if previous renovations did not yield the expected improvement?
Sembear LLC has partnered with multiple municipalities to analyze their websites in detail, proposing actionable strategies to enhance clarity and usability. During the upcoming webinar, we’ll dive into the successful website refurbishment initiatives conducted in Moka City, highlighting methods and insights that contributed to enhancing the site’s effectiveness.
Addressing Your Concerns
As part of this webinar, we will be implementing a Q&A session where attendees can submit specific challenges they’ve encountered regarding their websites. Whether you are grappling with low page views, seeking general advice on website improvement, or feeling overwhelmed by where to begin, our expert panel will address your concerns live during the session.
Who Should Attend?
This webinar is particularly designed for:
- - Municipal staff involved in public information dissemination through websites
- - Those who have received feedback from residents about the website being hard to navigate
- - Individuals curious about what constitutes a user-friendly municipal website
- - Personnel aiming to minimize inquiries through traditional channels like phone or in-person visits
It is essential to note that this session is exclusively for government officials and municipal employees.
Meet the Speakers
- - Yoshi Hashimoto, Senior Official in Public Relations and Communication at Moka City, has spent 9 years in public service, focusing on communications and community engagement strategies that enhance local public relations.
- - Hikaru Azuma, a consultant for Sembear LLC, joined the company in 2022 after a career in the educational sector. He specializes in training government staff on effective digital communication and has supported over ten municipalities with web strategy and digital outreach initiatives.
About Sembear LLC
Founded in January 2020, Sembear LLC harnesses extensive expertise in marketing technology to provide digital marketing training and support to companies across Japan. Since 2021, the company has focused on enhancing municipal services, helping local governments in Tochigi Prefecture and beyond to promote effective digital transformation.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and improve your municipal website’s engagement and communication with citizens!
Register For the Webinar Here