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3.08 Communications.
<br />The Communications Department serves as the first point of contact for visitors, staff, and contractors at City Hall,
<br />connecting with the community in -person, online, and over the phone. In 2024, the department played a pivotal
<br />role in ensuring seamless communication between the City of Orono and its residents, while enhancing the overall
<br />transparency and accessibility of information.
<br />Externally, we utilized a variety of channels to keep the community informed, engaged, and connected:
<br />• Website: Our website saw 310,400 views, serving as a central hub for city -related information, updates,
<br />and resources.
<br />• Subscribers: Over the course of the year, the department sent more than 201 email and text
<br />communications, reaching residents and stakeholders with key updates, announcements, and
<br />newsletters.
<br />• Social Media: Our social media presence flourished, with 199 posts on Facebook, featuring a diverse
<br />range of content such as photos, links, videos, and reels, while 88 posts were made on Instagram to
<br />engage a broader audience through visual storytelling and city updates.
<br />• Print: A total of 9 print items were mailed to the community, including newsletters, utility bill notes,
<br />flyers, and the annual report, ensuring important information reached all residents.
<br />Website:
<br />In 2024, the Communications Department embarked on a
<br />significant project to refresh the design and user experience of the
<br />City of Orono's website. The redesign was guided by valuable
<br />insights, including data showing that 53.6% of our users access the
<br />site via desktop, with mobile device usage following closely
<br />behind. This information helped shape a more user-friendly and
<br />responsive design that caters to both desktop and mobile visitors.
<br />Here's a snapshot of the website's performance in 2024:
<br />desktop
<br />mobile
<br />tablet
<br />smart tv
<br />• Total Users: 109,284 — This represents a notable increase from 95,045 in 2023, reflecting a growing
<br />interest in our online presence.
<br />• New Users: 107,792 — A significant jump from 93,866 in 2023, indicating a strong influx of first-time
<br />visitors engaging with the city's resources.
<br />• Average Session Duration: 2:42 — This is an improvement over last year's 2:27, suggesting that visitors
<br />are spending more time exploring the website's content, an encouraging sign of engagement.
<br />• Total Views: 310,400 — Up from 262,871 in 2023, showing a marked increase in page views as residents
<br />and stakeholders turn to the website for timely information and services.
<br />The website's redesign aimed to enhance usability and streamline access to key resources for residents, visitors,
<br />and businesses. Along with these performance metrics, certain pages stood out as particularly popular, reflecting
<br />areas of high interest and engagement within the community. Below are the most viewed pages for 2024.
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