2. Many devoted FSA employees put in long days, often toiling far past their scheduled work hours. But there’s one FSA entity that remains on duty even after the last office door is locked for the evening. And it doesn’t even need a pot of coffee to stay awake! That entity is our 24-hour Agency Web site (www.fsa.usda.gov). FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
3. Since its inception in 1996 from a small Web page collection that provided basic Agency information and news releases, our electronic coworker has mushroomed into a vast “web” of information and services. December 1996 Today FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
4. This is crucial, as more and more farmers are discovering the necessity of computers and the Internet. In fact, from 1997 to 2007, the percentage of farmers nationwide with access to the Internet more than quadrupled from just 13 percent to 55 percent, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
5. FSA is listening and responding to the demand. Our Web site expands and improves daily to satisfy our growing number of online customers. In 1999, an average of 144,000 users visited our Web site each month; in 2009 we have seen these numbers triple to an average of 424,000 visits monthly. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
6. From Washington, D.C. and across the nation, FSA’s 200 Web content providers keep our site up to date with national and local FSA news, program information, and loan and market rates, in both English and Spanish. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
7. All of this information would not reach past the content provider’s computers without FSA’s Web Services Team. This dedicated team provides the lifeline for our site. FSA’s Web Services Team, along with the FSA content providers, make it possible for the information to reach our FSA public and employees. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
8. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Each State Office should already have a State Web Manager in place. This is a key communications role within your state and works in unison as a member of the communications team. Keep in mind this person does not need to know HTML or how to design a website. Focus on content and your message. The common look and feel of your site has been designed based on USDA mandated design guidelines. The Web Services Team will provide the necessary tools and assistance to ensure your message gets in front of your customer. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
9. VIRTUAL FSA OFFICEAnywhere, anytime our FSA Public Web site provides farmers with access to information and the ability to conduct essential online business using our eGovernment applications. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
10. Let’s take a look at some usage information FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
11. Let’s take a look at some usage information FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
12. Let’s take a look at some usage information Our site visitors are international Our neighbors from the north use our site daily. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
13. Listening to the voice of our customers FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
14. “Give more information in the state website about the county offices....which ones are in disaster areas, what program appts they're taking. Our county committee members etc....” (Sat: 48) “There's too much old information on there making it difficult to find exactly what you're looking for” (Sat: 30) “Add Hours of Operation to each county website” (Sat: 63) FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
15. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Compared to the prior reporting period, producers remain the most frequently reported role on the site and the proportion has increased slightly (+4%); Satisfaction for this segment has also increased a point. There was a change among the most frequently reported visit reasons for producers, the third most frequently reported purpose is now “find out about the Farm Service Agency” (it had previously been check LDP rates). The proportion of Government Employees/Contractors respondents decreased (-9%); Satisfaction and their primary reasons to be on the site, however, remain the same. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
16.
17. Links to content which are relevant to their visit and actually function
18. Office information, key dates and program sign-up informationFSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
19. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 K #1 Rule: Keep key messages above the page fold. You only have a few seconds to catch their attention. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
20. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Electronic Messaging Delivering Your Message FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
21. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010 You may have noticed the option to sign-up and receive notifications via email on your state news room page.
22. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 We will soon be implementing a new service which will allow producers to receive county office newsletters via email versus USPS mail.This will be an opt in subscription service, which utilizes our existing service provider and the SCIMS name and address record.We are working with our application developers and service provider to develop a system which will be easy to use, and require low staff time to maintain. We hope to begin training by mid-summer. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
23. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Once the newsletter service is in place, each state office and county office can use this powerful tool to alert customers of:Critical deadlines which require their attentionEmergency Office ClosuresKey program changes, etcAnd they can receive these alerts on their cell phones if they desire! FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
24. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Stay tuned for more information about this exciting new service……. FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
25. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Resources, Resources, Resources……Don’t forget that we have a huge Online Knowledge Base called AskFSA – your customers can use this tool to gain useful information at night when your office is closed. If you see something online which is out of date within AskFSA let us know.If you have something you think should be added to AskFSA we would love to hear about it.Send your message to AskFSA@usda.gov FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
26. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Resources, Resources, Resources……For our employees we have AskFSAInternal. Here you will find all of the helpful resources for maintaining your state web site. This is also the method you can use to reach out and ask for help from the Web Services Team.Send your message to AskFSA@usda.gov FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
27. October 29, 2009 – February 28, 2010 Resources, Resources, Resources……AskFSA (Public) http://askfsa.custhelp.comAskFSAInternal https://askfsainternal.custhelp.comJeff Kerby – National Web Program Managerjeff.kerby@wdc.usda.gov or askfsa@usda.gov202-720-1593 FSA Office of External Affairs Training 2010
