Recently, Government Technology released its 16th annual “Best of the Web” survey to see which government websites had the best functionality and impact. Here are some of the must-have features of great public-sector websites:

Mobile friendliness: State governments need to be able to accommodate all the different types of mobile devices out there. In fact, nearly half of all agency site visits are made on some type of mobile device. Many governments are experiencing with responsive design, which automatically scales and reformats website content to fit smaller screens.

Location awareness: The best government websites access your location and show you nearby offices and attractions. Some mobile devices use location data, which give users information tailored to their location.

Live help: As states work to increase their online service offerings, more website users need help accessing those services. Several websites allow you to chat with live representatives, while mobile versions let you text staff for assistance.

Notification services: A growing number of government websites allow users to subscribe to email or text-based reminders and alerts. These alerts notify residents of emergencies, such as life-threatening weather, severe traffic disruptions and evacuations.

For more information on how to create an effective website, please visit Government Technology.