In today’s digital-first world, your organization’s website is more than just a homepage — it’s a front desk, a communications hub, and a reflection of your community values. Whether you’re a library, municipality, DDA, or parks department, your digital presence has a direct impact on how your residents access programs, trust your services, and stay informed.

Unfortunately, many civic and community orgs are stuck using outdated, inaccessible, or clunky web systems. These aren’t just inconvenient — they’re actively holding your team back from delivering the experience your community deserves.

Let’s walk through five major red flags — and how LocalHop helps fix them with purpose-built tools that work for real-world teams.

Does your team need a developer or internal IT resource just to fix a broken link, update an event title, or upload a new flyer?

That’s a bottleneck. And it’s costing you more than time.

• Delays in content updates lead to misinformation
• Staff waste time tracking down the “web person”
• Public trust erodes when info is wrong, outdated, or incomplete

In civic organizations where small teams wear multiple hats, the ability to quickly and confidently manage website content in-house is essential.

LocalHop’s drag-and-drop CMS was designed for non-technical staff — no HTML required.

• • Flexible block builder lets staff update content with zero code
  • Role-based permissions and approvals keep your workflow secure
  • Smart scheduling and auto-publishing tools save hours of admin time
  • Used by libraries like East Baton Rouge Parish Library, where frontline staff now post updates directly without waiting for developers

If your patrons can’t easily navigate your site on a phone or tablet, they won’t try for long.
 And in most communities, mobile isn’t just a preference — it’s the primary device.

• • 60%+ of traffic now comes from mobile users
  • Difficult mobile UX leads to high bounce rates
  • Inaccessibility creates inequity for residents without desktops

Example: Before its redesign, the Patmos Library website didn’t work on most phones. Patrons struggled to access event calendars and room bookings. After launching their new LocalHop site, Patmos saw improved usability, reduced complaints, and better event engagement — all from a fully responsive, ADA-compliant design.

• • Every LocalHop site is mobile-first, optimized for small screens
  • Event calendars, booking flows, and navigation menus work cleanly across all devices
  • Even tools like Apple/Google Wallet ticketing, used in our IAP statewide pass system, were designed for mobile-native use cases

Many orgs want to be accessible, but their platforms were built before modern standards — or retrofitted without care. Some even face ADA complaints or Section 508 violations that prompt reactive fixes instead of meaningful change.

• • Accessibility-first design, aligned to WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508
  • Features include alt tags, keyboard nav, scalable fonts, semantic HTML, and mobile responsiveness
  • Optional accessibility audits and live remediation sessions with our team
  • Staff training built in — so your team understands why it matters, not just how it works

If your inbox is full of questions your website should have answered, there’s a user experience issue. Bad IA (information architecture), over-nested pages, and broken search tools can all prevent patrons from accessing the very services you’re promoting.

• • User frustration increases call volume and staff fatigue
  • High bounce rates and low engagement = lost opportunities
  • Events, bookings, and services go underutilized

Real-World Fix: East Baton Rouge Parish Library streamlined their web experience with LocalHop — introducing a mega menu, content filters, mobile event search, and backend tools that allow for flexible page building. Patron navigation improved instantly, and internal workflows became more manageable.

• • Clear menu structures with dropdown logic, visual cues, and mobile responsiveness
  • Custom “card layouts” for events, spaces, and service categories
  • Searchable databases, filters, and UX best practices embedded from day one
  • Support for deep linking, anchor content, and public forms — all editable by your staff

Your organization is doing meaningful work — but if your site looks outdated or generic, it might be sending the wrong message. Today, digital presence equals credibility.

• • Stakeholders, donors, and residents make assumptions based on aesthetics
  • Outdated design can signal operational stagnancy
  • A strong brand builds trust and engagement

Example: When Main Street Oakland County moved to LocalHop, they didn’t just want a functional site — they wanted something that reflected the energy of their communities. The new site brought their colors, voice, and visuals to life, creating a consistent experience across digital

• • Inaccessible websites exclude seniors, people with disabilities, and neurodivergent users
  • Legal risks are growing as accessibility standards expand
  • Trust and community perception are at stake

Case in Point: Patmos Library received an ADA complaint that pushed them to take action. Rather than patching old issues, they partnered with LocalHop to rebuild their site from scratch — addressing color contrast, label structure, screen reader navigation, and WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. The result? A site they’re proud of — and one every patron can use.

• • Fully branded websites: logos, color palettes, photography, voice
  • Custom typography, iconography, and accessible styling
  • Options for style guides, brand updates, and copy support
  • Visual storytelling tools for community programs, local businesses, and civic pride

If any of these red flags sound familiar — it’s time.
But don’t worry: refreshing your website doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

At LocalHop, we’ve helped hundreds of local teams rebuild smarter, cleaner, and more confidently. Whether you’re in libraries, parks, downtown development, or state-level initiatives, our mission is the same:

To remove digital barriers and put usable tools back in your hands.

Let’s talk about your website — and your vision.