E-government sites received one point for the presence of the following five types of advanced content. Sites received only one point per criterion; multiple types of content within each criterion did not result in multiple points.
Audio and video content
- Audio files;
- Video files;
- Video content on a site’s YouTube page;
- Streaming video webcams;
- Archives of podcasts that were presented separately from the podcast feed;
- Links to the aforementioned types of audio and video content on other state government sites, such as the state attorney general’s office;
- Links to the aforementioned types of audio and video content on local content providers, such as public television stations;
- Links to the aforementioned types of audio and video content on other federal government sites.
RSS feeds
- RSS feeds on a state e-government site;
- Links to RSS feeds on other state government sites;
- Links to RSS feeds on local content providers;
- Links to RSS feeds on other federal government sites.
Podcasts
- Podcasts on a state e-government site;
- RSS feeds that deliver audio or video files;
- Links to podcasts on other state government sites;
- Links to podcasts on local content providers;
- Links to podcasts on other federal government sites.
Blogs
- Blogs on a state e-government site;
- Links to blogs on other state government sites;
- Links to blogs on local content providers;
- Links to blogs on other federal government sites.
Participative services
- Buttons that change the theme of a site;
- Customization services;
- Links to social bookmarking tools;
- Other types of Web 2.0 content, if available.
Because sites received points for features that appeared on other state sites, it was possible for both state government portals and governors’ sites to separately receive points for the same feature.
Sites did not receive points for the following features:
Audio and video content
- Webcams that refreshed with still photos instead of streaming video;
Podcasts
- Audio and video pages marked “Podcasts” but didn’t have RSS feeds;
Participative services
- Paid subscription services.
Sites that received one point for podcasts did not receive points for audio and video content or for RSS feeds. However, sites that received one point for blogs did receive one point for RSS feeds if an RSS feed was present.
Sites received one additional point for a criterion under the following circumstances:
Audio and video content
- Audio or video pages updated at least once a month during a period of a year;
- Streaming video webcams.
RSS feeds
- RSS feeds updated at least once a week;
- Multiple RSS feeds if the majority of feeds were updated at least once a week.
Podcasts
- Podcasts updated at least once a month that could be used in podcast aggregators;
- RSS feeds that deliver audio or video files that are updated at least once a month and could be used in podcast aggregators;
- Links to podcasts on other state government sites that are updated at least once a month and could be used in podcast aggregators;
- Links to podcasts on local content providers that are updated at least once a month and could be used in podcast aggregators.
Blogs
- Blogs that are updated at least once a month;
- Blogs that have RSS feeds that are updated at least once a month;
- Links to blogs on other state government sites that are updated at least once a month;
- Links to blogs on local content providers that are updated at least once a month;
Participative services
- Customization services that allowed users to extensively customize the site;
- Links to social bookmarking tools.
Sites did not receive an additional point for a criterion under the following circumstances:
Audio and video content
- A site only featured a couple of audio or video files;
- An audio or video page was not updated frequently.
RSS feeds
- RSS feeds were not updated frequently;
- The majority of feeds on sites with multiple RSS feeds were not frequently;
- RSS feeds were difficult to subscribe to (e.g. the feeds were not hyperlinked or were not listed on a site but still available and active);
- RSS feeds were only from federal government sites.
Podcasts
- Podcasts were updated infrequently;
- The podcast feed did not work in podcast aggregators;
- Podcasts were only from federal government sites.
Blogs
- Blogs were updated infrequently;
- Blogs did not have an RSS feed;
- Blogs were only from federal government sites.
Participative services
- The site just had buttons that changed the theme of a site;
- Customization services only allowed users to customize one or two parts of a site;
- Sites the user can register for that do not offer any customization features after the user is logged in.
