From renowned organizations to small start-up companies, the Internet has provided thousands of groups with the opportunity to be accessible, successful and purposeful. Moreover, managing a website is an excellent tool for these groups to provide information and to enhance communication without the burden of a high financial cost. Since HOAs are an integral and active component of many communities, maintaining an HOA website is the perfect avenue for associations to bring cost-effective benefits to the community at large.
Website Elements
HOA web pages must be comprehensive in nature so that they are both efficient and user-friendly. Thus, there are several basic elements that should be in place prior to launching a website. First and foremost, the site should contain simple sections such as contact information, a member directory and regulations set forth by the association. Other important documents that require accessibility include monthly newsletters and calendars.
To promote interaction among members, consider adding a forum feature to your site. Forums are a quick and easy way for individuals to gain access to information, discuss issues or to ask questions. You may also want to include surveys to gain instant feedback, links to other relevant sites and space for advertisements. Additionally, many websites have protected sections that are available to registered users only. For many members, the privacy of this security feature is an important aspect when it comes to community matters.
How Do Websites Save Money?
Since individuals are generally more apt to use Internet-related services as opposed to other means, feedback, participation and information through a website may increase exponentially – saving valuable time and money. For example, feedback can be easily gained by providing surveys or through browsing forum topics. Members may be more comfortable voicing their opinions online or in an anonymous capacity, and you won’t have to worry about the price and hassle of traditional surveys. Furthermore, printing materials can add up quickly.
Whether someone wants to know about upcoming community events or needs important safety information, they can easily access these documents at their fingertips. If your HOA has a monthly newsletter, making this available online can save a tremendous amount of money with the lack of printing and distribution costs. In addition, cancellations, rescheduled meetings or community alerts can be posted online rather quickly, and these last minute occurrences won’t end up costing you a dime.
Benefits of the Internet
Perhaps the best feature of having an HOA website is that members can log on anytime and participate in their association wherever they feel comfortable. This flexibility may encourage an active and functional homeowners’ association, which in turn may be highly correlated to cost-efficiency. It is greatly beneficial to have all the facets of your HOA covered in one centralized and convenient location.
Similar to other agencies and companies, many HOAs are continually searching for cost-effective measures to enhance the overall productivity of their associations. Maintaining a custom-built website is an excellent mechanism that can promote community interaction without breaking your budget. Not only will creating a website save you money, it will also save you precious time so that you can devote more energy to the delivery and implementation of your HOA practices.