HOA social media can be a very effective tool for communication. But, there are many risks involved, so HOAs must be careful about how they use social media. They must adopt certain practices to minimize risks and communicate effectively.
How to Use HOA Social Media for Effective Communication
Communicating with the HOA members is important to the HOA board’s duties. It lets the community stay informed on the HOA’s activities, events, and upcoming meetings. One of the most accessible forms of communication includes HOA social media.
However, HOAs should be careful and adopt good social media practices. They must have clear goals and guidelines regarding social media use. Here are some of the best ways to use this tool effectively.
1. Establish a Goal
Homeowners associations can benefit a lot from creating social media accounts. That’s because these platforms are helpful for quickly disseminating information. They allow communities to post and update the rules and regulations publicly. This is not only helpful for the residents but also for potential buyers who are considering the HOA.
However, homeowners associations must establish clear goals when creating HOA social media accounts. This can prevent their pages from being bombarded by unhelpful or false information. For example, the account may only be for posting announcements, events, meeting minutes, and rule updates. In this case, the HOA can create social media policies around this objective.
Hence, the association can create HOA Facebook group rules that limit posts to these topics. They can also make it so that only residents can access the group. On the other hand, HOAs that want to attract potential buyers through the page might take a different approach.
2. Choose the Right Platform
The homeowners association should choose the platform they need based on the established objectives. For example, an HOA Facebook page or Instagram account is great for promoting the community and its events. It boosts the neighborhood’s reputation and attracts potential buyers. Meanwhile, Facebook groups are ideal for giving updates to members only.
Regardless, choose a website that can serve the community’s needs. Choosing the wrong one can be counterproductive. It may also be tempting to create accounts on every social media platform. But, doing so may be hard to manage for communities, especially those without a dedicated HOA manager.
It’s also important to consider accessibility. Not everyone uses the same social media platform. If the association needs something that many people can access, consider using Facebook. It has one of the highest user bases, with over 243 million users in the United States. The HOA can also survey the residents and let them vote for their preferred platform.
3. Develop a Strategy for the HOA Board
After establishing the goal and platform, developing a strategy for HOA board members on social media is important. How frequently will the board use social media to post updates? What should the association adopt in its HOA social media policy? Moreover, what format should the board use? Do posts need board approval before they can be published?
It’s also important to create a conduct policy for HOA board members and social media. What should the board do if there are questions raised in the comments? Will they block or police member posts or comments? Moreover, how should the administrators respond to malicious or negative comments? Develop a strategy that fosters communication without sacrificing order.
4. Assign Administrator Roles
Using social media in HOA operations can be helpful for the HOA board. However, homeowners associations should not designate a single board member as the social media administrator. That’s because one person may not be enough to handle every task. There may be too many comments or posts to review.
Hence, assigning specific roles to different board members may be a good idea. Consider appointing one person to approve or deny member posts. Meanwhile, one other board member can be in charge of scheduling and posting updates. Another board member can also be responsible for replying to or managing comments.
5. Engage the Community Members
Homeowners association social media is useful for giving out information and fostering a sense of community. Focus on engaging the HOA members by posting relevant content. Don’t just limit the posts to announcements and updates. Consider posting helpful articles or tips about taking care of the home.
Apart from this, the HOA may also post resident birthdays and accomplishments. They can even post photos of recent events, parties, and community activities. In addition, make sure to post frequently so that the members are always aware of the HOA’s presence.
6. Know the Law
The rise of social media has brought about a series of new laws regulating its use. There are laws covering copyrighted material, privacy, and plagiarism. Moreover, social media posts can remain online forever — even after the HOA account deletes them. This can pose a liability risk for the board and the HOA members. Review these laws or consult a legal professional before posting any form of content.
7. Prioritize Confidentiality
Using HOA social media is a wonderful way to share useful content and foster community. But, sharing private information can easily put the HOA in hot water. As such, remember to remain alert and always be mindful of the content you post. Assign someone to verify whether or not what’s being shared is private or personal.
Responsible and Effective Social Media Management
HOA social media is an excellent communication tool for homeowners associations. It can promote communities and inform everyone about the HOA’s activities and operations. But, there are risks whenever social media is involved. Thus, associations must use the tool wisely and carefully.
Social media management can be difficult for HOAs. If your HOA is struggling, consider hiring a trustworthy HOA management company like Landmark Community Management. Give us a call at 512-569-5527 or contact us online to know more!