Association communicating in the age of Social Media: 5 things to consider

Dallas, TX: Today, more Association owners in the Houston and Dallas area and around the United States are looking for transparent and more readily available communication from their association. Today, many associations are evaluating the use of incorporating social media into their communication.
Ashoka Lion understand this, and we are constantly looking to provide a multifaceted communication for our Association homeowner that includes the use of social media and web technology. However, our investigation does reveal a few issues:
1.Do you trust your Association? If homeowner’s do not trust the association, then the Facebook page for the Association may not be useful since it may have low participation.
2.Does the community show a desire to be connected? Some Associations do not make it a priority for the community to join together and interact. Do you have community events that you want to post?
3.Prevent Homeowner Fights from being aired through community tools: How do you prevent homeowners from utilizing tools to air out disputes and make the channel a medium for making public private disputes?
4.Develop a communication plan: How do you plan to use the Association’s Facebook Page or Association Twitter Account that make it a relevant medium? How often do you think you will have updates that will make people visit the page?
5.Privacy Issues: As people challenge social media sites for privacy issues, does the Association become liable for any violation of that privacy?
As you review your communication plan for your Association, the Association’s board and/or homeowner who are willing to volunteer for a subcommittee on this plan need to evaluate these issues. A well thought out communication strategy will be able to leverage the Association’s mission and make information readily available to homeowners, but a failed attempt will only lead to confusion and more questions. If a page or account is not kept up, maybe homeowner’s will think that there are no community developments?
Things to consider using your social media tools to help announce:
1.Meetings Dates: Dates for meetings are made known to homeowner of the community
2.Official Minutes: Associations may publicize meeting minutes are available
3.Dates for Community Events: Do you have a neighborhood block party? Do you have a community spruce up event?

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About the Author:
Jay Raman is CEO & Managing Director of Ashoka Lion. Ashoka Lion is a full service investment property and association management firm providing service to real estate investors, homeowner associations, town home associations, and condominium associations in the Houston and Dallas area. Ashoka Lion is a member of the Community Association Institute, and Jay is the President of the National Association of Residential Property Manager’s Houston Chapter.