Using Social Media for HOA Meetings
Social media to encourage HOA participation in meetings can be a powerful tool for connecting with community members and sharing information they need to know. People who cannot attend HOA meetings because of scheduling conflicts may be more willing to like a photo or leave comments about an upcoming community project if they can do so from their smartphones. If your HOA is ready to start posting, tweeting, and sharing online, you need a few ground rules to follow.
Top Tips
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Have a purpose for using social media.
Setting up a social media account for your HOA is easy. Deciding the best way to use it is another story. Do you want to recruit new members? Are you looking for a way to build community among residents? Is this a platform for sharing information? When you know what you expect to accomplish through social media, you know what type of posts to share.
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Define your social media policy.
As soon as you know what you want to accomplish through your social media accounts, you can define your social media policy. Start by deciding whether you want to make your accounts open to the public or make it a private group for members only. Establish guidelines for acceptable posts and comments and create a procedure for dealing with those who violate the guidelines.
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Create a social media management team.
You need to designate an individual or team of people to manage your social media accounts. The management team posts messages read and respond to comments and monitor the activity of the group to make sure everything stays in line with your policy. Top priorities for the team include protecting privacy rights and maintaining a positive atmosphere for members.
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Encourage engagement.
Social media should be a social experience, so encourage members to be an active part of it. Post polls to find out what events and issues are important to residents. After you host a community event, ask members to share photos of the fun. Use the platform to feature community members like you might do in a newsletter.
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Keep it positive.
It’s easy to complain online, and it’s tempting to post things you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. This isn’t the place to stir up controversy or dwell on negative experiences. Give your social media management team the ability to approve or delete offensive posts. Read each comment to make no one makes personal attacks.
Social media makes it easier than ever to stay in touch with the people your HOA represents. Whether you’ve already established an online presence or are ready to get started, it’s never too late to review your posting policies with an advisor.
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