Website Evaluation

Started by JamesA1 • 8 replies • 1942 views

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JamesA1 (Maryland)
Posts: 21

Posted:

Out HOA has been operating a website for the past several years. I have been asked to head up a task force charged with evaluating the "cost effectiveness"s of the site. I know the site fairly well because I was instrumental in its creation.

I want to do an objective evaluation of the value the site provides to the community and to those that manage the affairs of the Association, e.g. the Board of Directors , the General Manager and staff and the Committees. My plan is to gather data through brief questionnaires and personal interviews

Does anyone have e experience doing this type of analysis. I would appreciate any advice you could offer.

Thanks you.

MikeS1
Posts: 521

Posted:

What is the monthly cost of the website? This might be a case of you all trying to reinvent the wheel - have you looked at community123?

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Do you have the capability to track traffic to your site? Some websites provide data down to the person and the page. You can see what's being used and what isn't. And by how many people.

Tracking this information is fairly typical. So it could be just a matter of making it available for you to see.

Far superior to surveys IMO. "Would you be interested in ...?" and "Will you use ...?" should be tested in real time.

Make a change, announce it, see what happens to actual traffic, and report on it = Best way to justify to board, committees, staff, members, etc.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

James,

The main things I have seen on my site are, in this order:

1) Potential Buyers (we keep all of our governing docs and newsletters online and some community info)
2) Members looking for architectural request forms
3) Board Members reviewing something
4) Members placing their property on the market and looking how to order a disclosure package

We have gotten a lot of positive feedback from Realtors representing buyers and sellers. They indicate that having our site helps to ease the buyers concerns and shows transparency.

The other thing that I believe is massively useful is that the Association has Association e-mail accounts through the website. This minimizes the information that isn't transferred from an old Officer to a new Officer, because the site admin simply resets the passwords and the new officer now has access to all e-mails (because very few individuals actually clean out their e-mail accounts).

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

In addition to what Tim said, I find that one of the most valuable features on our website is the ability to query our own accounts. This allows each member to verify that his payment was correctly posted to his account and see whether there are any late fees or other charges assessed against him.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Quote:

....the ability to query our own accounts. This allows each member to verify that his payment was correctly posted to his account and see whether there are any late fees or other charges assessed against him.

What is the name of the software are you using for that?

RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 1,767

Posted:

Most comprehensive HOA specific accounting software packages will have either a website offering or web portal that can be linked to homeowner accounts.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SteveM9 on 12/26/2014 3:13 AM

What is the name of the software are you using for that?

I don't know. The MC supplied it.

JamesA1 (Maryland)
Posts: 21

Posted:

Thank all of you for your replies. I have been out of town and out of touch for several days.
I appreciate your responses, which have given me new perspectives on the question. Thanks again.

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