Category: Blog

Have you ever rearranged your living room to create a new feel in your home? Or purchased a new outfit to reflect your current image? You do these things to avoid feeling outdated, bored, or even disconnected.

Just like wardrobes and living spaces, HOA websites need to be refreshed from time to time. A refresh is different than a quick update; it involves tackling the things you usually ignore. That could mean deleting pages, improving copy or enhancing the user experience by implementing a new layout.

This may also be a good opportunity to switch platforms altogether or add new functionalities that owners have been asking for.

Table of contents

• How often should HOAs refresh their websites?
• 5 signs it’s time for a website refresh
• How much will this cost?
• How to know the refresh has worked

How often should HOAs refresh their websites?

It’s a fine balance and it really depends on what your current site looks like. You want to keep the essence of your community within the website so that owners are still comfortable using it. However, if your website looks old, feels cluttered, or is operating more slowly than it used to, you’re probably due for a refresh.  

Most websites can last 2-5 years before they need a refresh. A small HOA could probably go a little longer, but you shouldn’t delay the inevitable more than 7 years.

5 signs it’s time for a website refresh

1. User engagement has dropped

If owners are not engaging with content the way they used to, it may be the design or layout. People don’t want to stay on websites that are not aesthetically pleasing. Similarly, if they can’t find what they are looking for, they’re going to stop visiting the site and start directing more requests to staff and management.  

2. Your site is not mobile friendly

Research suggests that over 60% of global website traffic comes from a mobile device. The majority of people prefer to use phones over laptops if they aren’t doing work. That means a lot of your HOA members are trying to find announcements or make a payment from their phone.  

If your site has remained the same for 5 or more years, the mobile experience is not nearly as smooth as it should be. Pages probably take too long to load, and images that are fine on a computer appear blurry or too large on a mobile screen.  

3. Your homepage looks like it belongs to the 90s

If your site looks outdated or doesn’t align with current design trends, it will negatively impact how often people respond to it. This can be particularly harmful when trying to attract qualified buyers.

Website design is always changing, which means your site could actually look a lot older than it really is.

4. The website isn’t secure

Without getting too technical, your website might be lacking relatively standard security features if it is old. SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is an encryption-based Internet security protocol. SSL is the predecessor to the modern TLS encryption.

By encrypting any data that travels between a user and a web server, SSL ensures that anyone who intercepts the data can only see a nonsensical collection of characters. This is done to prevent a person’s credit card number or personal information from being stolen while traveling to the end destination.

SSL also stops certain kinds of cyber attacks by authenticating web servers to ensure they aren’t fake.  

A website that implements SSL/TLS has “HTTPS” in its URL instead of just “HTTP.” Hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, which is the primary protocol used to send data between a web browser and a website.

Every website should use HTTPS. Websites that don’t use the secure protocol are flagged by web browsers as not secure. Furthermore, without HTTPS, it is possible for Internet service providers or other intermediaries to add their own content (usually ads) to webpages without the approval of the website owner.

Website hosting providers will offer TLS/SSL certificates for a fee, but the modest price is worth the protection.  

5. The website doesn’t have a password-protected portal

In addition to using HTTPS, HOAs are strongly encouraged to have a password-protected area on their websites. By creating a private space just for owners, associations help keep sensitive information like contracts, budgets and even owner directories away from the general public.

Some states now require HOAs to maintain a website with a password-protected section, but all communities should adopt the practice.  

How much will this cost?

Prices can vary quite a bit depending on how much work is required and how many rounds of revisions are completed. On average, a community could expect to pay between $2,000 to $5,000, but the costs could be less if you have a preexisting agreement with a designer or company.  

Alternatively, the HOA could look at getting an entirely new website. HOA Sites offers packages as low as $599 a year. Not only do HOAs get customized websites, but there are dozens of useful features that come with the site. From amplifying communications to streamlining operations, HOA Sites helps communities save time and money while increasing owner satisfaction.

How to know the refresh has worked

Investing in your website will pay off in the long run. Not only will owners voluntarily use any self-serve features (which in turn lightens the workload for your staff), but you will attract more interested buyers too.

Increased owner engagement

If you notice higher meeting turnouts, more online payments or fewer phone calls, the refreshed website has done its job.

The site is easier to find on Google

A well-designed and optimized website can improve its search engine rankings and visibility. As a result, your HOA website is more visible to the public.

Owners are talking about it

Whether it’s your neighbor or a board member, you hear people talking about how much nicer the website looks. They no longer feel like they have to use a computer to get on the site because the mobile experience is so much better.

You find yourself on the site more often

Maybe you didn’t realize how much the old site was detracting from the user experience, including your own. But now that it’s been updated and is better organized, you are more keen to share information and update records.

Conclusion   

If it has been more than 5 years since your HOA’s website received a refresh, it’s time to make some much-needed changes.

Websites can look dated within a few years because design trends are constantly changing. As a result, engagement can drop (along with its usefulness). A refresh, or change in website development company, can do wonders for your website and your community.