THE QUESTION IS HOW CAN ESTATES BEST LEVERAGE
AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES TO
MAXIMISE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS ACROSS THESE TWO
BROAD COMMUNICATION CHANNELS?
from the App Store (for iOS devices) Social media – make sure that your website
or from Google Play Store (for Android integrates well with your social channels.
devices). This can provide registered users These mediums are good at providing
with greater convenience and even further communication channels for your brand,
benefits, in that it allows them to access and the key to maximising engagement is to
information in a familiar environment via deliver consistent, interesting and valuable
their mobile device and communicate in content, as a part of an integrated strategy.
real time while on the move.
While technology certainly offers huge
External Communications
This
involves
the
presentation
advantages to estates when it comes to
and
communication of the estate’s unique brand
and lifestyle message to the rest of the
world. Make no mistake, an estate is a
valuable brand and intentional emphasis
should be given to continually growing its
• • Polls to measure interest on estate
related topics and issues
• • Ability to publish and distribute estate
relevant content, such as from Estate
Living
• • Estate calendar providing details of
events and activities
• • Access to relevant information
and documentation
• • Updated user profiles – owners,
residents, non-residents and tenants
• • Booking of estate facilities
and amenities
• • Access to various estate
service providers
• • The ability for users to set their own
notification preferences
• • A secure online environment to engage
with the various role players
Taking things a step further, there are
mobile app version of the estate community
portals available, which can be downloaded
effective communication, it is also true that
most estates employ multiple systems and
databases, as no one system can fulfill all
the ongoing operational requirements of an
estate community.
value, to the benefit of all stakeholders. The challenge with this is that too many
The starting point for this communication create a level of complexity that needs
channel is the estate website. This is to be managed. This in turn increases
an incredibly valuable digital resource administrative costs, and in many cases
and communication mechanism, which, hinders communication rather than
unfortunately, in many instances is extremely
underutilised. enhancing it.
Consider the following when
developing an estate’s web presence:
Go responsive– create a responsively
designed user interface that adapts its
display to suit the size of the device being
used (desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile) to
independent systems and databases
The solution therefore is to create an
integrated digital environment that allows
users (administrators, residents and others)
to leverage the benefits and advantages of
these various systems into one seamless
way.
ensure a great user experience. By automating and streamlining the
SEO– search engine optimisation is not a communications of an estate within this
administrative processes, functions and
black art; it simply boils down to having digitally integrated environment, HOAs and
meaningful content contained in a well- their management teams can expect to see
a marked improvement in communication,
productivity and profitability.
coded website that adheres to fundamental
best practices.
Digital mapping– get visual by showcasing
properties that are available for sale or rent
Deon Basson
within the estate and provide the ability to
search and explore these options.
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COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT