Frequently Asked Questions:
ConnectingAssociations strives to help our potential clients be as informed as possible. Here is a list of some common questions; however, please contact us should you require more information.
| General Questions | ||
What do you do with our information in the portal?
We do not share your data. The content of the site is the sole ownership and responsibility of the client. You can also view our privacy policy here.
Should I create a personalized look and feel?We provide 5 templates each with 15 color themes, for a total of 75 choices that integrate with your logo and/or banner as part of the licensing cost. Our templates are designed to be clean and professional, focusing on the content and not distracting the user. Once a template is selected you can change themes at any point or as long as your want, such as only having a Halloween theme for a few weeks. But we do offer a complete and unique design service, usually around $300-$500 additional one time cost. We do encourage users to review the existing templates with their logo and/or banners. At any time we can build a design and import all the data from your template site. What do we own on the site?
The domain name, site content, any personalized logo, banner, site, post-card design.
Can you create a look and feel the same as our current site?
Yes, or come real close to it. This would fall under the custom design process where we will access your current site and provide you with a quote before starting with the redesign.
How fast can I go live with the site?We need about a day lead time to configure the site to the community’s preference. We can launch the site as soon as the community wants. The time frame is dependant on the community gathering content and deciding how to communicate the release. It takes us about a week to implement a custom design. Is there a limit on pages?
There is no limit in the number of pages and it is very easy to add additional pages.
What is the best way to communicate the new members?
Sending post cards to all the members is a great way to launch the site. It is an inexpensive and effective way to get the word out. We suggest placing the URL on all communications such as newsletters, signatures on e-mails, and letters.
Are there any restrictions on the types of content that can get posted?
We ask that the community maintain a level of professionalism and be sensible to the content that is posted. We do not monitor or take responsibility for any content the community post, but we reserve the right to remove any content we come across to be inappropriate. We want to ensure that neither the community nor IDS is exposing to any liability.
Why do you offer printing and mailing service?
We understand the value of traditional mailing, especially because people are used to it. We want to add value to our clients by offering the convenience of designing, printing, and mailing all in once place to increase communication within the communities.
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| Features Questions | ||
Can other members have access to other resident’s data?
As a default members cannot look into each others data or profile, but this can be customized based on the requirements of the individual community. Our portal is completely flexible, and we can maneuver the site to either lock it down entirely so only residents can access it, or allow complete access.
Can I restrict access to certain pages or documents?
Yes. We can create multiple custom roles such as property manager, board, and residents. Each role can have many access rights; such as board members can only view posts by property manager, but can edit any content added by the residents.
How do members manage their own data?
During the setup phase you tell us what fields you want members to maintain, such as pet names, vehicles and contact information. Based on that information, we then set up their individual profiles. So when they login they can easily update their info as needed. This function eliminates the need of annual paper censuses that often become outdated in a matter of months. If you already have members’ info we can load it via a spreadsheet during the setup so no one has to re-enter the info again.
Can we create mailing labels?
Yes. You can export the residents’ info into excel to create labels.
Can residents opt out of receiving regular mail and decide what e-mails to get?
Yes. Residents can opt out of receiving regular mail via their profiles and receive e-mails instead, saving the association time and money. Residents can also decide what e-mails they want to receive, such as a resident may not need to know when a newsletter is posted every month, but would like a remind on the holiday party or weather advisory.
Is support included in the package?Yes, support of our application is included with the licensing. We provide hands-on support though email, phone call, and real-time online demonstration. Our online demonstrations allow clients to share our screen while we walk through any questions they may have. We also provide online guides with step-by-step instructions including screen shots and videos. Helpful Tips are located throughout the personalized Free Trial to give you quick tips and best practices and to help you be more efficient. |
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| Technical Questions | ||
Can your application handle very large communities?
Yes, we are able to handle very large communities. We run on large enterprise level platforms and industry leading software.
Do I need to know anything about websites?
No. Our application is build with non-technical users in mind. The whole platform is based on Microsoft Office, which is why you will see a very familiar Microsoft Word look when editing the website. No technical knowledge is needed. Please take a look at our Free Trial.
We do not have electronic copies of some documents can we post them online?
We can convert documents to pdf for free so you can post them online.
What do I need to know about my domain name?
You can use any name you would like.
If you do not have one, we can purchase one for you as part of the setup fee. If you have one, we can help you redirect it as a part of the setup fee. The domain name will be unique to your community. The domain name is always the ownership of the client and will always be transferred out. You can have multiple domain names; if we purchase them for you they are $12 for every name. You can search for available domain names here. What is my server space?
350MB of server space is included in your licensing package, which is enough to support over 11,000 pages of text or 8,000 images. If you need more space the cost is $50 per year for every 100MB.
What Security and recovery do you have in place?
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