With a small budget, a staff of one, and a growing list of priorities, the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance of Massachusetts found a simpler way to build and manage a professional website.
For REALTOR® associations, a website is more than a place to post announcements. It's often the first impression prospective members have of the organization, a central resource for existing members, and an important tool for communicating the value of membership.
But maintaining a professional online presence can be challenging, especially for smaller associations working with limited budgets and staff.
That's exactly the situation Elyse Powell, CEO of the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance of Massachusetts (RCAMA), found herself in when she joined the organization.
With the help of .RealEstate, Powell transformed an outdated, difficult-to-manage website into a modern digital hub that she can confidently maintain herself.
For 25 years, the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance of Massachusetts has supported real estate professionals across the state as Massachusetts' only commercial overlay board.
Serving both commercial and residential practitioners, RCAMA provides commercial continuing education, advocacy, and networking opportunities. The organization has also begun collaborating with other local REALTOR® associations to expand its reach and strengthen its impact.
As the association's only staff member, working part-time, Powell wears many hats. Keeping the website current shouldn't have to be another time-consuming challenge.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what it had become.
"Prior to .RealEstate the website was awful," Powell recalls.
The organization's previous website consisted of one long page, contained numerous broken links, and required outsourcing even routine updates.
For Powell, that arrangement was neither practical nor sustainable.
"I started with the association in December and being the only staff person, it was important for me to have full access to our website and to make any necessary changes and updates quickly," she explains.
Beyond making updates easier, Powell wanted the association's website to better reflect the organization itself: professional, welcoming, and actively serving its members.
As the association's president likes to remind her, "Our website is working for us 24/7."
When RCAMA's treasurer suggested exploring .RealEstate, affordability was the initial draw.
Like many smaller associations, RCAM needed a professional website without the expense of a custom development project or the ongoing costs of relying on outside vendors.
But Powell had another equally important requirement: independence.
She needed a website she could learn to manage herself, without previous web design experience or a dedicated technical team.
After exploring .RealEstate through a free trial, she discovered that creating a professional website was more achievable than she expected.
"The price attracted me at first, but then I started with a free trial and learned quickly that I was capable of creating something great on my own."
Using .RealEstate's association website template, Powell was able to build much of RCAMA's new website independently, taking advantage of ready-made layouts and content designed to simplify the process.
And when she needed additional assistance, the .RealEstate team was there to help.
One of the most valuable parts of RCAMA's experience wasn't simply getting a new website launched. It was gaining the confidence to manage it long after launch.
Through .RealEstate's Do It For Me (DIFM) website setup support, Powell connected with team member Giorgi, who helped her resolve technical challenges and understand how to make future changes independently.
"Giorgi was great!" Powell shares. "Giorgi not only helped with necessary changes, but also guided me on how to do it myself in the future."
That hands-on guidance made a meaningful difference for an association operating with limited staff resources.
Rather than submitting requests and waiting for someone else to make updates, Powell can now keep the website current on her own schedule.
"The website is much easier to manage and I feel confident making changes myself. It's also peace of mind knowing that someone is available if I need help."
For RCAMA, the result is greater control over its digital presence, without sacrificing access to support when it's needed.
RCAMA's new website, built using .RealEstate's association template and paired with a professional .realtor domain, offers more than an updated appearance.
It has become a central destination for member information, association initiatives, and new digital capabilities.
Powell regularly shares content through the association's social media channels, directing visitors back to the website to learn more and engage with the organization.
Behind the scenes, RCAMA is also expanding what members can accomplish online.
The association recently completed an integration with M1, allowing members to log into a members-only section, update their information, and have those changes synchronized overnight with the National Association of REALTORS® system.
Next on the roadmap is e-commerce functionality that will allow members to pay their annual dues directly through the website.
It's a significant step forward for an organization that has never offered these capabilities before.
By bringing more member services online, RCAMA is making its website a more valuable resource while reducing the administrative work required to support its membership.
For Powell, one of the biggest improvements is knowing the association now has a website that accurately represents its professionalism and value.
Gone are the outdated information, broken links, and lengthy waits for routine changes.
In their place is a fresh, organized website that Powell can continuously improve as the association evolves.
"I am very proud of how the website looks and am always making tweaks to it," she says. "We now have up-to-date information and no dead links."
And the response from RCAMA's leadership?
"Our Board loves the new website."
While the visual transformation is important, the operational benefits may be even more significant. RCAMA has gained a more efficient way to communicate, manage information, and support members, all while keeping website management in-house.
RCAMA's experience demonstrates that building a strong digital presence doesn't have to require a large budget, a dedicated web developer, or an extensive technical background.
With the right tools, templates, and support, even a one-person association team can create and maintain a website that serves its members and supports its organizational goals.
When asked what she would tell other REALTOR® associations considering .RealEstate, Powell's advice was simple:
"Do it! Your web design and management can stay in-house. Doing this gives time, money, and power back to the association so staff can focus on other important initiatives."
For associations looking to modernize their online presence, improve member engagement, and gain more control over their websites, RCAMA offers a compelling example of what's possible.
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