So you have decided that you want Flock Safety cameras installed throughout your neighborhood, but you don’t know how or where to begin the process. Although pitching it to your neighbors, answering questions, and fundraising can seem like a daunting task, hundreds of communities across the U.S. can testify that putting in the work to obtain Flock Safety cameras pays off with fewer package thefts, fewer car break-ins, and the evidence you need in case something does occur.

To help your neighborhood get Flock Safety technology, we have compiled some tips and tricks in this easy-to-follow guide. Let’s run through the steps that will help you be successful at your mission.

Step 1: Do your research

As a neighborhood resident that wants to pitch Flock Safety to your community, you need to be prepared to answer questions. First, speak to a Flock Safety representative to get a demo of the platform, learn where the cameras should be placed in your community, and understand how the technology can help reduce crime and bolster your relationship with local law enforcement.

Flock Safety’s website is full of useful resources like FAQs, educational blog posts, customer testimonies. These will help clarify why Flock Safety cameras are the most effective, affordable and easiest way to protect your neighborhood against crime. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to get others just as excited about Flock Safety as you are. 

Step 2: Propose Flock Safety to Your Neighborhood

After you have educated yourself about why Flock Safety cameras are the right choice for your community, it is time to share that information with your neighbors and get them on board. Depending on how your neighborhood is governed, the process for pitching Flock looks a little different. Let’s break it down.

HOA Board

To pitch Flock Safety in neighborhoods with HOAs, you should contact the board members first with your proposal. Clearly explain why you want them by stating the real crimes and issues that your community faces and why Flock Safety can help. Hopefully your community isn’t facing imminent threats of crime, and consider if Flock can act as more of a deterrent and an insurance policy to give you the evidence you need in case an incident does occur.

From there, the board may want to schedule their own demos or set up a meeting with the whole neighborhood. You should be prepared to present the reasons why you should have Flock Safety and the logistics of leasing the cameras. Again, our team can help you get ready for those conversations.

Neighborhood Association or No Governing Body

If you live in a community that is organized a little more loosely, you may need to pitch Flock Safety directly to each neighbor. The easiest way to do this is via a town hall-style meeting, either virtual or in-person. Invite neighbors to the meeting by sending an email invitation through your neighborhood’s contact list, going door to door personally, posting on the community’s Nextdoor or Facebook page, or hanging flyers and posting signs around the neighborhood. 

What Your Invitation Message Should Include

To increase meeting attendance, there are some key pieces of information that you should include in your emails, flyers, or Nextdoor/Facebook posts.

1. A preview of what Flock Safety cameras are and how they can benefit your specific community. Our team can help you with this.
2. Links to Flock Safety’s website and social media accounts. By providing them with resources directly, you are ensuring that they have access to success stories, positive statistics and other valuable information.
3. A clear date and time for the meeting, as well as a link if needed. Even if you hold an in-person meeting, we recommend also recording it through Zoom, because it allows more flexibility and increases the number of attendees.

Step 3: Prepare For the Meeting

Although the meeting may prompt some changes to the plan, it is important to present a tentative idea of the logistics behind leasing and installing Flock Safety cameras in your neighborhood. 

Platform

Even if you are holding the meeting in person, we recommend allowing neighbors who cannot attend to watch virtually. Zoom and Google Meets both have free versions that allow for easy streaming, and you can record the meeting in case anyone wants to watch asynchronously. You can also stream the meeting on the neighborhood’s Facebook page, if you have one. 

Presentation

Make sure to explain clearly why Flock Safety is the best option for your neighborhood. If the neighborhood is considering other options, like security gates or off-duty patrol officers, be sure to address those and show how Flock Safety cameras are proven to be more effective at solving and preventing crime than any of these options.

You might also want to schedule another product demo from a Flock Safety representative to take place during the meeting. This will help the other homeowners get a better understanding of what the Flock Safety system actually looks like and what it will help with. The Flock representative can help answer questions after the demo. 

Listening to Concerns

Recognize that not everyone may feel completely comfortable with the cameras right away. Take time to ease your neighbors concerns by reminding them that Flock places privacy and ethics at the heart of everything we do. 

• Data is stored on Flock’s servers for only 30 days, by default. Our customers own all of their data — Flock will never share or sell it with third parties. The customer (you!) is the only one who determines who has access to the footage.
• Our Safe List feature allows residents to register their license plate number and, if they choose, opt to be eliminated from captured footage altogether.
• All data is stored in the cloud using the highest levels of encryption.

Flock Safety’s “Privacy and Access” FAQs can be helpful in answering questions from concerned neighbors.

Voting

If you have decided to have the neighborhood take a vote on getting Flock cameras, be sure to set a clear date at the meeting for when the vote will be taken. Allow residents enough time to research the benefits of Flock Safety cameras for themselves — a few weeks should be sufficient. You can conduct the vote via an online platform like Survey Monkey or Poll Junkie. 

Step 4: Set Up A System for Fundraising and Payment

For those neighbors that are excited about the system and want to contribute toward the cost, you will need to have a simple and streamlined system that allows you to securely collect money. First, you need to answer a few questions.

1. How much will each resident have to pay to lease the cameras? Once you know how many households will be contributing and the number of cameras you will purchase, you can do some simple division to arrive at the dollar amount per household.
2. How will you collect from the contributors? Some communities find it easiest to manually collect checks, but we also see many customers utilize an online fundraising platform. You can compare and contrast different options on www.crowdfunding.com, but here are a few to start you off:
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3. Remember, you need to pay two years upfront! To ensure that fundraising neighborhood is bought in for the full duration of the contract, Flock Safety prefers to collect the full two year payment. You will need to factor in the one-time installation fee, as well as the necessary sales tax, in the first year as well. Work with your Flock Safety consultant to determine what the actual cost will be so you don’t fall short. 

Step 5: Obtain the Necessary Permissions

Though it’s not necessary for every household in your neighborhood to contribute to the camera cost, you do need to speak individually to the homeowner(s) whose property you will want to install the camera on. This is likely the homeowner closest to the community’s entrance, but you can work with your Flock Safety contact to identify the ideal camera placement, prove that the camera is not aesthetically disruptive on a property, and explain how easy the installation and maintenance process truly is. 

Another important item to look into is whether your local police department has an MOU signed with Flock Safety. If they do, the neighborhood can share its footage directly with local law enforcement so they receive real-time alerts if a wanted vehicle enters the neighborhood, and can obtain evidence directly from your cameras in the event of a crime. If the local PD does not yet work with Flock, our team can help you approach them with information about the cameras. 

Step 6: Schedule Your Installation  

Once you’ve spoken with your neighbors, tallied the votes, finished fundraising, and purchased your cameras, it is (finally!) time to let Flock Safety handle the rest. We take care of installation, software updates, and any maintenance needs, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your newly-secured community and peace of mind.

We’re all safer when we work together. Join our stronger together referral program.

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