To keep pace with today's consumers, companies are taking steps to breathe life into their websites by allowing visitor dialogue. Chat rooms, blogs, forums, bulletin boards, newsletters and calendars are some ways companies are encouraging communication among site visitors. This often results in increased site stickiness, customer satisfaction, brand loyalty and long-term business relationships. However, one of Starkmedia's clients has found a unique way to engage their visitor.

Meriter Health Services
Meriter Health Services has been a long time client of Starkmedia. In addition to their recent redesign to support the new "My Meriter" marketing campaign, Starkmedia developed an application that allows visitors to share their Meriter experiences. Patients now have the ability to interact with the community by writing "My Meriter Story". By allowing this "interaction", Meriter anticipates growth in their visitors' loyalty, advocacy, emotional attachment and commitment to their brand. Furthermore, it illustrates to potential visitors the quality of this organization while reinforcing their mission to heal, teach, embrace and serve.

The benefits are endless with the establishment of an online community. Here are a few examples of their value:

• A New Marketing Channel
  More cost effective than advertising, direct mail, or telesales and far more effective. Use the power of word-of-mouth to create awareness and attract new visitors.
• Immediate, Unfiltered Feedback
  Members aren't answering a survey or sitting in a stuffy focus group, they're simply conversing with online friends - often about their experiences. There is no better source for unvarnished customer feedback.
• Reduction in support costs
  Strong communities can become living, breathing FAQs. The collective knowledge of the group and members' willingness to help each other can mean significant savings in your call center and email support teams.

The best online communities bring people together to connect around a common point of interest. The attraction is a passion for your product and a desire to share experiences and views with others who feel the same way. If you ask members of your community why they come, not one of them will say "Oh, to build loyalty to the brand." But that's exactly what happens.

To start building a community with the help of Starkmedia, call us at 414.226.2710 or contact us.