Press Room

The Viewpoints Technology Platform Adds a Social Loyalty Engine

Flexible New Capability Helps Brands to Move Beyond Transactional Loyalty and Identify and Build Relationships with Their Most Engaged Customers

Chicago (PRWEB) October 29, 2009 – Viewpoints Network, a social technology and media company, announced today that it has added a Social Loyalty Engine to the Viewpoints Technology Platform. The Social Loyalty Engine helps brands establish a reputation and rewards program that motivates their customers to contribute content and become leaders and brand advocates in the brand’s online community and across the broader social web. Unlike typical loyalty programs that reward consumers on the number or size of their purchases, the Viewpoints Social Loyalty Engine recognizes the importance of consumers who may not be the biggest purchasers, but through their reviews, discussions, comments and blog posts, are able improve a brand’s image and drive measurable sales through the positive word of mouth recommendations they generate.

1to1 Weekly Magazine - Sears Builds Social Loyalty

 
By Jeremy Nedelaka

1to1 Magazine's Jeremy Nedelka wrote a great article highlighting Sears' strategy behind the MySearsand MyKmart communiites in today's 1to1 Weekly. He talks about how their keen focus on engaging their customers and creating an opportunity for dialogue is why Sears' communiites will survive where so many others have failed.

From the article: Online communities are notoriously hit-or-miss, for a variety of reasons. The lack of engaging features or personalization, no sense of belonging, or too much promotion are just some of the reasons customers visit sites once and never return. Sears created its communities with an emphasis on engagement, recognition, and dialogue to avoid joining the list of orphaned online retail communities.

"The genesis for us was that we need to get to know our customers better, so we wanted to get people talking [to] better understand their motivations," says Rob Harles, Sears Holding Corp's vice president of community. "We didn't really do any promotion; we used our online point of sale to tell customers about the site and ask for their feedback."

The MySears.comand MyKmart.com communities contain customer reviews, discussion boards, consumer guides, and access to coupons. The sites, powered by Viewpoints Network, have 330,000 registered members and attract 1.3 million monthly visitors, more than half of whom come from organic search, according to Harles.

October 26, 2009

Read the entire article

Illinois Technology Association Interviews Matt Moog

This week the Illinois Technology Associated (ITA) featured Viewpoints in their monthly newsletter. Check out an exerpt from the Q&A interview below.     ITA Member Q&A: Viewpoints Network

Illinois Technology Association: In 10 words or less, what problem does Viewpoints solve for your clients? Matt Moog: Viewpoints companies engage with their customers using social technology. ITA: What motivated you to join (or start-up) Viewpoints? What is the origin of the name? MM: The social web and search are two macro trends that are driving how people use the Internet to make decisions.  They use search to find the exact information they are looking for and they rely on the advice of people like them to help them make informed decisions.  By providing a social platform for reviews, blogs, discussion forums, answers all organized around product catalogs and business directories Viewpoints is able to fulfill its mission of helping consumers make smarter decisions. ITA: How does Viewpoints differentiate from its competitors? MM: The Viewpoints Technology Platform powers both Viewpoints.com and other private label communities for our customers. We compete both in the consumer internet space against other review sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, CNet and Consumer Reports.   In the consumer market we have a more social platform that also covers the broadest range of categories.  In our business to business service, we are the only provider who combines reviews with a social/community platform and a very strong search engine optimization toolset.  We compete with companies such as BazaarVoice, PowerReviews, Pluck and Lithium. Read the complete interview.

Double, double toil and trouble—skip the candy and give out popcorn, crayons or bubbles!

Starting to wonder if those mounds of Halloween candy are more of a trick than a treat? Get some fun alternatives to Halloween candy from the Viewpoints community.

Chicago (PRWeb) Oct. 7, 2009 – Before cleaning out the local grocery store’s entire supply of Halloween candy, think back to last year’s Halloween. The kids came home from trick-or-treating with a couple of Hefty trash bags full of candy. Then they started eating the candy. Then you started eating the candy. Then the calorie panic attack ensued. And finally, the candy gets thrown out.

Break the cycle this year with help from the Viewpoints community, a leading consumer-generated ratings and reviews site. This year, keep your kids’ teeth and weight healthier (not to mention yours!) by giving out alternative treats for Halloween.