Digital Opinion South Africa

Unlock the power of your community through digital

The coronavirus pandemic has shown us just how much humans crave positive, social connection. Throughout various stages of lockdown, we have seen that when people feel connected, they become happier, more engaged and highly loyal.
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Source: pixabay.com

For brands, businesses and organisations that have audiences, members or communities, there is no better time than the present to build and leverage a highly engaged audience, which will ultimately increase the bottom-line.

Businesses and organisations are fast acknowledging the benefit of owned, highly leveraged communities to their bottom-line, but the problem is that many don’t know how to connect their fragmented audiences, nor manage them to the benefit of the business.
Some of the organisations that typically face this problem include public audio and broadcast businesses, as well as organisations that communicate in a private way with their various customers, partners and stakeholders.

Many of these organisations have closed communities, who often resort to using Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger or similar to engage with their members, or otherwise they use traditional communication channels like newsletters.

This can be frustrating because it doesn’t result in engaged or connected audiences. It can also create delays and closed, one-way communication. On top of this, much of the technology used by such businesses and organisations is outdated, and many have yet to harness digital to their advantage.

Take the digital leap

Digital tools and technologies should be embraced, not feared, as businesses will benefit from the capabilities offered by exciting, modern, cloud-based technologies, including data-driven insights.

History teaches us that if we are brave and overcome our fear, we are most often rewarded. This is especially so for businesses that understand the key to growth is to build and leverage ‘owned’ digital communities. For those with closed communities, it can result in growing “your own private social network”.

We developed a cloud-based platform with tools and applications focused on community engagement that aims to alleviate this frustration for businesses and organisations. The platform allows businesses to digitise, consolidate and monetise audience engagement easily and effortlessly, which ultimately catapults community-centric businesses into the future by leveraging the opportunity presented by digital.

Ignoring the need for connection is simply not an option anymore, and for smart companies with member-driven communities who are ready to take the digital leap and change the way that communities engage, the opportunities are unrivalled.

About Jonathan Lumley

Jonathan Lumley, head of clients, channels and markets at immedia,
Let's do Biz