HomeClick Adds Community Tools To Its Online Home Improvement and Décor Destination

March 29, 2012 - PRLog -- Homeclick LLC today announced the launch of the HomeClick Community at homeclick.com. The Community is powered by Pluck, Demand Media's social media platform, which helps digital marketers build consumer communities. HomeClick, a one-stop shopping resource for the home, chose to deploy its community with social features designed to grow the company's audience, strengthen its connection with consumers and increase transactions on homeclick.com.

"Shoppers have a lot of choices today when it comes to home improvement and décor products," said Chuck Gartenhaus, President at HomeClick. "We are already a trusted source of products and expertise with an impressive selection of brands. We believe the new HomeClick Community will attract consumers who are passionate about their homes and want to share that passion with experts and likeminded shoppers. The social experience we offer through the new Community will help HomeClick stand out in a competitive environment."

With the HomeClick Community, home improvement enthusiasts, first-time homebuyers and everyday shoppers can bring conversations that would otherwise be limited to a handful of friends, neighbors or family members to a much wider audience. The result is a vibrant, online community where products are compared, projects are discussed, and design and decorating ideas are shared, making shopping for the home more fun and informative.

The new HomeClick Community includes a carefully chosen mix of Pluck applications that addresses shoppers' appetites for both research and reassurance in a social environment:

- The HomeClick Community's Forums provide a place for shoppers to learn from each other on topics ranging from Green Design and DIY Home Improvement, to Home Products, Outdoor Living and Recreation, and Décor and Design

- The Community uses Blogs to showcase HomeClick's stable of home improvement professionals, industry experts and university professors, who write frequently on their areas of expertise

- The Community also uses Blogs as DIY Guides (e.g., Installing a Central Vacuum System) and Buying Guides (e.g., Terms To Know When Shopping For a Toilet)

- Each Community member has a Persona through which they can define their community profile, manage their friendships in the Community, and link their HomeClick experience to their Facebook and Twitter accounts

HomeClick intends to add Pluck's Groups application to its Community, which will let shoppers create discrete sub-communities dedicated to particular home improvement, décor or design topics. HomeClick will also be integrating the Community into every product and category page and adding a Manufacturer's Corner, where HomeClick vendors can interact with customers and provide valuable product information and ideas.

"Pluck is pleased to be a part of HomeClick's effort to build community experiences that foster an informative and interactive environment for its customers," said Steve Semelsberger, SVP and General Manager of Demand Media Social Solutions. "In our experience community is key to customer engagement and, ultimately, to sales conversions."

Since rolling out its Community at the end of 2011, the HomeClick Community has grown to include:

- 125+ DIY Guides, Buying Guides, and How To Articles
- 200+ Blog Posts
- 400+ Forum Discussions

HomeClick has also seen a significant increase in traffic from its e-commerce site to the new Community and the growth of community-contributed content has exceeded the company's expectations to date.

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Based in Edison, NJ, Homeclick.com is a leading online distributor of home improvement and home decor products. Homeclick.com has created one of the most unique shopping experiences on the Web when purchasing items for the home. Everything needed to create the home of your dreams can be found on Homeclick's secure and easy to use website. Homeclick.com is among the online category leaders in bathroom fixtures, lighting fixtures, home furniture and fireplaces. For more information visit http://www.homeclick.com, http://www.homeclick.com/community, or Homeclick's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/homeclick .