Empathica Granted Patent for GoRecommend™ Social Media Advocacy Solution

TORONTO, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Empathica Inc., a leading global provider of Customer Experience Management (CEM) solutions to the world's most respected multi-unit enterprises, is pleased to announce today the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has granted the company a patent entitled "System and Method for Sharing Information" for the GoRecommend™ social media advocacy solution. The patent covers the system and method employed by GoRecommend for connecting brands to social media by identifying brand advocates of a particular product and mobilizing them to share positive experiences across their social networks.

More than 180 brands have successfully implemented the solution, with more than 1.5 million original recommendations made to date. Those personalized recommendations were shared with more than 225 million friends and followers via social outlets.

"As the data exemplifies, GoRecommend delivers tangible results for brands," said Julia Staffen, product director at Empathica and co-inventor of GoRecommend. "Customers want to share positive brand experiences, but they need an easy way to do so. GoRecommend does this by converting satisfied customers into valuable brand advocates, targeting recommendations based on their unique experiences, and then amplifying those recommendations via email, Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. Capturing the original voice of the customer through a recommendation makes it much more powerful than a simple 'like' or 'follow;' it extends the brand's relationship with their advocates and their networks."

In June 2012, Empathica updated the GoRecommend social media advocacy solution to feature a real-time feed of recommendations that can be embedded on a brand's website, Facebook page and other online assets to leverage customers' social recommendations. Combined with GoRecommend's existing capabilities, the new functionality allows brands to further extend their customer relationships and build out a measurable base of active brand advocates.

"According to Nielson, the number one online activity users engage in is social networking[1]," said Bruce Warren, vice president of marketing, Empathica. "The habit of social media interaction with friends and family about their brand experiences is becoming well established in the market. In fact, three out of four respondents indicated that Facebook comments and reviews influenced purchase decisions, according to a recent Empathica Consumer Insights Panel survey. There is a tremendous opportunity that awaits the brands that harness this social sharing power. This patent acknowledges our technology as the top recommendation solution on the market."

More information on the "System and Method for Sharing Information" patent, U.S. 20110313874, can be found here: http://patft.uspto.gov/

About Empathica:

Empathica is the leading provider of social Customer Experience Management (CEM) programs to the world's most respected multi-unit brands in the retail, food services, automotive and hospitality sectors. Its rich analysis of survey data using state-of-the-art surveying and dashboard reporting software allows for performance-improvement solutions, evidence-based marketing insights, and customer experience management consulting.

Annually, Empathica's 30 million customer surveys in 25 languages reach more than 80,000 locations in over 50 countries. A privately-held organization, Empathica is headquartered in Toronto, Canada with executive consultant offices throughout the United States and a European office in Birmingham, England. For more information about deriving actionable insights that enhance a brand's operational excellence, visit Empathica at www.empathica.com.

Media Contact:
Meghan Reilly
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 312-445-9926

Empathica Contact:
Bruce Warren
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 905-542-9001, ext. 242

[1] http://cn.nielsen.com/documents/Nielsen-Social-Media-Report_FINAL_090911.pdf

SOURCE Empathica Inc.