Building Non-profit Communities Online

Businesses and organizations are increasingly using online communities to extend brand loyalty from the real world to the virtual world of consumers and other key stakeholders. However, the return on investment for launching an online community can only be realized when appropriate audiences are attracted and interact. This two-phase research study explores a recently launched online community representing a rural hospital in South Carolina. This includes a literature review, in-depth description of the methodology used, results of a survey and textual analysis of a Facebook page, and a discussion of best practices and future suggestions. I hope that this study can prove useful in current and future discussions of the power of social media public relations and marketing, particularly for non-profit organizations.