04.08 - Sensis maximizes interactive capabilities for new Web development clients

Cooperative of American Physicians Inc., First 5 Santa Barbara County join agency’s client list LOS ANGELES – Sensis is using its full interactive repertoire to redesign two prominent Web sites. Leveraging its online marketing capabilities with its 10-plus years of experience in Web development, the Los Angeles-based agency has begun creating new online homes for the Cooperative of American Physicians Inc. (CAP) and First 5 Santa Barbara County, each of which will feature interactive components to fully engage site visitors. “Sensis’ Web development capabilities are an extremely strong and capable component of the agency, and those capabilities truly shine when we combine them with our marketing and advertising strategies,” said Jose Villa, founder and CEO of Sensis. “By utilizing all aspects of the agency, we are able to produce engaging Web sites that captivate their target audiences, instill clients’ messaging and provide necessary information through today’s main contact point with the population – the Internet.” CAP’s new Web site, which will launch in late June, includes a portal for existing members to manage their accounts and a vibrant, information-rich public section for prospective members to learn about CAP. The new site is simply one part of the new direction CAP is taking with its corporate identity, which is occurring as the organization celebrates its third decade of service. To enhance the Web development process, Sensis is conducting usability testing to help it further understand how the Web site will be used, what difficulties and issues are important to overcome and how to provide a user interface that provides CAP members with the information they want and need as intuitively as possible. Usability testing is an integral part of Sensis’ user-centric Web design process, especially when dealing with niche markets like physicians. Sensis also is developing a Web site for First 5 Santa Barbara County, a public organization that invests in health and education for young children. The goal of the interactive site is to engage the community and spread First 5’s information and mission. First 5’s target audience includes parents and caregivers of children ages 0 to 5 years old. A portion of this demographic includes young Hispanic parents who represent the first generation of their family living in the United States. Traditionally, Hispanic women first look to their parents for advice, which, for this audience, can be difficult because of the geographic separation. First 5 hopes to fill that void by offering education and advice on how all parents can prepare their children for kindergarten and beyond. To accomplish this, Sensis will use its knowledge of this demographic’s cultural nuances to reach the target audience on a personal and compelling level. Sensis plans to encourage site visitor interaction through a community forum. The agency also will incorporate Web videos and e-mail marketing to provide First 5’s target audience with informative tips and education about preparing children for their future. “Sensis is a great partner with a lot of interactive capabilities that ultimately will enhance our Web site and help us communicate with our audiences,” said Patricia Wheatley, executive director for First 5 Santa Barbara County. “For example, many of the parents we are trying to reach are young and Hispanic. Because of this demographic, we need a modern strategy that will keep our online visitors on our site, so they can truly benefit from all the information we have. The new site will be informative, eye-catching, bilingual and interactive, all of which are key to reaching our community.” Because of First 5 Santa Barbara County’s involvement with community nonprofits and public agencies, the organization’s new Web site also will incorporate a turnkey system to automate the grant proposal process. Through a paperless online system, local nonprofits may fill out grant applications, and First 5’s grant awarders can manage the entire funding process.