May 2006
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Cymfony and Porter Novelli are conducting a research survey on blogging best practices -- and you're invited to participate. If you maintain your company blog or monitor other blogs for your company, you definitely need to be a part of this. If you don't have direct responsibility at your company, feel free to forward the link below to the person who does.
As a special benefit for WOMMA members, Cymfony will deliver a customized version of the survey results along with a special analysis from CMO Jim Nail. This analysis won't be available anywhere else and is exclusively for WOMMA members.
WOMMA member version:
http://www.rmrsurveys.com/t60275n
Non-member special version:
http://www.rmrsurveys.com/t60275/
Congratulations and cigars to CHRIS DI CESARE of Microsoft and GARY STEIN of Ammo Marketing, both of whom recently became proud papas and celebrated the birth of new babies ... Kudos to CRMMETRIX for being selected as the most innovative marketing research company in France by French Marketing Trophees ... Thanks to GARY SPANGLER for talking up the need for standards in new media at a recent BtoB magazine Netmarketing Breakfast ... Here's an instance of WOMMA members helping each other: ED KELLER of Keller Fay Group has joined the Board of Directors of fellow member BAZAARVOICE ... Thanks to PETE BLACKSHAW of Nielsen BuzzMetrics for talking up WOM and measurement on the syndication and community development panel at the Syndicate conference ... JIM SCHEINMAN of Bebo wins the award for having traveled the farthest to talk about WOM this week, having been one of the featured panelists at the IIA Annual Congress in Dublin, Ireland this week. Go n'eiri an bothar leat, Jim.
Know a member who's bursting with buzz? Let us know! Email editor@womma.org.
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
* Broward Center for the Performing Arts
* Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
* Cyberbred
* TARP
* Monterey Bay Aquarium
We thank everyone for their support!
View WOMMA Member Directory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT
Andy Sernovitz, CEO
Word of Mouth Marketing Association
312-335-0035
editor@womma.org
http://www.womma.org
WORD OF MOUTH MARKETING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES FIRST ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHICAGO, May 25, 2006 -- The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) is pleased to announce the members of its first elected Board of Directors.
This new Board represents the wide diversity of companies that have embraced the consumer-driven power of word of mouth marketing. Major brands, marketers, agencies, researchers, word of mouth specialty firms, and top experts have joined together to lead the fastest growing segment of the marketing world.
WOMMA is an amazing success story, thanks to the hard work of its members. No other organization has grown as quickly or made such an impact on the world of marketing in such a short time.
The association's growth parallels the accelerated growth of the entire word of mouth marketing industry. According to eMarketer, nearly half (43%) of marketers plan to use a WOM strategy in 2006. A study from McKinsey reported that two-thirds of all US economic activity is influenced by shared opinions about products, brands, or services.
"We are grateful for the support of these leaders, and the hundreds of companies that have joined WOMMA," said WOMMA CEO Andy Sernovitz. "Their expertise and dedication ensure that WOMMA continues as the voice of ethical responsibility for the growing word of mouth industry."
WOMMA's new Directors are:
* Idil Cakim, Director, Burson-Marsteller
* Laurent Flores, CEO, crmmetrix
* Jackie Huba, Author, Church of the Customer
* Ed Keller, CEO, The Keller Fay Group
* Virginia Miracle, Director of Word of Mouth Marketing, Brains on Fire
* Ann Moravick, President & CEO, Rowland Communications Worldwide
* Rick Murray, President, me2revolution, Edelman
* Paul Rand, Partner, Global Chief Development and Innovation Officer, Ketchum
* Jim Nail, CMO, Cymfony
* Gary Spangler, E-Business Leader, Electronics and Communications Platform, DuPont
* Jamie Tedford, SVP, Media and Marketing Innovation, Arnold Worldwide
* Scott K. Wilder, Group Manager, Intuit
* Michael Wiley, Director, New Media, GM
* Dave Balter, CEO, BzzAgent
* Pete Blackshaw, CMO, Nielsen BuzzMetrics
About WOMMA
WOMMA is the official trade association for the word of mouth marketing industry. Its members are committed to building a prosperous word of mouth marketing profession based on best practices, measurable ROI, and ethical leadership. The association has nearly 300 corporate members. Learn about WOMMA at http://www.womma.org.
# # #
WOMMA was well-represented at the Beyond Blogging 2006 roundtable in Washington, DC. ED KELLER of Keller Fay Group was the keynote speaker, with PETE BLACKSHAW of Nielsen BuzzMetrics participating on the panel. The entire event itself was presented by member FLEISHMAN-HILLARD ... Welcome to ANDREA WOJNICKI, the newest member of WOMMA's Advisory Board ... Five stars and top marks to the BAZAARVOICE team for the write-up in 1to1 newsletter ... Class is in session. Thanks to members BRAINS ON FIRE, BZZAGENT, CHURCH OF THE CUSTOMER, MATCHSTICK, and M80 for stepping up and helping out Advisor WALTER CARL with content for his university class on WOM, Buzz, and Viral Marketing Communication.
Know a member who's bursting with buzz? Let us know! Email editor@womma.org.
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
* CNET Networks
* Heureka
* Envision EMI
* Arment Dietrich
* ExactTarget
We thank everyone for their support!
View WOMMA Member Directory
WORD OF MOUTH WEDNESDAYS
Wednesdays at noon EST
>> Next call: Wednesday, May 24:
"WOM and Agencies"
Dan Buczaczer, VP, Director, Denuo
Jamie Tedford, SVP, Marketing & Media Innovation, Arnold
Special Guest Moderator:
Jonah Bloom, Executive Editor, Advertising Age
* Find out how ad agencies are moving toward WOM
* Learn how to convince your client to try WOM
* Discover how to overcome the common objections
Register today
Other upcoming teleconferences:
Wednesday, June 7:
"WOM on Broadway and in Primetime"
Warren Ackerman, Affinitive
David Neupert, M80
Wednesday, June 14:
"How to Use WOM to Create a Best-Selling Book"
Greg Stielstra, Author of "PyroMarketing"
Bryan Eisenberg, Author of "Call to Action"
>> GO TO: WOM Wednesdays home
Be a sponsor of WOMBAT 2 and put your name front and center at the biggest word of mouth marketing event ever. You'll reach the key decision-makers from all the big players in word of mouth -- major brands, agencies, specialty firms, and more.
Great slots are still available, but going quickly.
>> GO TO: WOMBAT 2 sponsorship descriptions
>> MEETINGS
Need to reserve a suite for on-site meetings? Space is going quickly, so we need to hear from you. Contact us right away so we can be sure to reserve your space.
>> PRESS
WOMBAT is the biggest word of mouth event of the year and generates buzz for weeks afterward. Make your announcement at the conference as part of the WOMBAT 2 Media Kit, including:
* New mergers or acquisitions
* Major new deals
* Major new hires
* New studies or research reports
Email your press releases, tip sheets, and media advisories to editor@womma.org.
Tired of the same conference routine with the same speakers who say the same things? When was the last time you went to a conference where you came back truly INSPIRED?
People love WOMMA events because they are anything *but* the same old conferences. Here's what they've said about our past events:
"I am leaving with at least 10 great ideas!"
"I am inspired to take back what I've learned to my agency."
"It's so nice to be around others who get it."
"I felt I've found my lost 'tribe'."
"Never have I seen more usable content fit into so short a time."
"Wow! What a show. We were astounded."
"I'm still pumped!"
"What a life-changing experience!"
You need to be at WOMBAT 2.
Join us on June 20-21 in San Francisco.
http://www.womma.org/wombat2
For WOM Wednesday #8, WOMMA hosted a teleconference with two experts with long experience seeding products. Both talked about how they direct some campaigns toward getting products into the hands of key influencers, while others are sent to the general public. Patrick gave a case study on the launch of the Chrysler 300C and how it helped re-position the brand in a positive light. Larry talked about various programs StartSampling has conducted for CPG firms and how they've tracked brand awareness.
Featured speakers:
Patrick Thoburn, Co-Founder, Matchstick
Larry Burns, CEO, StartSampling
Download handout (PDF downloads):
Patrick Thoburn presentation
Larry Burns presentation
Topics and URL's referenced during the call:
StartSampling
Matchstick
Register to sign up for upcoming WOM Wednesday Teleconferences
Dr. Andrea Wojnicki
Rotman School of Management
University of Toronto
Professor Andrea Wojnicki is a member of the marketing faculty at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. She earned her doctorate in Marketing from Harvard Business School and her MBA from York University. Most of her current research projects focus on consumers' word-of-mouth behaviors, particularly who generates WOM, under what conditions, and why.
Prior to her academic career, Professor Wojnicki worked in brand management at Kraft Foods. She also worked in advertising and retail management. She has consulted to firms in the automotive, banking, and other industries.
Official site
For WOM Wednesday #7, WOMMA hosted a teleconference featuring two WOM experts that effectively use word of mouth for their non-profits and to spread the word about their causes. First, Marc Sirkin from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society talked about some of the tools they have used to accelerate WOM with their consistuents. Then, Virgil Simons delivered a case study about how his group effectively built grassroots networks using offline, real world WOM and local community barbers. Both shared insights in generating word of mouth at a grassroots level as well as methods of tracking conversations and participation.
Featured speakers:
Marc Sirkin, VP, eMarketing, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Virgil Simons, President, The Prostate Net
Download handout (PDF downloads):
Marc Sirkin presentation
Virgil Simons presentation
Topics and URL's referenced during the call:
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Prostate Net
Marc Sirkin's blog
BlogPulse
Technorati
Register to sign up for upcoming WOM Wednesday Teleconferences
Several weeks ago, WOMMA announced plans to hold its first election to seat a new Board of Directors. The response was simply amazing! Nearly 40 individuals stepped forward and we gratefully appreciate their efforts. All were extraordinary people and very qualified candidates, making the job of the Nominating Committee that much harder.
Please join us in congratulating the incredibly talented individuals who have been selected as the slate of candidates for the new WOMMA Board of Directors:
* Arnold Worldwide -- Jamie Tedford
* Brains on Fire -- Virginia Miracle
* Burson-Marsteller -- Idil Cakim
* Church of the Customer -- Jackie Huba
* CRM Metrix -- Laurent Flores
* Cymfony -- Jim Nail
* DuPont -- Gary Spangler
* Edelman -- Rick Murray
* GM -- Michael Wiley
* Intuit -- Scott Wilder
* The Keller Fay Group -- Ed Keller
* Ketchum -- Paul Rand
* Rowland Communications Worldwide -- Ann Moravick
* BzzAgent -- Dave Balter (incumbent)
* Nielsen BuzzMetrics -- Pete Blackshaw (incumbent)
Voting will be conducted May 11-24. WOMMA voting members in good standing have already been contacted with details. An announcement of the official results will be made at the conclusion of voting.
WOMMA's Word of Mouth Basic Training 2 Conference
June 20-21, 2006 | Hilton San Francisco
http://womma.org/wombat2
Facts:
* Consumers are in control.
* They're ignoring traditional ads.
* Happy customers are your best advertisers.
The Solution:
* Come and learn the art of Word of Mouth, Viral, Buzz, and Blog Marketing at WOMMA's Word of Mouth Basic Training 2 Conference!
Tell a friend and spread the word -- WOMBAT 2 is the only place to learn practical, hands-on tips and techniques from the world's top WOM experts.
NEW KEYNOTE JUST ADDED:
* Robert Scoble and Shel Israel, co-authors of "Naked Conversations"
NEW AUTHOR WORKSHOP ADDED:
* Jackie Huba, co-author of "Creating Customer Evangelists"
OTHER AMAZING SPEAKERS INCLUDE EXPERTS FROM:
Ammo Marketing, BIGresearch, Biz360, Brains on Fire, Communispace, DuPont, Electric Artists, Ice.com, Informative, Intuit, Keller Fay Group, Ketchum, MotiveQuest, Rowland Communications Worldwide, VoodooVox, and more!
>> Reserve your place: http://womma.org/wombat2
> 6 Great Reasons to Attend This Event
1. 16 How-To's: Learn to be a great word of mouth marketer
> How to Create a Viral Marketing Campaign
> How to Use Customer Experience and Product Design
> How to Use Online Feedback
> How to Work with Bloggers and Communities
> How to Make Social Networks Work
> How to Build a Great Reputation
> How to Create Great Blogs That Get People Talking
> How to Motivate Fans, Advocates, and Evangelists
> How to do BtoB WOM
> How to Get Started with WOM
> How to be an Ethical WOM Marketer
> How to Measure the Impact of WOM
> How to Demonstrate the ROI of WOM
... and more.
2. 60+ Amazing Speakers
> Famous Authors
> Proven Experts
> Top Professors
> Dozens of CEOs
> Respected Analysts
> Snarky Bloggers
> In-Depth Dialog
> Small-Group Discussions
> Focused Workshops
> Real-world Examples
> Inspirational Case Studies
3. 16 Real Case Studies
> Dozens of companies teaching how they made WOM
work for them.
> Learn from the experts themselves.
> Solid data, real results, and lessons you can't
learn anywhere else.
4. Not a meeting -- a mission.
> We're building an industry, changing how
Marketers think.
> Our work is important, interesting, and exciting.
> This is where we come together to further that
mission and help you become a part of it.
5. Real interaction, not stuffy panels
> Personal interaction and discussions with speakers
> Intense small-group discussions
> Focused breakouts
> Personal one-on-one's
6. You need to know more about this topic
> Word of mouth marketing is going to be a core part
of the marketing mix.
> Learn the strategies and tactics to make your
campaigns more effective.
> Learn the best practices to get started.
> Word of Mouth Basic Training 2
--------------------------------------------------
* Learn from real case studies and how-to lessons
* Meet the world's leading word of mouth experts
* Master the core skills to succeed with WOM
* Discover how to implement WOM at your company
* Network like crazy at the biggest word of mouth event ever
* Understand critical issues around ethics and honesty
* Measure and track the ROI of word of mouth
* Enjoy an official event from WOMMA, the association
that brings together the amazing people who are building
this fantastic industry.
>> Reserve your place: http://www.womma.org/wombat2
> Details
--------------------------------------------------
When: June 20-21, 2006
Where: Hilton San Francisco
Cost: $795 for WOMMA members, $1095 for non-members
>> Reserve your place: http://www.womma.org/wombat2
Speaking slots are still available for the WOMBAT 2 Conference. Here's what we're looking for:
* In-depth case studies
* Step-by-step how-to's
* Real brands
* Solid data and results
Please note that vendor presentations are unlikely to be selected without the client on stage with you.
Interested? Let us know right away!
>> GO TO: http://womma.org/wombat2/speakers.htm
WOMBAT 2 isn't just an event -- it's a mission and a movement. Put YOUR company's name front and center in the middle of it all.
* Reach all the big players in word of mouth -- major brands, agencies, specialty firms, and more.
* Reach the people with decision-making authority — the C-suite crowd including chief marketing officers and SVPs.
* Meet all the top experts and thought leaders.
ACT NOW -- the best sponsorship opportunities go fast!
>> GO TO: http://womma.org/wombat2/sponsors.htm
For WOM Wednesday #6, WOMMA hosted a teleconference featuring two marketers that have created blogs to enhance their brands -- Jason Woodmansee of Taylormade-adidas Golf and Pinny Gniwisch of Ice.com. Both gave the inside story on how they have connected with their customers in direct conversation. Jason and Pinny also talked about some of the lessons they've learned along the way, including how to moderate comments and how to make your content relevant.
Featured speakers:
Jason Woodmansee, Manager, Global eMarketing, Taylormade-adidas Golf
Pinny Gniwisch, Founder and EVP, Marketing, Ice.com
Topics and URL's referenced during the call:
TaylorMade blogs
Ice.com blog
WebSideStory
Download handout (PDF downloads):
Jason Woodmansee presentation
Register to sign up for upcoming WOM Wednesday Teleconferences:
http://www.womma.org/telecon.htm
Word of Mouth Basic Training 2
June 20-21, 2006 -- Hilton San Francisco
A WOMMA Conference
-----------------------------------
LEARN TO GET PEOPLE TALKING!
THE BIGGEST WORD OF MOUTH EVENT EVER
Master the Art of Word of Mouth, Viral, Buzz and Blog Marketing
* More experts
* More case studies
* More how-to's
* More networking
The one conference to attend to master the art of word of mouth marketing
From the Word of Mouth Marketing Association
http://www.womma.org
>> Reserve your place: http://www.womma.org/wombat2
>> Word of Mouth Basic Training 2
* Learn from real case studies and how-to lessons
* Meet the world's leading word of mouth experts
* Master the core skills to succeed with WOM
* Discover how to implement WOM at your company
* Network like crazy at the biggest word of mouth event ever
* Understand critical issues around ethics and honesty
* Measure and track the ROI of word of mouth
* Enjoy an official event from WOMMA, the association
that brings together the amazing people who are building
this fantastic industry.
>> 6 Great Reasons to Attend This Event
1. 16 How-To's: Learn to be a great word of mouth marketer
> How to Create a Viral Marketing Campaign
> How to Use Customer Experience and Product Design
> How to Use Online Feedback
> How to Work with Bloggers and Communities
> How to Make Social Networks Work
> How to Build a Great Reputation
> How to Create Great Blogs That Get People Talking
> How to Motivate Fans, Advocates, and Evangelists
> How to do BtoB WOM
> How to Get Started with WOM
> How to be an Ethical WOM Marketer
> How to Measure the Impact of WOM
> How to Demonstrate the ROI of WOM
... and more.
2. 60+ Amazing Speakers
> Famous Authors
> Proven Experts
> Top Professors
> Dozens of CEOs
> Respected Analysts
> Snarky Bloggers
> In-Depth Dialog
> Small-Group Discussions
> Focused Workshops
> Real-world Examples
> Inspirational Case Studies
3. 16 Real Case Studies
> Dozens of companies teaching how they made WOM work for them.
> Learn from the experts themselves.
> Solid data, real results, and lessons you can't learn
anywhere else.
4. Not a meeting -- a mission.
> We're building an industry, changing how marketers think.
> Our work is important, interesting, and exciting.
> This is where we come together to further that mission
and help you become a part of it.
5. Real interaction, not stuffy panels
> Personal interaction and discussions with speakers
> Intense small-group discussions
> Focused breakouts
> Personal one-on-one's
6. You need to know more about this topic
> Word of mouth marketing is going to be a core part
of the marketing mix.
> Learn the strategies and tactics to make your campaigns
more effective.
> Learn the best practices to get started.
>> Reserve your place: http://www.womma.org/wombat2
> Details
When: June 20-21, 2006
Where: Hilton San Francisco
Cost: $795 for WOMMA members, $1095 for non-members
>> Reserve your place: http://www.womma.org/wombat2
WORD OF MOUTH WEDNESDAYS
Wednesdays at noon EST
>> Next call is TOMORROW, May 3:
"Blogs and Brands"
Jason Woodmansee, TaylorMade-adidas Golf
Pinny Gniwisch, Ice.com
* Connecting directly with your customers
* Managing comments (both positive and negative)
* Writing about topics that make great posts
>> Register at http://womma.org/telecon.htm
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