January 2007
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The Board of Directors of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association has determined that Edelman has fulfilled the conditions stipulated in our Oct. 30, 2006, notification of membership review.
As a result of its corrective actions, the Board is pleased to reinstate Edelman to full membership status and privileges related to its Governing Membership.
Put on your marketing fatigues, folks, and fill up your canteen; WOMMA is taking its much-anticipated Word of Mouth Basic Training (WOMBAT) conference to New Orleans, and we're looking for word of mouth recruits.
Taking place April 17-18 in New Orleans, WOMBAT is your how-to resource for everything word of mouth. This year we've got more expert speakers, more case studies, more how-to lessons, and more great networking opportunities.
Event highlights:
* 50+ amazing speakers
* Practical how-to instruction
* Detailed case studies
* Fantastic networking with important people
Basic training is the foundation of every word of mouth effort, and this is your two-day boot camp. Sign up today!
Reserve your spot
Attention New Yorkers: Do you have dinner plans this Wednesday? Well, you do now! If you live in the tri-state area, join WOMMA Wednesday evening for a special get-together for our New York-area members and friends. No speakers. No panels. Just dinner, drinks, and some awesome conversation. Invite a client and head on over!
Where: H.S.F. Restaurant at 46 Bowery in Chinatown
When: Jan. 31, 2007 | Cocktails, 6:30 p.m. | Dinner, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $100 for non-members, $75 for members
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Sign up
Join us Wednesday, Feb. 14, at noon EST for WOM Wednesdays, WOMMA's ongoing teleconference series. Just register, dial in, and listen up to get the ideas that will truly expand your marketing horizons. While you're at it, consider making this a team event; just grab your peers and dial in from the conference room for the price of a single registration.
Wednesday, Feb. 14, at noon EST -->
How to Start a Brand Ambassador Movement: Learn to turn your most loyal customers into chatty advocates courtesy of scrapbooking company Fiskars Brands, maker of the famed orange-handled scissors. Featuring Virginia Miracle, director of word of mouth marketing for Brains on Fire, and Suzanne Fanning, senior manager of public relations for Fiskars Brands. (NOTE: Call was previously scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 16. All previous registrations will be honored.)
Coming in February: Teleconferences featuring Nintendo and Microsoft! Stay tuned for more details ...
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
Your WOMMA membership is much more than a line of text on your resume. WOMMA members get exclusive access to word of mouth jobs, speaking opportunities, and promotional vehicles. Do more with your membership; take advantage of these member benefits:
* JOB BOARD --> The only job site specifically for word of mouth marketing positions. WOMMA members get a free post each month. Visit www.womma.org/jobs.
* SPEAKERS BUREAU --> For speakers and event planners, find a speaking gig or an expert speaker, panelist, or keynote. WOMMA members get first crack at the best gigs. Visit www.womma.org/speakers.
* MEMBER DIRECTORY --> Add your company's contact information, logo, and a full description of what you do. Free for all members and accessible to everyone visiting WOMMA's site. Visit www.womma.org/members.
WOMMA is seeking members with an in-depth understanding of the word of mouth industry and a broad knowledge of WOMMA's membership to serve on its 2007 Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is responsible for selecting the slate of candidates for the 2007 Board of Directors, which will be voted on by our membership in March. Members of the Nominating Committee should be enthusiastic supporters of WOMMA and WOMMA member companies and must be able to fairly consider the characteristics needed in a high-performance Board.
To serve on the Nominating Committee, you must be the official voting member of a WOMMA member company in good standing. Nominating Committee members are appointed to a one-year term and must commit in advance to attending a one-day, fly-in meeting in Chicago during the last week of February. At that meeting, the Nominating Committee will review statements of qualifications, bios, and endorsements for each candidate and select the slate to fill eight vacant seats on the Board of Directors. If you are selected to serve on the Nominating Committee, you cannot be nominated to serve on the Board this year. Proceedings of the Committee are confidential.
If you are interested in serving WOMMA on this important committee, please contact Tarah Remington at tarah@womma.org no later than Friday, Feb. 2. Use subject line "Nominating Committee."
WOMMA has launched a new homepage to help our members more easily do what they love to do: talk! The homepage at www.womma.org now features threads from the most active discussion groups inside our Member Center. Check back often to find out what the industry's biggest and brightest minds are talking about, then log into the Member Center to join the conversation.
Current discussion groups:
* The WOMMA Research Symposium
* What can WOMMA do for you?
* Limited-time Blogging
Visit our new homepage and start talking
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
Eluma, Hanser & Associates, Carton Donofrio Partners, ASCAP, PHD, WebJunction/OCLC, Fizz, Reed Smith, Froose Brands, and Rose Communications.
We thank everyone for their support!
Congratulations to WOMMA Board member Idil Cakim, who accepted a new position as vice president of interactive media with WOMMA member company Golin Harris ... WOMMA member company eCRUSH was recently acquired by Hearst; its president, member Amy Gibby, will stay on with the organization ... WOMMA member company Ice.com has launched a special viral video series for Valentine's Day; check it out on YouTube.
Are you speaking at an event or receiving an award? Were you quoted in the press? Are you making a change at work or at home, or otherwise just doing something really cool? Tell us about it and we'll spread the word! Email editor@womma.org.
While it may be nearly two years until the next federal election, at WOMMA, every year is an election year. In fact, our next Board election is scheduled to take place this spring and we're looking for committed, enthusiastic WOMMA members who are willing to invest their time, reputation, contacts, and capital in order to take WOMMA to the next level. Here's how it works ...
1. The Process
WOMMA holds what is called a "single-slate" election. A nominating committee of members -- selected by WOMMA's Leadership Committee and the Board of Directors -- chooses a slate of candidates equal to the number of open seats on the Board of Directors; this year there are eight seats open, seven with two-year terms and one with a one-year term. Candidates are chosen from nominations made by members, who may nominate themselves. Each WOMMA member company has one vote. Write-in votes are permitted.
2. How to Be Nominated for a Board Seat
All interested members are encouraged to run for the Board of Directors. As a Director, your job will be to help our industry and our association grow and prosper. Directors must be members in good standing, have a stellar record on ethics, and be able to commit approximately five hours per month to Board leadership. Candidates must receive endorsements from three fellow members from three different WOMMA member companies in good standing as of March 1, 2007, in order for their nomination to be valid. A statement of qualifications and a photo are required.
3. Next Steps
--> Make sure your dues are paid in full.
--> Make a nomination to the Board by Feb. 15; find out how at www.womma.org/elections.
--> Confirm the voting member from your organization.
--> Vote on the Nominating Committee's chosen slate of Board candidates between March 9 and March 31.
Learn more
WOMMA's original research anthology, "Measuring Word of Mouth Vol. 1," was a huge success. The first ever collection of word of mouth surveys and studies, it's still selling today. In fact, it has just entered its second printing, right on the heels of its follow-up, "Measuring Word of Mouth Vol. 2," which was released last month.
Now is the perfect time to add both volumes of "Measuring Word of Mouth" to your growing collection of word of mouth research. When you do, you'll save. Buy both books, along with a copy of conference audio from WOMMA's recent Word of Mouth Research Symposium, and get 30% off the cost of all three! WOMMA members save an extra 25%.
Together, "Measuring Word of Mouth" Volumes 1 and 2 offer 400+ pages of all the best numbers, data, and measurements on word of mouth marketing techniques and trends. Collectively they contain more than 40 exclusive research papers, including award-winning contributions from The Keller Fay Group, Echopinion!, and BzzAgent.
Visit the WOMMA Store and order the WOM Research Special
Do you have lunch plans on Wednesday? You do now! Join us this Wednesday, Jan. 24, at noon EST for WOM Wednesdays, our weekly teleconference series. Just register, dial in, and listen up to get the ideas that will truly expand your marketing horizons. While you're at it, consider making this a team event; just grab your peers and dial in from the conference room for the price of a single registration.
This Wednesday, Jan. 24, at noon EST -->
Co-creation: The Ultimate Customer Engagement: Learn with real-world examples how social media has opened the doors for an even greater brand/customer connection -- one in which consumers are co-brand managers and sources for innovation within your company. Featuring John Bell, managing director of 360° Digital Influence, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, and David Churbuck, vice president of global web marketing at Lenovo.
Wednesday, Feb. 14, at noon EST -->
How to Start a Brand Ambassador Movement: Learn to turn your most loyal customers into chatty advocates courtesy of scrapbooking company Fiskars Brands, maker of the famed orange-handled scissors. Featuring Virginia Miracle, director of word of mouth marketing for Brains on Fire, and Suzanne Fanning, senior manager of public relations for Fiskars Brands. (NOTE: Call was previously scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 16. All previous registrations will be honored.)
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
Attention New Yorkers: If you live in the tri-state area, mark your calendars for the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 31. WOMMA is coming to town and we're hosting a special get-together just for you. No speakers. No panels. Just dinner, drinks, and some awesome conversation.
Join us at H.S.F. Restaurant at 46 Bowery in Chinatown for dinner and drinks with local WOMMA members. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $100 for non-members and $75 for members. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Sign up
Are you interested in sponsoring this event? Email events@womma.org for more information.
At WOMMA, we like to save our members money. We're always on the prowl for good deals and deep discounts; it's just one of the many benefits of being a WOMMA member. In fact, we're pleased to announce three brand new event discounts, exclusively for our members. Use them and save more than $650 on event registrations!
--> Future Marketing Summit: 3/5, New York, save 20%
--> What's Next Boomer Business Summit: 3/5-3/6, Chicago, save 20%
--> OMMA Hollywood: 3/19-3/20, Los Angeles, save 30%
Learn more about these event discounts and other exclusive member benefits -- including members-only research and content -- by logging into the WOMMA Member Center today.
Log into the Member Center
Learn more about these events
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
Commix, Party2Win Inc., Batteries.com, Career Tours, Passenger, Community Analytics, Johnson & Johnson Group of Consumer Companies, Doubleday Entertainment, WebEx, and Move.
We thank everyone for their support!
Congratulations to WOMMA member company BuzzLogic, which was recently named by AlwaysOn Media to its 100 Top Private Companies ... Kudos to WOMMA member company Dell, which made headlines last week for its role in a new initiative to provide free internet-based prescribing software to every physician in the United States.
Are you speaking at an event? Quoted in the press? Making a change at work or at home? Tell us about it and we'll spread the word! Email editor@womma.org.
Attention New York members: If you live in the tri-state area, mark your calendars for the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 31. WOMMA is coming to town and we're hosting a special get-together just for you. No speakers. No panels. Just dinner, drinks, and some awesome conversation.
Join us at H.S.F. Restaurant at 46 Bowery in Chinatown for dinner and drinks with local WOMMA members. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $100 for non-members and $75 for members. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Sign up
Are you interested in sponsoring this event? Email events@womma.org for more information.
Did you know there's a new place where WOMMA members can meet to share stories, trade ideas, discuss news, and otherwise shoot the breeze? It's called the WOMMA Member Center, and dozens of savvy word of mouth marketers are already using it to find inspiration and make connections. Are you?
Don't miss out on a valuable opportunity to build your word of mouth resume and Rolodex. Log in to the WOMMA Member Center now to create your profile. Share who you are -- everything down to your favorite color! -- with your fellow members and begin building an indispensable network of industry friends and contacts today.
WOMMA members should have received an email with their Member Center login and password. If you need assistance, please email membercenter@womma.org.
Access our Member Center from the WOMMA homepage
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
ThisNext, BuzzLogic, Integral Marketing and Communication, Mamiana, AdWise Group, TSO, Exclamation Corporation, Product Presentation Circuit, Fanscape, and eMarketer.
We thank everyone for their support!
Last month, WOMMA hosted two of its most successful events ever: the Word of Mouth Marketing Summit and the Word of Mouth Research Symposium, co-located in Washington, D.C. Together, these two events drew more than 500 savvy word of mouth marketers for three days of intense learning and networking. With more than 50 sessions and more than 70 speakers, it was a veritable feast of word of mouth learning. And needless to say, there was a lot to swallow!
If you got too full too quickly, or if you missed the meal altogether, you're in luck: Many of the presentations from these incredible events are now available for download from the WOMMA website. Just click, save, and read for all the learning you may have missed.
Still not satisfied? Visit the WOMMA Store to order a copy of our soon-to-be-released CD featuring all conference audio.
Note: All Summit attendees will soon get a free copy of conference audio -- compliments of WOMMA. Watch your mailbox!
Download presentations from the Research Symposium
Download presentations from the Summit
Order conference audio
Congratulations to WOMMA member company BuzzLogic, which received an honorable mention in PRWeek's recent "Editors' Choice 2007" feature, and to member companies AOL, Burson-Marsteller, Coca-Cola, Cymfony, Euro RSCG, Fleishman-Hillard, and PR Newswire, which appeared in the magazine's annual "Who to watch" section as among the individuals and companies it predicts will make headlines in 2007 ... Member Allison Gower of qtags was quoted recently in the Houston Business Journal and in Outdoor Advertising Magazine ... Congratulations to member Sean Glass of Higher One, who is featured in the current issue of The Greentree Gazette.
Are you speaking at an event? Quoted in the press? Making a change at work or at home? Tell us about it and we'll spread the word! Email editor@womma.org.
Do you have lunch plans on Wednesday? You do now! Join us this Wednesday, Jan. 17, at noon EST for our first word of mouth teleconference of 2007. Just register, dial in, and listen up to get the ideas that will truly expand your marketing horizons this year. In fact, while you're at it, grab your peers and dial in from the conference room to make this a team event.
This Wednesday, Jan. 17 -->
How to Start a Brand Ambassador Movement: Learn to turn your most loyal customers into chatty advocates courtesy of scrapbooking company Fiskars Brands, maker of the famed orange-handled scissors. Featuring Virginia Miracle, director of word of mouth marketing for Brains on Fire, and Suzanne Fanning, senior manager of public relations for Fiskars Brands.
Next week, Jan. 24 -->
Co-creation: The Ultimate Customer Engagement: Learn with real-world examples how social media has opened the doors for an even greater brand/customer connection -- one in which consumers are co-brand managers and sources for innovation within your company. Featuring John Bell, managing director of 360° Digital Influence, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, and David Churbuck, vice president of global web marketing at Lenovo.
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
WOMMA has launched a major new service for our members: a fully interactive, web-based community that we're calling our Member Center. This virtual, members-only community features social networking, discussion groups, discounts and specials, and exclusive WOMMA content -- all designed to help you connect with other members.
Currently-featured discussion groups include:
* Brands-Only
* BtoB
* Consumer-Generated Media
* Blogs
We'd like to extend an enormous thank you to Leverage Software for hosting the Member Center. It already hosts amazing, vibrant online communities for companies as large as Microsoft, Salesforce.com, InfoWorld, and The New York Times. And now, it hosts one for WOMMA, too!
WOMMA members should have received an email with their login and password. If you need assistance, please email membercenter@womma.org.
This is a beta program for our members. We encourage you to check out and use your new member service, and to let us know what else you would like to see.
Access the Member Center from the WOMMA homepage
WOMMA is looking for nominations to its Leadership Committee (LC). The LC functions as a WOMMA advisory board and is made up of representatives from each membership class -- Governing, Standard, Small Business, and International. The LC is responsible for advising the Board of Directors on matters of the well being and greater good of our association, as well as for making appointments to WOMMA's Nominating Committee, which is responsible for electing candidates to WOMMA's Board of Directors during Board Elections. If you want to build your credentials as a leader in the word of mouth industry, this is the committee in which to do it.
To find out more, email Tarah Remington at tarah@womma.org.
Bored with lunch? Get ready for something more exciting than a turkey sandwich, because WOMMA's Word of Mouth Wednesdays are back! WOM Wednesdays is our weekly, hour-long teleconference series where leading experts offer practical word of mouth marketing tips and techniques. Just register, dial in, and listen to get the ideas that will truly expand your marketing horizons.
Join us Wednesday, Jan. 17, and Wednesday, Jan. 24, at noon EST for our first WOM Wednesdays of 2007:
Jan. 17 --> How to Start a Brand Ambassador Movement: Learn to turn your most loyal customers into chatty advocates courtesy of scrapbooking company Fiskars Brands, maker of the famed orange-handled scissors. Featuring Virginia Miracle, director of word of mouth marketing for Brains on Fire, and Suzanne Fanning, senior manager of public relations for Fiskars Brands.
Jan. 24 --> Co-creation: The Ultimate Customer Engagement: Learn with real-world examples how social media has opened the doors for an even greater brand/customer connection -- one in which consumers are co-brand managers and sources for innovation within your company. Featuring John Bell, managing director of 360° Digital Influence, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, and David Churbuck, vice president of global web marketing at Lenovo.
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
It's a new year and WOMMA has new ways for our members to get involved. So just in case your conviction to lose weight falls through, make a resolution you can keep: Do more for your industry by joining a WOMMA Group.
WOMMA Groups enable you to tackle large industry issues as well as smaller, project-focused tasks. Give us just two hours a month and we'll give you the chance not only to build an entire industry, but also to build an impressive resume within the growing word of mouth world.
We need dedicated volunteers to contribute to each of our growing Groups, including the Ethics, Membership, and Research Councils, just to name a few.
View a complete list of WOMMA Groups, then sign up
WOMMA is pleased to offer our members an exciting new benefit -- exclusive word of mouth research, courtesy of IM MS&L and The Keller Fay Group.
At WOMMA, we strive every day to give our members the fuel they need to build an active word of mouth practice within their companies. We do it with informative newsletters, out-of-this-world conferences, and groundbreaking commitments to best practices. More than anything, though, we do it with research, because you need numbers to truly turn conversations into campaigns.
Visit our recently-launched Member Center to download exclusive, members-only data from IM MS&L and The Keller Fay Group's "Conversation Catalysts" study. While you're there, check out the other features -- social networking, discussion groups, discounts, and specials, and members-only content -- that we've created to serve you better.
Download the report from our Member Center
WOMMA has launched a new, redesigned website at www.womma.org. The site features a fresh, streamlined look and new, straightforward navigation to help users more easily find the information they're looking for. Whether you want to subscribe to one of our popular email newsletters, read our information-packed blogs, participate in a WOMMA Group, or find up-to-the-minute news on WOMMA events and projects, our new website makes it easier than ever for you to get involved.
Visit the new WOMMA.org
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
Backfence.com, IAKI, Mosaic, Citrix Systems, Frappe Marketing, Chameleon PR, Motivation Mechanics, Mountain Equipment Co-Op, re:invention, and DoubleClick.
We thank everyone for their support!
WOMMA member Sam Decker of Bazaarvoice was quoted recently at MSNBC.com in an article about customer reviews in the retail sector ... Congratulations to Tony Telloni, who was recently named New York Market Leader at WOMMA member company Burson-Marsteller ... Congratulations to WOMMA member company qtags, which was recognized recently by MarketingSherpa for a campaign that it designed for Popeyes ... Congratulations to WOMMA member Mary Clare Hunt of Interpret-Her, who has a new book, "In Women We Trust."
Are you speaking at an event? Quoted in the press? Making a change at work or at home? Tell us about it and we'll spread the word! Email editor@womma.org.
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