February 2007
← January 2007 | WOMMA News Blog Home | March 2007 →
Are you tired of winter yet? So are we. It's cold, it's dark, and we've got a serious case of cabin fever. So to celebrate spring, we're taking our next conference, Word of Mouth Basic Training (WOMBAT), to New Orleans April 17-18!
Face it, you need a vacation, too. So join us for a much-needed breather in the one and only Big Easy. We'll be meeting just steps from the French Quarter. And even though Mardi Gras is over, there's still plenty of fun to be had. Come for the music, come for the food, and come for the culture. Oh yeah, and come for WOMMA's most amazing word of mouth marketing conference ever!
Register
Ask and ye shall receive: WOMMA has posted the agenda for its next event, Word of Mouth Basic Training (WOMBAT). Taking place April 17-18 in New Orleans, WOMBAT promises to be our most exciting, most dynamic, most bang-for-your-buck event ever. Our program includes 50+ amazing speakers, 16 real case studies, and 16 hands-on how-to's.
New Orleans isn't your typical conference venue, and WOMBAT isn't your typical conference, either. The word of mouth industry's official "how-to" event, WOMBAT will wow you with:
--> An incredible keynote by Chip Heath, the best-selling co-author of "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die"
--> Real word of mouth case studies from General Mills, Nintendo, O Magazine, and more!
--> Practical how-to lessons, including:
* How to Use YouTube as an Effective Marketing Tool
* How to Advertise with Word of Mouth
* How to Create Customer Evangelists
* How to Use Blogs to Keep the Buzz Going
* And more!
We are adding more content, more speakers, and more value every day, so check the agenda often.
View the WOMBAT agenda
Join us Wednesdays 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. After the teleconference, visit our website for an audio recording of the call, which can be downloaded for free from the WOMMA Member Center.
> This Wednesday, Feb. 28, at noon EST -->
How Microsoft Turned Windows Vista into a Marketing Success
Learn how the Windows Vista team sold consumers and upper management alike on buzz, viral, and blog marketing techniques in order to turn a slew of marketing challenges into triumphs. Featuring Brian Marr, Group Marketing Manager, Windows Vista, Microsoft.
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
The word of mouth marketing industry is growing fast. And so is the demand for experienced word of mouth marketers! Whether you're looking for new additions to your talented team or searching for the perfect new job in which to show off your word of mouth skills, WOMMA's Job Board can help you find what you need.
The WOMMA Job Board is the only job board that exists specifically for word of mouth marketing positions.
Members: Your company gets one free job posting every month; use it!
Jobs have been posted recently for word of mouth positions at: Nielsen BuzzMetrics, Oddcast, Fizz, Tribune Company, and more!
Find a new employee or a new job
It's no secret that WOMMA members like to talk. After all, talking is what word of mouth is all about. To satisfy your craving for conversation -- and caffeine -- we're giving our members a chance to connect and share ideas this week with two Virtual Member Coffee Breaks. These casual, members-only online chats are an opportunity to speak in real time with like-minded marketers about topics and strategies important to your business.
Grab a cup of coffee, log into the WOMMA Member Center, and join your fellow word of mouth marketers for a chat this Tuesday or Wednesday. This week's topics are "Communities" and "Brand Marketers."
This week:
--> Communities Coffee Break; Tuesday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m. CST
--> Brand Marketers Coffee Break; Wednesday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m. CST
To learn more about these events and RSVP, email Tarah Remington at tarah@womma.org.
On Friday, Feb. 23, more than 30 WOMMA members met by telephone to discuss questions posed by Turner and Interference Inc.'s recent marketing misstep in Boston, which raised several important issues for the word of mouth marketing industry.
In an hour-long teleconference, members asked the following questions:
* Do guerilla marketing campaigns qualify as word of mouth?
* How, when and where should disclosure take place?
* How can marketers accomplish effective disclosure and minimize intrusion, while ensuring that consumers understand the marketer's objective?
* What forms of disclosure protect the creative process and campaigns' entertainment outcome?
Find out what your peers had to say on this important topic by logging into the WOMMA Member Center, where you can find a discussion draft of relevant questions as well as a free download of audio from Friday's call. Just log in from the WOMMA homepage, select ‘View All Groups’ from the menu list at left, and choose "The Member Blog" from the resulting list of discussion groups; comments on this issue are being posted under the thread, "Issue Brief: Turner and Word of Mouth" and will be accepted until March 23, 2007.
Log into the Member Center
This just in: If you're a WOMMA member, you can expand your marketing mind right from the comfort of your own desk. That's because we have uploaded audio recordings from our 2006 Word of Mouth Wednesday Teleconferences to the WOMMA Member Center, where you can download more than 10 hours of word of mouth learning -- a value of more than $1500, based on the cost of three days at a typical conference -- for free!
Log into the Member Center now to download the following teleconferences:
* Creating Customer Evangelists
* CEO Blogger Richard Edelman and GM's FastLane Blog Team
* Countering Negative Buzz
* How to Create a Viral WOM Campaign
* WOM Ethics: A Practical Guide for Doing It Right
* Blogs and Brands
* WOM and Nonprofits
* Seeding New Products
* Creating a Best-Seller Using WOM
Plus: Download audio from this year's WOM Wednesdays, which have featured Lenovo, Fiskars, and Nintendo!
Log into the Member Center
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, last year alone we saved our members more than $6,000 on event registrations, including $2,050 on five WOMMA meetings and more than $4,000 on 35 other industry events.
Log into the Member Center now to take advantage of our current event deals and save an additional $1,000!
--> 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%
--> SuperTalk: 3/22, Las Vegas, save 25%
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.
Get event deals
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
* ICLP
* Lorel Marketing Group
* RIOT
* Critical Mass Media
* Mimeo.com.
We thank everyone for their support!
News by, about, and for WOMMA members:
* Thanks to the following WOMMA members, who recently visited WOMMA headquarters in Chicago to educate the WOMMA staff about their businesses:
- ComBlu
- eCRUSH
- Liquid Intelligence
- Reed Smith
- Viewpoints Network
* Thanks to WOMMA member company Slack Barshinger, who recently hosted WOMMA staff in its Chicago office for a day of learning about BtoB word of mouth
* WOMMA Advisory Board member Fred Reichheld spoke recently at the first annual Net Promoter Conference in New York
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.
Planning for WOMMA's next event -- Word of Mouth Basic Training (WOMBAT) -- is well underway, and we've got some exciting things in store for our attendees. Taking place April 17-18 in New Orleans, it's shaping up to be our best event ever.
We can't let all the cats out of the bag just yet, though! Keep your eye on our event website at www.womma.org/wombat3 and be the first to know when we announce new additions to our already amazing program. We'll have leading word of mouth experts, real word of mouth case studies, hands-on "how-to" lessons, and all the networking opportunities you can handle.
Already announced: Keynote Chip Heath, co-author of the best-selling book, "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die."
Stay up to date on the latest speakers and panels at WOMBAT
WOMMA is looking for word of mouth superstars to deliver winning word of mouth case studies at our next event, Word of Mouth Basic Training (WOMBAT). Taking place April 17-18 in New Orleans, WOMBAT is the word of mouth industry's official "how-to" event and we want to feature your engaging, creative lessons.
For your case study to be considered for the WOMBAT agenda, it must meet the following basic requirements:
* Case studies must feature the customer or client
* Case studies are a teaching opportunity and a chance to give back to the WOM community
* Case studies should clearly present both a problem and a solution
* Case studies should include ethical guidelines and disclaimers where appropriate
* Case studies may not be blatantly self-promotional
Agencies who present a case study without their clients present will receive a 25-minute time slot for their presentation; vendors appearing with customers as co-presenters will receive a 45-minute time slot.
For more information on submitting a case study for WOMBAT, please contact events@womma.org.
Register for WOMBAT
Browse our Case Studies Library for ideas
Join us Wednesdays 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. After the teleconference, visit our website for an audio recording of the call, which can be downloaded for free from the WOMMA Member Center.
> This Wednesday, Feb. 21, at noon EST -->
Inside the Launch of Nintendo's Wii
Find out how Nintendo of America and its marketing partner, GolinHarris, used word of mouth to launch the year's most-talked-about gaming console, the Wii. Featuring Stephen Jones, EVP, GolinHarris, and Perrin Kaplan, VP, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nintendo of America.
> Next Wednesday, Feb. 28, at noon EST -->
How Microsoft Turned Windows Vista into a Marketing Success
Learn how the Windows Vista team sold consumers and upper management alike on buzz, viral, and blog marketing techniques in order to turn a slew of marketing challenges into triumphs. Featuring Brian Marr, Group Marketing Manager, Windows Vista, Microsoft.
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
It's no secret that WOMMA members like to talk. After all, talking is what word of mouth is all about. To satisfy your craving for conversation -- and caffeine -- we're giving our members a chance to connect and share ideas this month with two Virtual Member Coffee Breaks. These casual, members-only online chats are an opportunity to speak in real time with like-minded marketers about topics and strategies important to your business.
Grab a cup of coffee, log into the WOMMA Member Center, and join your fellow word of mouth marketers for a chat at the below times. This month's topics are Communities and Brand Marketers.
Upcoming Coffee Breaks:
--> Communities Coffee Break; Tuesday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m. CST
--> Brand Marketers Coffee Break; Wednesday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m. CST
To learn more about these events and to RSVP, email Tarah Remington at tarah@womma.org.
Last fall, WOMMA launched its Ethics Adoption Toolkit, a collaborative ethics document library for companies that want to make a formal commitment to ethics in word of mouth marketing. Dell became the first company to use the toolkit in November when it publicly announced its support of the WOMMA Ethics Code.
The Ethics Adoption Toolkit includes all the pieces that companies might need to make ethics an official policy within their organization -- including sample letters, contracts, press releases, and more.
The Ethics Adoption Toolkit is just one of several tools in WOMMA's Practical Ethics program, which gives companies the tools they need to prevent unethical marketing practices before they start. Other tools include:
* The Ethics Assessment Tool: Includes 20 questions to help marketers avoid unethical marketing practices
* The Ethical Blogger Contact Guidelines: Features 10 ethical communication principles for marketers communicating with bloggers
Learn more about WOMMA's Practical Ethics program
Nominations for WOMMA's next Board election are due this Wednesday, Feb. 21. Candidates must be committed, enthusiastic WOMMA members who are willing to invest their time and capital, and to leverage their reputation and contacts, to take WOMMA to the next level.
Learn more
WOMMA is always hard at work trying to get you the best data to drive your word of mouth efforts. With that in mind, we are pleased to offer our members exclusive access to an abstract from the SPI ("Social Persuaders and Influencers") Report, a new quarterly research offering released last week from WOMMA member companies StartSampling and McElroy.
The complete SPI Report abstract is available for download by all WOMMA members via our Member Center. Simply log in and click on "Research Specials" to access the data.
Log into WOMMA's Member Center and download the abstract
WOMMA is eager to extend this partnership opportunity to other research companies. If you have research you think might be valuable to WOMMA members and you want to discuss a future partnership with WOMMA, contact editor@womma.org.
When WOMMA members get together, you can always count on two things: good times and good company. Witness the fun and the learning that we're famous for by browsing our new gallery of photos from past WOMMA events.
Join us in New York for our recent member dinner? Find your face in the crowd! See speakers doling out wisdom at WOMMA's first Measuring Word of Mouth conference, attendees mingling at WOMBAT 2 in San Francisco, and the industry's savviest professionals playing Rock Paper Scissors at our second Word of Mouth Marketing Summit, held in December in Washington, D.C. Look for yourself, for your friends, and for the folks you want to meet at our next event, Word of Mouth Basic Training, April 17-18 in New Orleans.
View the photo gallery
The following members have accepted appointment to WOMMA's Nominating Committee and will attend a March 1 meeting in Chicago to choose a slate of candidates for the upcoming WOMMA Board election:
Board appointees:
* Jonathan Carson, Nielsen BuzzMetrics
* Brett Hurt, Bazaarvoice
* Ann Moravick, Publicis
Leadership Committee appointees:
* Howard Kaushansky, Umbria
* Bill Mosher, Echopinion
* Gary Stein, Ammo
* Betsy Weber, Techsmith (to be confirmed)
More information on the Board election
WOMMA is pleased to announce that Dr. Puneet Manchanda has joined the WOMMA Advisory Board, our panel of academics and authors who have made significant contributions to the word of mouth industry and who honor WOMMA with their expertise, insight, and support.
Dr. Manchanda, associate professor of marketing at the University of Chicago, is a welcome addition to our family of word of mouth experts and advocates; we look forward to working with him as we continue building a strong and prosperous word of mouth marketing industry.
Meet the Advisory Board
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
Harder & Harder, Eloqua, DL Ryan Companies, H&R Block, and CyberAgent.
We thank everyone for their support!
WOMMA members Darrell Jursa of Liquid Intelligence and Ed Keller of Keller Fay Group spoke recently at the Newspaper Association of America Conference in Las Vegas; their speech was covered in AdAge and focused on word of mouth opportunities for newspapers and their advertisers ... WOMMA member Pete Blackshaw of Nielsen BuzzMetrics was quoted recently in AdAge and in MediaPost ... WOMMA member Jim Nail of Cymfony was quoted recently in The New York Times and in Adweek ... WOMMA member Jamie Tedford of Arnold Worldwide was quoted recently in The New York Times.
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.
On Feb. 10, The Times of London reported that "businesses which write fake blog entries or create whole websites purporting to be from customers" will find themselves in violation of a new law that takes effect in the European Union -- and in the United Kingdom specifically -- in December.
Reaction to this report was swift. Many reports have inaccurately stated that the EU's actions will outlaw companies from engaging in legitimate blog, viral, and buzz marketing campaigns. This is not the case.
As some of you may be aware, the EU approved legislation in May 2005 prohibiting businesses in member states from engaging in unfair trade with their customers. Known as the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD), the resolution was designed to protect consumers and set uniform standards for ethical business practices across the EU. The legislation includes prohibiting the practice of "falsely representing oneself as a consumer."
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association has been keeping a close eye on this legislation. We would like to call our members' attention to the fact that the EU resolution to support consumer protection closely mirrors the FTC's recent decision to evaluate complaints against businesses on a case-by-case basis. Both are consistent with the WOMMA Ethics Code and Honesty ROI, which demands honest disclosure of relationship, opinion, and identity by marketers. The WOMMA Ethics Code clearly opposes "falsely representing oneself as a consumer" and calls on all responsible companies to sustain ethical standards within their marketing efforts. This is further evidence that by adhering to the WOMMA Ethics Code, companies engaged in word of mouth marketing campaigns can remain confidently compliant with laws in both the EU and in the United States.
The WOMMA Ethics Code is part of WOMMA's Practical Ethics program, which gives companies tools to prevent unethical marketing practices before they start. For more information, visit www.womma.org/ethics.
WOMMA is delighted to announce author Chip Heath as keynote at its Word of Mouth Basic Training conference, April 17-18 in New Orleans. A professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, Heath is the best-selling co-author of "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die." He'll tell a crowd of the industry's leading word of mouth marketers why "naturally sticky" ideas -- ranging from urban legends to "Chicken Soup for the Soul" stories to business strategy myths -- survive in the social marketplace. Don't miss this exciting learning opportunity; register for Word of Mouth Basic Training today and find out how to make your own messages stick.
Register now
WOMMA is looking for word of mouth superstars to deliver winning word of mouth case studies at our next event, Word of Mouth Basic Training (WOMBAT). Taking place April 17-18 in New Orleans, WOMBAT is the word of mouth industry's official "how-to" event and we want to feature your engaging, creative lessons.
For your case study to be considered for the WOMBAT agenda, it must meet the following basic requirements:
* Case studies must feature the customer or client
* Case studies are a teaching opportunity and a chance to give back to the WOM community
* Case studies should clearly present both a problem and a solution
* Case studies should include ethical guidelines and disclaimers where appropriate
* Case studies may not be blatantly self-promotional
Agencies who present a case study without their clients present will receive a 25-minute time slot for their presentation; vendors appearing with customers as co-presenters will receive a 45-minute time slot.
For more information on submitting a case study for WOMBAT, please contact events@womma.org.
Register for WOMBAT
Join us Wednesdays 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. After the teleconference, visit our website for a an audio recording of the call that can be downloaded for free from the WOMMA Member Center.
> This 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 famous 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.)
> Next Wednesday, Feb. 21, at noon EST -->
Inside the Launch of Nintendo's Wii
Find out how Nintendo of America and its marketing partner, GolinHarris, used word of mouth to launch the year's most-talked-about gaming console, the Wii. Featuring Stephen Jones, EVP, GolinHarris, and Perrin Kaplan, VP, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nintendo of America.
> Wednesday, Feb. 28, at noon EST -->
How Microsoft Turned Windows Vista into a Marketing Success
Learn how the Windows Vista team sold consumers and upper management alike on buzz, viral, and blog marketing techniques in order to turn a slew of marketing challenges into triumphs. Featuring Brian Marr, Group Marketing Manager, Windows Vista, Microsoft.
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
Members are talking on the new Member Blog in the WOMMA Member Center. Are you one of them? Take advantage of the WOMMA Member Center to share your voice with other industry players. Discussions underway include conversations on viral marketing, word of mouth ethics, social networking, and much more.
If you're not already participating in the Member Center, log in now to:
--> Interact with folks in your industry
--> Get insight and information on all things word of mouth
--> Promote yourself and your company via your member profile
--> Access exclusive event discounts and word of mouth research
--> Collaborate and network with other word of mouth innovators
If you don't already have a login, email membercenter@womma.org to request one. Otherwise, log into the Member Center now, check it out, and add your two cents.
Access the Member Center via WOMMA's homepage
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 and capital, and to leverage their reputation and contacts, 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, be able to commit approximately five hours per month to Board leadership, and personally increase WOMMA's membership, event, and in-kind revenue by $18,000 annually. 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. 21; 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
Outgoing WOMMA director Ann Moravick recently welcomed WOMMA’s Board of Directors to the Publicis office in New York City.
Board meeting highlights included:
* Approved unanimously a statement of expectations for member support of WOMMA’s Ethics Code
* Approved the 2007 budget and operating plan; agreed to examine options for non-dues revenue
* Approved revenue targets for directors of $18,000 annually for the two-year terms, contributed via membership recruitment, event sponsorship and in-kind efforts.
* Appointed Jonathan Carson, Neilsen Buzzmetrics; Brett Hurt, Bazaarvoice; and Ann Moravick to the 2007 Nominating Committee; identified a list of active WOMMA members for consideration by the WOMMA Leadership Committee
* Identified Board task forces to spearhead creation of ethics review guidelines, and to examine international opportunities
* Discussed the new WOMMA member center and increased opportunity for member involvement
* Recognized and thanked WOMMA directors whose terms on the Board of Directors end March 31, 2007 including Idil Cakim, GolinHarris; Laurent Flores, crmmetrix; Jackie Huba, Church of the Customer; Virginia Miracle, Brains on Fire; Ann Moravick, Publicis; Paul Rand, Ketchum; and Scott Wilder, Intuit
* Celebrated reaching the 350 member company milestone
Meet the Board
WOMMA governing members have committed financial support at the highest level to further the mission and vision of our association. In this issue of Action Items, we're tipping our hat to founding WOMMA member BzzAgent:
BzzAgent is a word of mouth media firm that helps companies organize and manage honest, real-world conversations among everyday consumers. BzzAgent's innovative process, platform, and programs enable the acceleration and measurement of word of mouth as a marketing medium. BzzAgent's clients generate awareness and shape perception about their products and services via BzzAgent's growing community of 250,000 volunteer brand evangelists. In 2006 alone, BzzAgent community members discussed campaign-related products with 10.5 million consumers.
For more information on becoming a governing member, please contact Tarah Remington at tarah@womma.org.
WOMMA is pleased to announce that Dr. Frederic Brunel has joined the WOMMA Advisory Board, our panel of academics and authors who have made significant contributions to the word of mouth industry and who honor WOMMA with their expertise, insight, and support.
Dr. Brunel, assistant professor of marketing at Boston University, is a welcome addition to our family of word of mouth experts and advocates; we look forward to working with him as we continue building a strong and prosperous word of mouth marketing industry.
Meet the Advisory Board
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
SharedBook, PERT Survey Research, Blogads.com, Critical Mass, Middleberg Communications, HealthConnexin, Texas Instruments, E.W. Scripps Interactive Media, Revolution Health, and FirstClassFlyer.com.
We thank everyone for their support!
WOMMA member Brad Fay of Keller Fay Group spoke last week at the CTAM cable TV research conference Feb. 8 in St. Petersburg,Fla.; his topic was "Measuring Word of Mouth Marketing and the Role of Television" ... WOMMA members McElroy and StartSampling were featured in Brandweek last week in an article spotlighting The SPI Report, their quarterly research report on word of mouth marketing ... WOMMA member Allison Gower of Qtags was quoted in the Jan. 29 issue of Nation's Restaurant News.
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.
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
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 and capital, and to leverage their reputation and contacts, 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
Join us Wednesdays in February 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. Then, after the teleconference, visit our website for a summary of the call, an audio recording of which can be downloaded for free from our Member Center.
> This 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 famous 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.)
> Next Wednesday, Feb. 21, at noon EST -->
Inside the Launch of Nintendo's Wii
Find out how Nintendo of America and its marketing partner, GolinHarris, used word of mouth to launch the year's most-talked-about gaming console, the Wii. Featuring Stephen Jones, EVP, GolinHarris, and Perrin Kaplan, VP, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Nintendo of America.
> Wednesday, Feb. 28, at noon EST -->
How Microsoft Turned Windows Vista into a Marketing Success
Learn how the Windows Vista team sold consumers and upper management alike on buzz, viral, and blog marketing techniques in order to turn a slew of marketing challenges into triumphs. Featuring Brian Marr, Group Marketing Manager, Windows Vista, Microsoft.
Cost is $20 for WOMMA members, $60 for non-members.
Sign up
Today, WOMMA announced a major milestone in its history: Our standing membership has reached -- and exceeded -- 350 members, a sure sign that the burgeoning word of mouth marketing industry is maturing and expanding.
WOMMA was founded in 2004 with just three members. That our membership is fast approaching 400 less than three years later is a direct result of our unwavering commitment to promoting best practices, measurable ROI, and ethical leadership within the word of mouth marketing profession. We owe our continued success and growth to our diverse and dynamic community of members, whose active support and participation have proven invaluable to the health of both our industry and our association. So to each of you, we say, "Thank you!"
Learn more
WOMMA is proud to announce the following appointments to its 2007 Leadership Committee:
GOVERNING MEMBERS
Nancy Alexanderoff, 141 Boomerang
Chris Aarons, AMD
Andy Nibey, Burson-Marsteller
Jonathan Carson, Nielsen BuzzMetrics
John Bigay, BzzAgent
David Reis, DEI Worldwide
Rick Murray, Edelman
Joanne Brewda, Fidelity Investments
Barry Feinberg, Ph.D., GfK NOP
Baba Shetty, Hill Holliday
Paula Drum, H&R Block
John Bell, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Claire Boudreaux, PopularMedia
Julie Winskie, Porter Novelli
David Armon, PR Newswire
Joe Beaulaurier, PRWeb International
Jaqueline Dange, Quixtar
Brandon Evans, RepNation Media
Ann Moravick, Rowland Communications Worldwide
Howard Kaushansky, Umbria
STANDARD/NONPROFIT MEMBERS
Leslie Forde, Communispace
Bill Mosher, Echopinion!
Amanda Van Nuys, Organic
SMALL BUSINESS MEMBERS
Gary Stein, Ammo Marketing
John Moore, Brand Autopsy
Steve Hershberger, ComBlu
INTERNATIONAL MEMBER
Sandro Marchetti, IAKI
The Leadership Committee is responsible for making non-binding recommendations to the Board of Directors on matters of the well-being and greater good of WOMMA and its members. The Leadership Committee is also responsible for inviting nominations from members in good standing for appointments to the Nominating Committee, which selects the slate of candidates for the Board of Directors.
The Leadership Committee consists of the official representative from each Governing Member, three elected representatives from each additional class of membership, and four individuals recognized by the Board of Directors for exemplary service to WOMMA. Leadership Committee members must be able to commit two hours per month to Committee service.
Although voting for the Leadership Committee has ended, we are still seeking nominations for the 2007 Board of Directors.
Nominate yourself or someone else for the Board of Directors
Last Wednesday, Jan. 31, WOMMA hosted a special get-together for word of mouth marketers in the New York tri-state area. There were no speakers and no panels. Just dinner, drinks, and more than 80 fabulous guests! Thank you to everyone who attended for your amazing spirit and your continued support. We hope you had as much fun as we did!
If you don't live in New York, and you're hungry for some WOMMA-style networking of your own, just hang tight: We'll be coming to dinner in your neck of the woods soon!
If you'd like to suggest or sponsor a WOMMA dinner in your area, email events@womma.org.
Even more companies have joined WOMMA. Welcome to:
State Farm Insurance, Eluma, Hanser & Associates, Carton Donofrio Partners, ASCAP, PHD, WebJunction/OCLC, Fizz, Reed Smith, and Froose Brands.
We thank everyone for their support!
Dr. Walter Carl, assistant professor at Northeastern University and a WOMMA Advisory Board Member, is profiled for his word of mouth expertise in the Winter 2006 issue of Northeastern University Alumni Magazine ... Congratulations to WOMMA member company DuPont, which was recently awarded a 2006 Silver Davey Award for its "Citizen Mom's Family Journal" blog; WOMMA Board Member Gary Spangler was project leader for the blog, which has also received the Web Marketing Association's Standard of Excellence WebAward ... WOMMA member Robin Luymes of Quixtar spoke recently at the Direct Selling Association's Communications & Marketing Seminar in Washington, D.C., and wrote an article about word of mouth for the December issue of Direct Selling News ... WOMMA member company BzzAgent has launched a new blog -- Net Promoter In Action -- to highlight real-world techniques companies can use to improve their Net Promoter Scores; check it out at netpromoter.bzzagent.com.
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.
Chicago, February 5, 2007 -- The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) today announced a major milestone in its history: Its standing membership has reached -- and exceeded -- 350 members, a sure sign that the burgeoning word of mouth marketing industry is maturing and expanding.
As the official trade association for word of mouth marketers, WOMMA is committed to building a prosperous word of mouth marketing profession based on best practices, measurable ROI, and ethical leadership. The continued growth of both the industry and the association is proof that its efforts are not only influencing the marketing landscape, but changing it altogether.
"Marketing used to be about messages. Today, it's about conversations," said Susan Tibbitts, WOMMA's executive director. "WOMMA has been, and will continue to be, an integral player in helping companies to fully understand and excel at word of mouth marketing. Our membership will continue to swell in 2007 as more and more companies realize the power of word of mouth."
WOMMA was founded in 2004 as a vehicle for change within the worlds of advertising, PR, and marketing. It had just three members.
"Now we're well on our way to 400," said founding Board member Jonathan Carson, CEO of Nielsen BuzzMetrics. "It's a direct result of our pioneering work in word of mouth ethics, our concerted efforts at industry education, and our steadfast dedication to quantifying and measuring word of mouth success."
In the last quarter alone, dozens of companies have discovered word of mouth marketing and WOMMA. Among them are Conde Nast Publications, H&R Block, State Farm Insurance, and American Express, to name just a few.
"The word of mouth community is dynamic, strong, and remarkably diverse," said WOMMA Vice President of Membership Greg Fine. "Our members truly are the cream of the marketing crop. We owe our tremendous success and growth to their unflinching support and active participation."
For a complete list of WOMMA members, or for information on joining, please visit www.womma.org.
About WOMMA
WOMMA is the official trade association for the word of mouth marketing industry. Our more than 350 corporate members are committed to building a prosperous word of mouth marketing profession based on best practices, measurable ROI, and ethical leadership. Learn more about us at www.womma.org.
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