Welcome to the online newsroom for the Word of Mouth Marketing Association. This site is designed for journalists, bloggers, reporters and anyone interested in WOMMA news. WOMMA is the only word of mouth marketing association that includes both online and offline word of mouth. We are the resource in this discipline. We’ve designed this site help you cover WOMMA. To learn more about the history of WOMMA, click here.

Contact Information:

Jill Lowthian Marketing & Communications, WOMMA 312.853.4400 x216 Jill@WOMMA.org

Kristen L. Smith, CAE Executive Director, WOMMA 312.853.4400 x202 Kristen@WOMMA.org

September 23, 2010: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Fifth Annual Summit Showcases Next and Best Practices in Social Marketing
Word of Mouth and Social Media Marketing Conference in Las Vegas November 17-19

September 15, 2010: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Offering Social Media Certificate Program
WOM-COMM Teaches Word-of-Mouth and Social Media Marketing Essentials.

September 9, 2010: Talkable Brands Exchange Focuses on Education for Brand Marketers
Word of Mouth Marketing Association hosting special brand-focused event.

August 25, 2010: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Offering Online Ethics Certificate Program
New Course Focuses on Word of Mouth and Social Media Ethics.

August 2, 2010: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Seeking Case Studies for Summit 2010: Deadline August 23!
Looking for a way to highlight your company’s or agency’s excellence in the word of mouth marketing field? Look no further than the Word of Mouth Marketing Association’s Summit November 17-19 in Las Vegas.

July 26, 2010: WOMMA and WOM UK Align Word of Mouth Industry with newly formed WOMMAUK
In a move to share word of mouth marketing expertise in the United States and United Kingdom, the Word of Mouth Marketing Association and the Word of Mouth Association UK have formalized their partnership.

July 20, 2010: Better Business Bureau, National Advertising Review Council, and The Word of Mouth Marketing Association Team Up on Three-Part Webinar Series
Aligning social media marketing with legal and regulatory functions.

June 24, 2010: Brands as People, People as Brands
There is a cultural identity crisis occurring among consumers and brands, with each wanting to emulate the other. The byproduct of this shared admiration is an exponential opportunity for word of mouth and social media marketers to play a central role in the facilitation of this ongoing shift.

June 7, 2010: Nonprofits Look to Shake Up Their Social Media Game
There are many notable examples of nonprofits using social media effectively to fundraise, engage communities and build momentum for a cause.

May 25, 2010: The Word of Mouth Marketing Association Offers Digital Social Media Ethics and Endorsement Policy Template
New Tool May Help Marketers and Lawyers Craft Social Media Policies

April 5, 2010: The Physics of Word of Mouth Marketing (Promo Magazine)
There is an art and a science to word of mouth marketing. The art is the creative and innovative ways companies spark conversations with customers. The science explains why and how companies can use word of mouth marketing to achieve business results...(see full article here)

April 5, 2010: Noted Social Entrepreneur Strategist and Best-selling Author Dan Heath Keynotes School of WOM Conference on May 24
The keynote address covers themes that Dan Heath and his brother Chip discuss in their new book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard, which shows how everyday people—from employees and managers to parents and nurses—can unite minds and achieve dramatic results.

March 18, 2010: School of WOM Teaches the Arts & Science of Effective Marketing
By May of each year, most students are thinking about summer vacation. However, marketers at leading and emerging businesses will have serious word of mouth and social media studies on their mind by attending the School of WOM this May in Chicago.

March 9, 2010: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Urges FDA to Provide Social Media Guidelines for Health Care and Pharma Companies
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association submitted final written testimony from its membership to the Food and Drug Administration, recommending principles to help the agency provide health care and pharmaceutical companies with an appropriate roadmap so these companies can better access and navigate social media including popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

February 9, 2010: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Releases Guidelines for Social Media Disclosure
WOMMA today released disclosure guidelines for its member companies participating in social media marketing. Developed with extensive industry input, the guidelines are designed to provide marketers with clear and practical direction when engaging social media participants (“bloggers”) in brand marketing initiatives.

December 18, 2009: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Announces WOM-COMM Certificate Program
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) today announced the creation of WOM-COMM, its certificate-based program focused on developing the best practices in ethical and effective word-of-mouth and social media marketing.

December 17, 2009: Promo Magazine: Four Big Ideas Influencing Marketing in 2010
At a recent conference where word of mouth and social media marketers gathered, four ideas sure to lead 2010 marketing activities dominated the conversation...read the full piece.

November 23, 2009: Word of Mouth Marketing Association Announces 2009 WOMMY Award Winners
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) today announced the winners of the 2009 WOMMY Awards at the conclusion of WOMMA’s 4th Annual Summit. The WOMMYs celebrate the people, agencies, and brands behind the most innovative and effective word-of-mouth marketing campaigns implemented within the past year.

November 19, 2009: WOM Japan and WOMMA Announce an Alignment Program
On 19th November 2009, WOM JAPAN (Tokyo, Head Director, Shige Ota (BILCOM,Inc.) and Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) have announced an alignment program, focusing on providing knowledge to WOM Japan members.

November 10, 2009: WOMMA to Take Role in FDA Public Hearing on Social Media
"We have waited a long time. Those with a proclivity for social media and a passion for more empowered patient care are speculating vigorously about the FDA Public Hearing on Nov. 12 and 13. Will there be a sea of change in regulatory perspective on social media, merely incremental steps towards change, or no change at all?"
...the full story at Promo Magazine

October 21, 2009: Kristian Bush of Sugarland to Keynote WOMMA
Love the Fans’ Underlines WOMMA Keynote Message

October 5, 2009: WOMMA Applauds FTC’s Call for Transparency in Revised Advertising Guidelines
WOMMA Ethics Code Provides Marketers with a Practical Way to Address FTC Guides

September 8, 2009: WOMMA To Offer Webcast Analysis of FTC Endorsements Rule Change
With the highly anticipated issuance of the revised Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines on third-party endorsements, the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) will provide immediate commentary on a webcast after the FTC announcement is made.

July 29, 2009: Exclusive PQ Media Research: Despite Worst Recession in Decades, Brands Increased Spending on Word-of-Mouth Marketing 14.2% to $1.54 Billion in 2008
While Growth Will Slow to 10.2% in 2009, Word-of-Mouth is on Pace to Remain among the Fastest Growing Segments of the Media and Communications Industry This Year

July 8, 2009: WOMMA Invites 2009 WOMMY Awards Entries
Awards Recognize Original Thought and Measured Results in Creative, High Impact Word of Mouth Marketing Campaigns

July 8, 2009: WOMMA Invites 2009 WOMMY Awards Entries
Awards Recognize Original Thought and Measured Results in Creative, High Impact Word of Mouth Marketing Campaigns

April 28, 2009: WOMMA Appoints John Moore as WOM Enthusiast
Former Starbucks and Whole Foods Marketer, Now a Noted Branding Consultant and Blogger, Serves as WOMMA’s Leading Evangelist and Liaison to Brands and Blogging Community

April 27, 2009: WOMM-U Offers Real World Knowledge for Word of Mouth Marketing Success
Two-day Event in Miami Beach, May 13-14, Features Expert Speakers and Breakout Sessions

April 24, 2009: WOMMA Board of Directors President John Bell on ABC Nightline
A discussion of the Domino's Pizza employee-YouTube video incident.

April 20, 2009: WOMMA Announces Brand Council for Brand and Nonprofit Members
Education Designed for WOMMA Brand and Nonprofit Members

March 26, 2009: Sponsored Blogs Come Under Fire
"Chicago Tribune " March 26, 2009 by Wailin Wong

March 20, 2009: Audio Recording:
Proposed FTC Endorsements & Testimonials Compliance Briefing

March 19, 2009: from the FTC
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising