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TO DO:
1> Hear Author Chip Heath Speak
at WOMBAT
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
2> WOMBAT: Submit a Case Study,
Secure Your Speaking Slot
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 are a teaching opportunity and a chance to give back to the WOM community
* Case studies must feature the customer or client
* 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.
3> Teleconferences: Learn from
Fiskars, Nintendo, Microsoft
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 that can be downloaded for free from the WOMMA Member Center. Written summaries of the call will also be available.
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
4> WOMMA Member Center: Speak
Up on the Member Blog
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
5> Call for Nominations:
Join the WOMMA Board
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. 15 Deadline extended to 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
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DONE:
1> Meeting: Board of Directors
Outgoing WOMMA director Ann Moravick recently welcomed WOMMA's Board of Directors to the Publicis office in New York City.
Board meeting highlights include:
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
2> Governing Member Spotlight:
BzzAgent
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.
Visit BzzAgent
3> New Advisory Board
Member Announced
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
4> Joined: 10 New Members
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!
6> Spreading the Word
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.
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