Facebook Group: Login and Discuss the Latest WOM Issues

Last week on WOMMA's Facebook group, WOMMA Board member Pete Blackshaw of Nielsen BuzzMetrics started a discussion titled, "HOT TOPIC: How Well Did Steve Jobs Manage WOM With the Apple Announcement and Subsequent Apology." Pete posed the following: "Did the STRENGTH of the recovery make lemonade out of lemons. Was this a misstep or a trip off the cliff? If it's just a naive misstep, one can only wonder whether the "recovery gesture" -- $100 and a quite viral apology -- turns this into a net positive."

WOMMA Board member Rick Murry of Edelman also weighed in, noting, "This entire episode was avoidable had Mr. Jobs done one thing: reach out to and listen to his most ardent fans." According to Rick, "These fans would have been amazed to be asked for their opinion, and they would have gladly taken credit for helping Mr. Jobs think it through by posting, podcasting, twittering and facebooking their involvement in the process. By ignoring these people, they did all of the above -- with equally rabid passion."

To join the discussion -- and more than 300 of your word of mouth marketing peers -- visit WOMMA's Facebook group.

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New in the Member Center: A Study From OneUpWeb

OneUpWeb recently released a study of the top 100 retailers as determined by Internet Retailer Magazine. The study looks at the 2007 top retailers and their websites to determine which were using SEO and to what degree -- and includes actionable recommendations for how to apply SEO principles to your own website.

To learn more, log into WOMMA's Member Center and download the study.

WOMMA members: Let us promote you! Do you have something you'd like to share with your industry peers? Let us know by emailing us at membership@womma.org, and we'll help you spread the word.

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Learn It, Do It New York: Last Chance to Register

WOMMA and member company sponsor GolinHarris are bringing the WOM: Learn It, Do It educational series to New York on Sept. 20, and we're covering some of the top issues in word of mouth marketing.

For instance, learn how Converseon and Plant-It 2020 were able to use WOM and Web 2.0 tools to drastically raise awareness for their "Second Chance Trees Island" project, as well as for a cause: global deforestation. Or hear Leslie Forde of Communispace and Malcolm Faulds of BzzAgent delve into the differences between online and offline WOM, as well as how to make them work for you. Or listen to WOMMA Board president Ed Keller as he tackles the question: What is WOM? (You may be surprised by the answer.) And, learn why ethics count in WOM -- find out how to win friends and avoid mistakes that can be costly to your reputation.

What's more, you, your clients, and staff can learn all of this at a deeply discounted rate by taking advantage of WOMMA's tell-a-friend and group discounts:

• Tell-a-Friend Discount: WOMMA members, if you have a nonmember client that would benefit from a half day educational session on word of mouth marketing, let us know. Friends of members can attend our Sept. 20 event at the discounted member rate -- a savings of $100.
  To take advantage of this discount, email events@womma.org.
• Group Discount: If there are several people from your company who would like to attend this event, don't forget to take advantage of the group discount. Register at full price, and additional registrants from your company pay only $100 to attend -- a savings of $295 per nonmember registration.
  Email events@womma.org to get your discount.

Click here for more information or to sign up today.

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The ARF & WOMMA Present an Influencer Panel at Ad Week

This year at Advertising Week, the ARF will present a panel discussion on WOM marketing and the role of influencers in the industry. Leaders in the field -- including WOMMA Board president Ed Keller from the Keller Fay Group, Jonathan Carson from WOMMA member company Nielsen BuzzMetrics, Ryan Berger from member company Euro RSCG, and Duncan Watts of Columbia University and member company Yahoo! (Research) -- will explain how WOM marketing works and will discuss their theories behind influencers and their role. Plus, Sean O'Driscoll from WOMMA member company Microsoft will share how the company uses WOM and will discuss some of its successes.

This event is being presented by the ARF in cooperation with WOMMA. WOMMA members can attend the event, which is taking place Sept. 26 in New York at Advertising Week, free of charge, but must register in advance.

Click here for more information or to register now.

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Announced: Event Savings for WOMMA Members

Log into the Member Center now to get your discount code and take advantage of the latest WOMMA event deal:

• Creating Loyal Brand Advocates and Positive Brand Buzz Through Measurable Peer-To-Peer Marketing
  Nov. 27 | London
  WOMMA members save 10%
• Forrester's Consumer Forum 2007
  Oct. 11-12 | Chicago
  WOMMA members save $400
• OMMA New York
  Sept. 24-25 | New York
  WOMMA members save $300
• Word of Mouth Marketing: Your Perpetual Marketing Machine
  Oct. 4 | Eden Prairie, MN
  WOMMA members save 20%

Click here to get your discount codes now.

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Welcome to New WOMMA Member Companies

Please join WOMMA in welcoming the following new member companies:

• The Walt Disney Co.
• Taylor PR
• Buzzer
• Rhino Marketing
• Clupedia
• BILCOM

Thanks to everyone for your support!

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Spreading the Word

News by, about, and for WOMMA members:

• Congratulations to WOMMA member company Converseon, which has been selected as a finalist in the 2007 OMMA Awards for its Second Chance Trees project. To learn more, click here.
• Last week WOMMA member company Ogilvy PR released for comment their "Blogger Outreach Code of Ethics." Ogilvy PR is asking for feedback on their code, which includes points such as: "We won't pretend to have read your blog if we haven't" and, "We encourage you to disclose our relationship with you to your readers and will never ask you to do otherwise." To read their entire code of ethics or to leave a comment, click here.
• Jonathan Carson of WOMMA member company Nielsen BuzzMetrics will be speaking at the IAB MIXX Conference, which is taking place Sept. 24-25 in New York. Jonathan will be speaking on a panel titled, "The Race for Consumer Insights," which will delve into how marketers can build environments that attract influencers.

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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