Couple Rallies Support to Keep Budweiser in the U.S.

Two Budweiser fans, David and Wren Fowler, have started the website SaveBudweiser.com to rally support to keep the company in the United States. The couple sees Budweiser as one of "the last of the American breweries," and is eager to use fan support to keep the company local. In just a couple of days, using only word of mouth to spread the word via family and friends, the site has generated several hundred signatures to its online petition. The Fowlers are hoping to garner enough support to make a difference, and according to Wren, the effort isn't just about beer, it's "about something bigger."

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Using Social Media to Give Nonprofits a Boost

This post from the Search Marketing Gurus blog highlights a case study from a Kenyan wildlife park called Mara Triangle. The park, which had previously survived on admission fees, was hit hard when political turmoil torpedoed the tourism market in Kenya. To help drive awareness about the park and boost donation dollars, Mara Triangle launched a blog in February, which has grown slowly and steadily via word of mouth, bolstered by blog contributor and park ranger Joseph Kimojino's efforts on Twitter, Vimeo, Flickr, and Facebook. The story got picked up by Wired and has been gaining word of mouth velocity ever since.

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Facebook's Free Gifts Generating WOM for Brands

Brands are getting behind Facebook's virtual gifts. These gifts, which Facebook users can usually send to friends for $1, are being sponsored by brands, who offer them up for free in limited quantities. Virtual gifts can be anything from an Indiana Jones Fedora to a Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone. And the brands are seeing results. When Sunkist offered up 250,000 free virtual sodas, the brand earned 130 million impressions in 22 hours. According to supporters, it's a great way for a brand to find an interested base -- via word of mouth, of course.

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Social Networks Facing Important Crossroads

According to this article from ReadWriteWeb, social networks are on the brink of a decision that could dramatically influence the future of all online social networking efforts: Should they keep their walled-garden approach or break down the walls? It's not an easy choice to make, especially when dealing with a business model that is so different from previous models. The article contains predictions for which route the major social networks will take -- and how they will navigate into the future.

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New in the WOMMA Member Center

We are constantly adding valuable word of mouth marketing whitepapers, research studies, essays, opinion papers, and other content to WOMMA's member center. These are just a few of the NEW items you'll find there:

>> Automakers Go Green, Or Do They?
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This webinar from WOMMA member companies BrandIntel and The ARF (The Advertising Research Federation) was recorded on Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2008, and features panelists Alan Dean and Sean van den Berg of BrandIntel. Listen in as speakers detail a BrandIntel report, which highlights the Green activities that are taking place in the automotive industry today and discuss topics like fuel economy, hybrid versus diesel, public policies, carbon offsets to individuals and companies, and more.

>> Consumers Talk About Drugs: Strategic Brand Insights for Multiple Sclerosis
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This webinar from WOMMA member companies BrandIntel and The ARF (The Advertising Research Federation) was recorded on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, and features Alan Dean, VP of Research, and Mark de Paoli, Research Manager, at BrandIntel. Find out the impact online social media is having on the pharmaceutical industry, including which pharmaceutical company is recognized for having the best treatment for multiple sclerosis, according to consumer-generated content garnered from online discussion forums and social media. Tune in and gain a better understanding of the patients' perspectives on the tradeoffs they have to consider when choosing a particular treatment.

>> Size, Power and Performance! Which Automaker Has it All?
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This webinar from WOMMA member companies BrandIntel and The ARF (The Advertising Research Federation) was recorded on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2008, and features Alan Dean, Vice President of Research from BrandIntel.Listen up and hear what consumers are saying about automakers -- what they want, what they don't, and which automaker has everything they need.

WOMMA members, log in to the WOMMA Member Center to download your own copy:
http://womma.leveragesoftware.com/blog_view.aspx?CustomerID=memberlibrary

Welcome New WOMMA Members!

Please join us in welcoming our new members:

* Cochlear Americas

* Atlantic Analytics

* Promo Digital

* Hint

* LIME public relations + promotions

* The Martin Agency

* Brand Building Communications

* St John & Partners

* Adaptive Marketing