Can you remember what life was like before we had the internet? I try really hard sometimes, but I can’t. It’s become such an important part of our work and personal lives, that I can’t imagine a world without it. However, it’s hard to find innovation in something we look at as much as the internet. We’re jaded. I think we take web design for granted.
Once in a while, though, we’re treated to something really special online. Something that makes us pay attention. Something like this:
http://truthaboutsmart.co.uk
Take the time to explore this site. Play with it, and look for hidden gems. Then just leave it open and listen to what happens. It’s worth it, I promise.
I attended the WOMMA (Word of Mouth Marketing Association) conference last week in Las Vegas. In past years WOMMA has been one of the highlights of our marketing education and this year was no exception. Meeting up with peers, brands, and thought leaders in WOMM gives us a fantastic perspective on what’s happening in our industry and how others are leveraging WOM to create unique and engaging marketing programs. As I listened to the speakers and networked with my fellow attendees, I noticed a few common themes began to surface:
Twitter – Social media is always a large part of the WOMMA conference. After all, it is one of the best mechanisms for spreading WOM online. This year we were all atwitter about Twitter. Every third person at WOMMA (including me!) spent the conference tweeting presenter sound bites, planning in-face meetings (called tweet-ups), and getting to know each other over the twitterverse. Figures on how many people are using Twitter are actually hard to come by, but some estimate it’s as many as 11 million users. With that many users, it’s become obvious to marketers and brands alike that Twitter is here to stay. So, as marketers, how do we use it?
On day one, keynote speaker Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, talked about the company’s unique culture and corporate transparency via twitter.
Hsieh has his own public twitter account that consumers can use to communicate with him and over the years he has encouraged over 450 Zappos employees to join twitter as well. Together they field customer service questions, earnings inquiries, and describe a day in the life of a Zappos employee.
Additionally, Zappos has set up a website that tracks any mention of their company on twitter. The good, the bad and the frivolous are all documented on this online WOM community. Zappos is a fantasic example of a young cutting edge company using social media to create an online culture, amplify their own WOM and set themselves apart with excellent customer service.
Continue reading ‘Spreading WOM @ WOMMA’
A Squared Group’s award-winning work for method is featured in this month’s PROMO Magazine. To learn more about the campaign that was awarded Best Loyalty program, click on this link: promo-magazine-november-20082.
To watch a video about this program, you can go to our website.
It was an early morning for A Squared Group as we headed over to Harpo Studios in Chicago at 5:30AM to put the finishing touches on the Gap Vote for ______________ t-shirts that we had created for almost 500 studio audience members. As some of you know we’ve been working on this project for over half a year.
It started last summer when we photographed real Gap customers holding their Vote for ______________ t-shirts that they had created at designated Gap “customization polling stations”. These images are now on display in Gap windows throughout the country so go check them out before they’re gone!
Then, as Jamie posted last month, we toured the country setting up more customization polling stations inside Gap stores, challenging as many customers as possible to share with us what they would vote for if their choices were unlimited. The response was overwhelming and the answers surprised and inspired us.
And finally, today, election day, Oprah took the stage at 9AM wearing her Vote for A BOLD NEW WORLD t-shirt and asked audience members to share with her what they had voted for on their shirts. As the image of 500 people wearing their one-of-a-kind Gap t-shirts filled up our monitor backstage, we knew our amazing, cross-country journey had come to a successful end. So we’re on to the next one…notifying the finalists of Gap’s babyGap/GapKids Casting Call Contest. Could it be your child? Stay tuned! AND DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!
Oprah in her t-shirt!
Brett, Cesar and Kim from Gap make last minute t-shirts
Brett Watches Backstage
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