I’m home from Womma with some great ideas, a fistful of gamblin’ earnins’, a killer cold and the huge task of translating my awful note taking from the conference into some discernible form of English. As soon as that happens, I think I’ll have blog material for weeks. In the meantime, I’d just like to list my main “takeaway points” – no notes required.

  1. No one disputes that WOM is powerful. All studies have been reinforcing our thoughts, suspicions and work for quite some time. The difference is that we don’t necessarily have a way to measure it in the most effective ways possible. A lot of discussion was based on if WOM even can be truly measured (or at least in a context that’s going to sell the business to clients or brands).
  2. The definition of “influencer” means about 12 zillion things to different people. It’s a buzz word, but doesn’t really mean anything until you define who that influencer is and what you both hope to get out of each other.
  3. Brand fans want to be your friend, but only if they find you. No one likes to feel as if they are prey for a campaign. Perhaps it’s time to start having these potential “influencers” come to us.
  4. The products that people love are not just due to that product, but also to that company. The culture of an organization goes a very long way in selling a product. The company culture of a client isn’t exactly something I can do coming from an agency perspective, but it does help explain a bit more about why some campaigns to do better than others.
  5. International WOM is breaking on to the scene faster than originally anticipated – and they don’t necessarily want Americans involved. Scary territory, but not a death sentence for yours truly. (This one deserves it’s own post, no doubt).

There were a few annoying points as well, mainly the lack of electrical outlets and dry bread products at meals, but all-in-all, a good time and greatly informative. Also glad I got to meet a few more bloggers out there. In particular, Jake McKee and Peter Imbres, who I think may have the only PR blog younger than mine.  I’m no longer the newest!  Woohoo!