CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 02/14/13 -- Brands and agencies across the country will host a dozen simultaneous events on Feb. 19 in New York City, Austin, Denver, Seattle, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Boulder and Chicago, in what's predicted to be the biggest coast-to-coast celebration of word of mouth marketing in recent history. The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA), the official trade association of social media and word of mouth marketing, is sponsoring WOMMfest in honor of National Word of Mouth Marketing Day.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says, "WOMMfest features education on growing brands, strengthening loyalty and building relationships. [WOMMfest] represents a time when leading organizations can come together to discuss what's new and changing in the field."

GoDaddy, Publisher's Clearing House, Gaspedal, Converseon, Zocalo, Linhart PR, Northlich, House Party and Room 214 are among the hosts across the country, with Nestle, Hershey, RewardStream and Smuckers, providing products, prizes or services for the big day. WOMMfest is comprised of three anchor events with keynotes and several mini-celebrations (House Parties) that can include speakers, case studies or WOMM trivia.

"We are very excited to unite marketing professionals across the U.S. for this spectacular day of education and networking as we all celebrate National Word of Mouth Marketing Day in 12 cities on February 19," says Suzanne Fanning, WOMMA President.

The prestigious guest list includes marketers from Ronald McDonald House, Skype, the Atlanta Hawks, Ogilvy & Mather, Waggener Edstrom, Edelman, Oracle, UCB, AT&T, Discover, American Express, Coca-Cola and more.

The three anchor events in Seattle, Atlanta and Chicago, will each have live keynotes that will be streamed to the other locations. Each city will also have local activities, regional success stories and networking opportunities. Attendees will learn how to create incredible content, how to build a loyal fan base and how to drive conversations using social objects.

The speaker line-up includes C.C. Chapman, best-selling author and blogger, Kristian Bush, Grammy-award winning artist from Sugarland, and Hugh MacLeod, cartoonist and author at The Gapingvoid. Local activities also include Seattle's famous Fish Mongers, Atlanta's Dad's Garage Improv Group and a special panel in Chicago with Buddy Guy's daughter, Carlise Guy, as well as his lead guitarist and a music history professor, who will address how the blues have grown and developed through just word of mouth.

Marketers in Chicago, Atlanta or Seattle can still sign up to attend one of the anchor events or learn more about WOMMfest by visiting WOMMfest.org or WOMMA.org.

Resources:
Registration for WOMMA Members: http://members.womma.org/e/in/eid=5
Registration for Non-WOMM Members: http://members.womma.org/e/in/eid=5&req=ext
Full Agenda: http://members.womma.org/p/cm/ld/&fid=18
House Party Events: http://www.houseparty.com/event/wommfest2013

About WOMMA:
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) is the official trade association dedicated to word of mouth and social media marketing. Founded in 2004, WOMMA is the leader in ethical word of mouth marketing practices through its offline education such as WOMMA Summit, professional development opportunities, and knowledge sharing with top industry marketers. WOMMA's membership is made up of the most innovative companies committed to progressing the word of mouth marketing industry through advocacy, education, and ethics.

About House Party:
House Party is a social marketing platform that drives consumer recommendations to build brands and increase sales. Its in-home parties -- hosted by influential brand advocates and scaled through social media -- generate unmatched engagement, advocacy and lifts for the world's best-loved brands, such as Chef Boyardee, REDBOOK magazine, Budweiser, and Kraft. For more information, visit www.houseparty.com.

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