Earlier this morning, we announced the product of a joint analysis with M/A/R/C Research that scores brands based upon the volume of positive recommendations versus negative recommendations. The result is the Recommendation Index.

To kick off the announcement, we'd like to invite everyone to a webinar next week, Monday Dec. 14th at 2:00 CT. Registration is live at www.recommendationindex.com.

Unlike previous metrics that only ask "Would you recommend this brand?" the Recommendation Index evolves the measurement to determine why, where and how often people recommend individual brands as well as how each brand compares to the overall category.

Each quarter, the report will focus on a different industry segment, providing an overall ranking of both positively and negatively recommended brands - as well as how and why people talk about them - both over time and against competitors.

By knowing the words and phrases with which people are making recommendations in a category, it becomes possible to deliberately drive and amplify those qualities that matter most to consumers. The Recommendation Index^SM provides a significant competitive advantage in intentionally shaping and tracking how you are being recommended. The result of which is a direct relationship between your volume of recommendations and its impact on sales.

Full details of the report are available on our site, and the presentation will be posted for those unable to join us for the webinar.

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As most of you know, WOMMA has helped shape and lead the charge for effective and meaningful social media disclosure.  The recently introduced FTC Guidelines, in fact, make numerous positive references to WOMMA's Ethics Code.

As a next step in the process, WOMMA is working to finalize the explicit  best practices for social media disclosure for both marketers and bloggers* (like the FTC, WOMMA applies the term "bloggers" to refer to individual posting online content, whatever the channel).

Our goals: Facilitate dialog around and provide explicit recommendations around:

• Where and how marketers can effectively and transparently disclose -- and be in compliance with FTC Guidelines
• Where and how "bloggers" can effectively and transparently disclose -- and be in compliance with FTC Guidelines
  

WOMMA has been following a very deliberate process to gain membership and industry consensus on these issues.

• Began dialog at 2008 WOMMA Summit
• Convened expert panel on transparency and disclosure
• Facilitated discussion on "Living Ethics" blog
• Drafted preliminary disclosure guidelines
• Reviewed preliminary disclosure guidelines at 2009 WOMMA Summit (November 20)
  

Our next steps are to post current guidelines on the Living Ethics blog for feedback and then to issue final recommendations.  Please review all of the following information and go to www.womma.org/ethicsreview to provide any specific suggestions on what would make the direction either clearer or most consistent. 

Key platforms we're covering:

• Blogs/forums
• Video and photo sharing sites
• Social Networks
• Review Sites
• Twitter
• Other forms of user generated content
  
  

Our Guiding Principles:

• Disclosure must be clear and conspicuous
• Language must be unambiguous 
  
• Considerations must be given to targeted consumers•  Disclosure must appear "above the fold."
  

Marketers' responsibilities:

• Educate "bloggers" regarding responsibilities
• Educate internal corporate audiences regarding responsibilities: create a "culture of compliance"
• Require disclosure from "bloggers"
• Monitor to ensure disclosure is happening
  

"Blogger" Responsibilities

• Confirm understanding of responsibilities with marketers
• Disclose all material connections
• Communicate proactively with marketer to demonstrate compliance
  

Best practices for: Blog Disclosure:

Editorial blog

• Disclose any product, service or compensation provided by a marketer
• Disclosure requirement:
• As part of editorial copy
• "I received ____ from (company X) as a sample, to review, etc."
  

Review blog

• Disclose any product, service or compensation provided by a marketer
• Disclosure requirements:
• As part of editorial copy
• "I received (X product or service) from (company X) to review"
• "I was paid by (company X) to review"
• Create "Disclosure and Relationships" section on web site
  

Best practices for: Video Sharing Sites

• Disclosure options:
• As part of video content
• "I received (X product or service) from (company X) to review/create this video
• "I was paid by (company X) to review/create this video"
• As part of video description
  

Best practices for: Photo Sharing Sites

• Disclosure requirement:
• As part of photo description
• "I received (X product or service) from (company X) to create this
• "I was paid by (company X) to create this"
  

Best practices for: Social Networks

• Disclosure options:
• As part of photo or video description (see photo and video sharing sites best practices)
• As part of status update
• "I received (X product or service from (company X)
• "I was paid by (company X)
• Create "Disclosures and Relationships" section on profile
  

Best practices for: Review Sites

• Disclose any product, service or compensation provided by a marketer
• Disclosure requirements:
• As part of editorial copy
• "I received (X product or service) from (company X) to review"
• I was paid by (company X) to review"
• Create "Disclosure and Relationship" section on profile of website
  

Best practices for: Twitter

• Disclosure requirement:
• Must clearly state hash tag within tweet
• #spon or #paid
• Create link to "Disclosures and Relationships" section on profile
  

Feedback on this topic and the specific requirements for transparent disclosure online is requested and encouraged as we continue to make this process as clear as possible.
 



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