PODCAST: This session from the fall iMedia Summit cites findings from a Yahoo! study on the evolution of word-of-mouth marketing.

Most marketers agree that word of mouth is still the most effective form of advertising. But how is word of mouth evolving? Are technology-empowered consumers more satisfied with their purchases? Are they more likely to generate influence through blogs and online reviews?

Yahoo! invites you to hear the answers to these questions as we release the findings of a new study, "Engaging Advocates through Search and Social Media." This is your opportunity to take a closer look at empowered consumers, understand the influence of their post-purchase activities and learn how they can impact your business objectives.

Bios:
Ron Belanger is responsible for building deep, mutually beneficial relationships with Yahoo's! agency partners. By supporting a number of initiatives such as joint research, agency staffing, co-marketing events and product training, Belanger and his team empower agencies to scale their search marketing practices into profitable, high growth service lines. Prior to joining Yahoo Search Marketing, Belanger was vice president of search and affiliate marketing at Carat Interactive (now Carat Fusion). There, he grew the nascent search practice of three employees into one of the largest services of the agency. Belanger is a noted expert in the field of search marketing, with a passion for the topic of search and branding.

Edwin Wong joined Yahoo Search Marketing in May 2005 to spearhead new research to give clients insights as to how and why consumers use search. His work includes Yahoo's Life Series and recently released research with the Consumer Electronics Association. Prior to joining Yahoo, Wong spent six years at Hall and Partners, working with Microsoft, eBay, Nordstrom, Toshiba, Coleman and And1 to develop and optimize brand strategies for interactive and traditional campaigns. 

Note: Our podcast theme was written by Derek K. Miller. Visit him online at penmachine.com.

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Speaker(s): Ron Belanger, Vice President of Agency Development, Yahoo! Search Marketing; Edwin Wong, Senior Market Research Manager, Yahoo! Search Marketing

Format: 00:27:03, 12.7 MB, MP3