BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2009 Announces Ford Motor Company as a Silver Sponsor

LAS VEGAS--BlogWorld & New Media Expo today announced that Ford Motor Company will be a silver sponsor at the 2009 conference in Las Vegas, which runs October 15 to October 17. Ford’s participation in the conference demonstrates its commitment to continuing its ongoing conversation in social media as a means to connect with consumers. Influential brands such as Ford are using social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to create a meaningful dialogue with their audiences.

Ford’s global digital and multimedia communications manager, Scott Monty, will participate in a keynote speaking engagement hosted by Wall Street Journal reporter, Kara Swisher at 12:15 p.m. on October 15. The discussion will highlight why and how Ford has used social media to engage with consumers in a time of change.

“It’s great to have Ford on board as a silver sponsor of BlogWorld Expo, which demonstrates its understanding of and commitment to social media as an important marketing and communications tool,” said Rick Calvert, CEO and co-founder of BlogWorld & New Media Expo. “Their approach shows credibility, transparency and authenticity, which is critical for any brand’s success in this space, and we look forward to hearing what Scott Monty will have to share at the conference.”

“Social Media has become an important part of Ford’s ongoing transformation and BlogWorld Expo is another chance not only to share our story but listen and learn from all of the leaders in the space,” said Scott Monty, Ford Motor Company Global Digital Communications Manager. “Our success in social media would be impossible without strong leadership throughout our executive team and quality products to back up all the conversations. It has proven to be a very effective tool in connecting with consumers in a dynamic, relevant and responsive way.”

Ford’s social media approach continues to evolve with the latest version of www.TheFordStory.com, which now not only shares Ford’s story but also encourages consumers to tell their personal Ford stories.

In addition, this past May, Ford kicked off the Fiesta Movement, a social media initiative in which 100 young trendsetters are test driving and living with a European-spec Ford Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents on special missions. They then go on to relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites. Throughout the Fiesta Movement, agents have generated more than 4.3 million YouTube views, 540,000 Flickr views and 3 million Twitter impressions. The result: Ford's Fiesta Movement has driven brand awareness for the small car to levels equivalent to models that have been in the market for two to three years

For BlogWorld Expo, Ford is building an interactive exhibit space inside the Las Vegas Convention Center featuring the 2010 Taurus Limited as well as displays that show the research, engineering and thought applied to every aspect of the vehicle to ensure a quality experience – from the feel of a knob turning in your hand to innovative materials that deliver a handcrafted feel. Attendees will also have a chance to drive one for themselves with the following vehicles on hand for test drives outside the Convention Center: Ford Fiesta, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Mustang GT, Ford Taurus SHO, and Lincoln MKT.

Now in its third year, the BlogWorld & New Media Expo is dedicated to promoting and supporting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media as a mainstream news source, the most powerful and effective means of online communication and as a highly targeted and traceable advertising medium. BlogWorld attendees are aggressive technology consumers and mobile professionals, as well as the world’s most influential online content creators, citizen journalists, technology consumers, marketers and online community leaders.

In 2008, BlogWorld attendees had a combined monthly audience of more than 100 million readers, viewers and listeners. For the 2009 Expo, BlogWorld anticipates more than 3,000 attendees with a reach in excess of 200 million.

About BlogWorld & New Media Expo

BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of new media, including: blogging, podcasting, social media, online video, music, TV, radio, gaming, entertainment and communities. In addition to the only industry-wide new media exhibition, BlogWorld & New Media Expo features the largest new media conference in the world, including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business. The 2009 BlogWorld & New Media Expo is designed to give participants the crucial strategies, tools and technologies they need to leverage social media for publishing, broadcasting and growing brands and businesses through online presence and community engagement.

BlogWorld & New Media Expo conference sponsors include Ford, eBay, PayPal, Johnson & Johnson, Collective Bias, Rockfish Interactive, Procopio, ShareASale, Calacles Consulting and Blame Society Productions. The Light Group is title sponsor of evening parties, with Anheuser-Busch as beverage sponsor. Media partners include Alltop, Mashable, Technorati, Fast Company, MacObserver and iPodObserver, Webgrrls, WomensRadio and more. Sched.org is social media scheduling sponsor. Yubby is the official video aggregator.

Additional information on BlogWorld & New Media Expo, including speaker topics, session descriptions and registration details, is available at www.blogworldexpo.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.