I don’t know about my fellow marketers, but I for one have had enough of the “buzz word” phenomena. In fact, buzz word is a buzz word anymore. There’s even a buzz word for when a buzz word becomes abused: buzz word backlash. I’d like to take that one step further and state that I believe we have serious case of buzz word whiplash in this country (hopefully that word won’t get picked up by the Web Bugs).

Googling my subject matter, I found there are hundreds sites on the internet dedicated solely to the proliferation of  buzz words - which buzz words to use to get your resume noticed, which buzz words are ‘in’ and which are so Sept. 10. And inspired by the comic strip Dilbert, there are even a buzz word bingo sites. They suggest you hand out buzz word bingo cards in your next meeting. That may make the time pass a little more quickly when the partners are discussing the core competency and pain points of your company.

I think one of my pet peeves in this age of marketing terms is the ever-present, made-up buzz word that sounds like it might be an actual word. For example: Ecomagination or Comcastic (I am clued in to the fact that these are not real words when my Spell Check can’t find them). In buzz-word terms this is marketecture at its best. Have we truly run out of words in the English language that we are reduced to combining definitive words into catchy, pop-culture relanguage? But we can talk more about that offline…

However, I enjoy one site, www.buzzwhack.com. They take a look at the buzz-word craze and spin it into fun even a C-level employee can appreciate. Granted, not all terms associated with this website are strictly geared toward the first mover, but I believe it’s enough to create ample smotherage in the market. If not, at least it serves to provide you with a decent watercooler effect in the office.

And if you like it, don’t forget to tell your friends by word-of-mouse. Just make sure you alt-tab if you’re being shoulder-surfed.