Chris Lambrecht’s Strategic Marketing Thoughts
60 Seconds of Information Impacting You and Our Fast Forward Economy

November 2004 --

Estimated Reading Time: 60 Seconds Per Article

60 Second Articles
1. The Upcoming Radio Revolution
2. The Real Truth About The Spyware Epidemic: Nothing Can Really Stop It
3. Cell Phone Ringtones: An Exploding Billion Dollar Music Industry Business

4. Follow The Money Path: It’s In The Good Service And Customer Connections

5. The 60 Second Close: Don’t Blink; You Could Be Left Behind

6. We’ve moved!

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1. The Upcoming Radio Revolution

• The rising popularity of satellite radio is shaking the corporate offices of major communications companies. Could the day come when commercial radio becomes a stepchild to the satellite services? Could the day come when regular radio advertisers realize that their target audience listens to satellite radio, rather than their own hometown station?
  
• In seeing this vision and the pure attractiveness of commercial free satellite radio, Clear Channel Radio, the country’s largest owner of radio stations, is scaling back their commercial load and station promotions. Their “Less Is More” campaign (http://clearchannel.com/Radio/home.aspx) promises that by eliminating some of the advertising and promotional clutter, radio will then become more valuable to advertisers and listeners.

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2. The Real Truth About The Spyware Epidemic: Nothing Can Really Stop It

• The influx of spyware into computers, mostly PC’s, has reached epidemic proportions. They slow down your computer, create unwanted pop-ups and can also prevent you from visiting some of your favorite web sites.
  
  
• As more new spyware is created daily, there is not one single anti-spyware software program that can stop this invasion. As a result, having more than one anti-spyware program installed on your computer is quite common and could be more effective at discovering spyware attacks.
  
• There are hundreds of anti-spyware programs available … some are free, some are subscription-based … but the truth is that these programs simply rely on a database of spyware, with some software programs maintaining a better and more current database than others.
  
  
• If a specific spyware is not listed in your anti-spyware program’s database, then that particular breed of spyware won’t be caught. Your best bet? Choose a subscription-based anti-spyware program, like Pest Patrol or Spy Sweeper, over a program that’s free.

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3. Cell Phone Ringtones: An Exploding Billion Dollar Music Industry Business

• Synthesized hit tunes that can be downloaded onto cell phones has become such a huge money-maker that it now being officially recognized as an integral part of the music industry by Billboard Magazine.
  
• Famous for its Billboard Top 100, the weekly publication has launched a new chart -- the Billboard Hot Ringtones Chart -- that will reflect the Top 20 ringtone sales for each week.
  
  
• Thousands of ringtones are easily available on the Internet, from synthesized versions of national anthems, classical music to golden oldies and rap.

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4. Follow The Money Path: It’s In The Good Service And Customer Connections

• For most companies, the strategy is the same -- have a great product that people need, then introduce that product and build long-term customer relationships.

• Have you ever seen a business succeed with just one-time only customers? Isn’t every business based on building relationships? And isn’t growth directly related to covering the needs of customers and staying one step ahead them?
  
  
• Every business relies on the loyalty of their customers to flourish. Building loyalty means connecting and nurturing. It involves treating your customers like your friends … and wouldn’t you go overboard for your own friends?

• Building loyalty starts with making a connection -- a connection that goes beyond the products and services you offer.

• When profit margins are slim, the onus has to be on service after the sale and on developing a connection that converts a one-time customer into a lifetime customer.

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5. The 60 Second Close: Don’t Blink; You Could Be Left Behind

• It doesn’t take long to feel outdated; it doesn’t take long to fall behind the curve and realize, for example, that the prime media for teens is Instant Messaging and the companies that utilize an instant message advertising campaign will be the most successful at reaching this target audience.
  
  
• Our job as a virtual marketing department is to keep our clients up-dated and even one step ahead of everyone else. Feeling alone in this fast changing world? Not familiar with the media of choice of your target audience? Call me today at 770-457-3700 and we’ll bring you up to speed.

6. We’ve Moved!

We are now located in our new office space in Sandy Springs, just a minute from I285 and Roswell Road. Our new address is 521 Village Trace, Bldg. 10A, Marietta, GA 30067. Our phone number remains (770) 457-3700.

Sincerely,

Chris Lambrecht