The ability to get anything you want anytime you want has created a new generational mindset: the click-through generation.
This mindset comes from the Internet’s ability to deliver any product or service with just a few clicks of the mouse. Need an answer to a question? Search engines—in just a few seconds—filter through the Internet to give you the answer. Need to buy something? Anything, from a kitchen sink to a diamond ring? Amazon.com can ship it to you. Countless downloads are completed every day, from programs to movies to music.
This is instant convenience. This is what is demanded in today’s strategy-driven economy.
The printing and publishing industry did not understand this and continued to market their services along the same methodologies of quality, service and pricing. Year after year for the past 10 years, printers and publishers have gone out of business using this tired paradigm. They are being replaced by either legacy printers who changed to the new dynamics or new communications services corporations who seized the opportunity to deliver what the market now wants: instant order and delivery with continuous control over the final product.
Once the domain of those mysterious craftsmen, printing and publishing has been packaged into software applications and those smart enough to figure this out can’t keep up with their project workload.
When iTunes started to become popular, there were a large number of technology and music experts who said that it would fail. They also said this wasn’t fair to the music industry. Meanwhile, Apple sold millions of tunes and has never looked back. So much for the experts. In the publishing industry the same thing has occurred. What was once the domain of traditional publishers has now become the domain of authors throughout the world.
So if you have been trying to think through your next strategic push, consider the click-through strategy. When in doubt, lean toward instant.
Customers will feel good about it and will put their money where your service is.
What they want is to be heard and followed, according to their needs, interests and wants.
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Tom Wants To Hear Your Branding Issues:
Tom Marin, Managing Partner of MarketCues, wants to hear from you! Follow MarketCues on Twitter for branding and social media tips, as well as the latest trends. Tom also welcomes e-mails, new LinkedIn connections, calls to (407) 330-7708 or visit www.marketcues.com. How can he help solve your branding issues?
Note: If you are a printing company or product/services company serving the print-media market, and would like to be considered for a feature in this blog, please contact Tom Marin for an interview.
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Tom Marin is the Founder and President of MarketCues, Inc., a national consulting firm. He has worked for some of the world’s largest corporations and middle-market firms. Tom’s focus is to help CEOs drive their strategy shifts and strategic growth programs. Follow MarketCues on Twitter. Tom also welcomes emails new LinkedIn connections or calls to (919) 908-6145.