EVER HEARD OF ……M4D !

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Date: Friday October 7, 2005 11:18:00 am
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  • Anonymous
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    M4D
    OCT 2005 — M4D. At first I thought it was promotion for a new Hummer or some other over-bloated SUV.
    Between computer industry acronyms and the ever-morphing “language” of
    Instant Messaging, we’ve long since run out of letters and numbers that
    are at all unique. So the string of pre-show emails about M4D could
    have been just about anything. But since they emanated from Helene
    Smith PR, an agency focusing on the print industry, I figured it might
    be something ought to check out. So I did something unusual at PRINT 05
    and went to the news conference. I find these events are often a waste
    of perfectly good meeting room space, but this one was more than
    worthwhile.
    M4D is a unique and extensive research initiative from PIA/GATF’s
    Digital Print Council intended to give digital and conventional
    printers the knowledge they need to identify opportunities and
    successfully market and sell digital print services into 24 specific
    market segments. It is sponsored by several industry leading firms
    including Adobe, Canon, HP, Kodak and Xerox, along with a 22-member
    industry steering committee. In addition, Frank Romano has taken on the
    role of chief researcher and editor, joined by grad students from Cal
    Poly, Clemson and RIT.
    For each market area, M4D is conducting studies to gather the info
    printers need to understand the needs of the 24 vertical markets and
    help their print sales staffs “speak the language” of prospects and
    customers. The studies will provide a market overview and describe key
    applications, trends and opportunities. It will list organizations by
    size and location, describe their printing needs, and provide details
    on how to successfully market to companies in each segment.
    The first set of 8 M4D reports will be released at the PIA/GATF
    Variable Data Printing conference in Phoenix, November 6-9. Each
    package of 8 reports will be priced at $199 for PIA/GATF members and
    $500 for non-members. For more information email M4D@piagatf.org
    .Digital Print Council members will receive the entire set of 24
    reports at no charge as part of their annual membership fee. Well worth
    the $295 if you ask me.
    This is one of the most important investments a print provider can make in the future of their business.
    My take is that this is one of the most important investments a print
    provider can make in the future of their business. Business success
    hinges on knowing your markets and the companies in them–how they
    think, how they work, how they buy goods and services. Even the best
    sales tiger can’t possibly go out and find all the necessary
    information and assemble it in a cohesive and actionable manner. That’s
    what M4D will be doing, starting in just a few weeks. What a tool to
    take into a new year
    !

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