Initiative Focused on Assisting Marketing Departments

BOSTON (March 28, 2005)— Aquent, a global professional services firm, has launched an interim marketing services initiative to better serve the burgeoning needs of marketing. This latest strategy, which includes the launch of a new Web site, www.aquentmarketing.com, is designed to address the serious challenges brought on by rapidly changing business conditions.The new site illustrates the value of interim marketing professionals and how highly skilled, prescreened contract marketers can provide expertise in every facet of marketing — from brand management to online strategies — quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

“The explosion of media channels, the growth of microsegmentation and the globalization of commerce are very real challenges facing businesses today,” says Randy Ricker, Aquent’s vice president and regional manager for the northeast and central United States. “These conditions are demanding more of marketing organizations than ever before — more deliverables, more versions, more formats … even more languages. For many, adding permanent staff is not an option; this results in employees who must spend valuable time struggling to react rather than using their considerable skills to plan for the long term.” Ricker will address this issue April 13, 2005, on the American Marketing Association’s (AMA) Internet radio program, “Marketing Matters, LIVE!”

In a recent marketing salary survey conducted by Aquent in association with the American Marketing Association (www.marketingsalaries.com), psychographic data uncovered significant frustration on the part of marketers who, while eager to develop new strategies and to grow and be challenged in their work, were unable to accomplish much more than maintaining the status quo.

Gaining expertise on demand can add entirely new abilities or bolster existing capabilities, thereby optimizing internal resources. Bringing on interim marketing professionals allows organizations to access any skill set on demand, manage costs and improve control of projects that might otherwise have to be outsourced. Interim marketing professionals are a practical and powerful alternative to hiring full-time staff. Conversely, using interim marketing professionals to test-market candidates for full-time positions is an excellent alternative to the normal hiring process.

About Aquent

For close to 20 years, Aquent has led the way in helping businesses master the ability to generate marketing and communications from within.  From its inception in 1986, this marketing services company has pioneered consulting, outsourcing and staffing solutions that enable clients to build their internal marketing and communications capabilities. Providing unmatched resources and expertise through its network of nearly 70 branches worldwide, Aquent today helps thousands of companies make the most of their people, processes and technology.  Aquent, www.aquent.com, is headquartered in Boston.