WHAT: Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) Marketing Forum 2009: Using The Down Economy To Catalyze Marketing Change

In this economic climate, Marketing & Strategy professionals are faced with lower customer spending and marketing budget cuts. As a result, many brands go into “survivalist mode” — slashing experimental programs and scrutinizing every dollar spent on existing media. At best, this reaction only protects the share of voice and wallet that you’ve already built. At worst, it leaves you poorly positioned to connect with your customers and pull away from your competitors as the economy recovers.

So what’s a good response to a bad economy?

Brave marketers see the economic downturn as an opportunity to re-examine core beliefs about customers and brands. These marketers recognize that consumer and business buyers are changing the way they research, buy, and even consume products and services. They know that the global recession will cement the online channel as a central component of a profitable marketing strategy. And they’re adjusting their marketing organizations and mix to connect with customers in this new economy.

Forrester’s Marketing Forum 2009 will bring together marketing leaders from top companies who, even in the midst of an economic downturn, are thinking innovatively about their marketing practices. These executives come from a variety of industries, but they share common goals like energizing consumers to share brand information with peers, mastering emerging marketing and sales channels, boosting customer retention and loyalty, tapping customers for innovative ideas, and demonstrating the ROI of marketing to the broader organization. You’ll come away from their sessions with both a vision of the future and knowledge of how you can use the down economy to catalyze marketing change.

WHEN: April 23-24, 2009

WHERE:

Disney Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd.

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Phone: +1 407.934.3372

WHO: In addition to Forrester’s industry-leading analysts, featured guest speakers include:

  • David Verklin, Chief Executive Officer, Canoe Ventures
  • Rita Bargerhuff, Vice President of Marketing, 7-Eleven
  • Greg Clayman, Executive Vice President of Digital Distribution & Business Development, MTV Networks
  • Craig Dewar, Director of Community Marketing, Microsoft Business Solutions, Microsoft
  • David J. Reibstein, William S. Woodside Professor and Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

The forum offers five tracks designed for Marketing & Strategy professionals, including Direct Marketing, Interactive Marketing, Marketing Leadership, Market Research, and Technology Product Management & Marketing as well as one-on-one meetings with Forrester analysts and peer networking events. More than thirty sponsors — including platinum sponsor Harte Hanks and gold sponsors Aprimo, Blast Radius, Experian, Merkle, Organic, Responsys, and [x+1]— will share their expertise. Attendees can also register for the pre-Forum Workshop “Setting Your B2B Social Media Strategy And Marketing Plan,” hosted by Forrester Analysts Laura Ramos and Oliver Young or the pre-Forum Workshop “Web Site Brand Image Review,” hosted by Forrester Analyst Ron Rogowski.

Members of the Forrester Leadership Boards will be meeting on site the day before the Forum. The Forrester Leadership Boards are executive councils that provide peer networking opportunities and exclusive research for their members. The councils meeting in Orlando, Fla., are the CMO Group, the Customer Experience Council, the Direct Marketing Council, the eBusiness Council, the Market Research Council, and the Technology Marketing Executive Council. More information on the Forrester Leadership Boards is available at www.forrester.com/LeadershipBoards.

CONTACT: Complete Event information is available at www.forrester.com/marketingforum2009.

MEDIA: Members of the media can register by providing their full contact information to press@forrester.com.