The Amtower Report

(The Amtower Report is an e-journal on the Business-to-Government market featuring the opinions of Mark Amtower, and occasionally reader comments. This newsletter is only sent to those who request it. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.FederalDirect.net and if you like this newsletter, please pass it along to your colleagues. To unsubscribe, see directions below. The newsletter is posted each Monday at www.FederalDirect.net, and the latest “Off-Center Observations” is on the home page. All back issues available at http://www.federaldirect.net/newsletterarchives.html)

In this issue:
1) Amtower Off-Center Observations
2) Events Worth Attending
3) Amtower on the Radio

AMTOWER OFF-CENTER OBSERVATIONS

Item: First – this is the holiday season, and we have tens of thousands of uniformed personnel stationed OCONUS- outside the US. Please send some money to the USO (www.uso.org ) and donate your air miles to www.HeroMiles.org . Remember these people in your prayers as well.

Item: Yes – I know I have been delinquent in getting the newsletter out, and no, you did not miss any. I have been busy. Read on to find out busy with what!

Item: If you did not hear Friday, 1105 Media, the parent of Federal Computer Week, is buying PostNewsweekTech Media, the parent of Government Computer News, Washington Technology, Government Leader, Defense Systems and FOSE.  This changes the information and marketing landscape of our community more than any event I recall. Is this good or bad for the community? Frankly, I do not know, and for once I will hold off judgment for a while. NO –this DOES NOT mean I am mellowing. It means I do not know – yet. This will largely depend on Anne Armstrong, publisher of the combined properties and one of the most capable people in our market. It also depends on the support she gets from 1105 Media. Stay tuned.

Item: Amtower & Company has produced a four CD set, The Ultimate Government Sales Jumpstart Program. This is a program for the novice, a person or company with little or no background in the government market. It can also be used as a self-paced training tool for new personnel. I spend a couple months writing and recording this and I think it is quite good. Go here  http://governmentexpress.com/jumpstart.html  yourself!

Item: We have altered the membership structure for our member site www.GovernmentMarketingBestPractices.com .  There is now a monthly fee of only $39 to access some of the best marketing advice available in this market.

Item: The pendulum has swung again and the Democrats took both Houses. We have had several years of Congressional arrogance (and no, it did not start in 1994), ten years of hyperactive growth in earmarks, a true dearth of ANY ethics oversight or action in either the House or Senate, and tons of lip service about small business (though no decent working definition seems to have come to the surface). Will any of this change? I have some minor hopes for stronger definitions regarding small business and government contracting. Beyond that, business as usual, with lots of lip service, headline seekers, and otherwise arrogant, unemployable people pretending they are really important.

EVENTS WORTH ATTENDING

Beware of the schlock vendors, producing minimal value events, events that eat your money with no significant return! The events listed below are among those I think are worth your time, money and effort. Just because an event is not listed below does not imply it is not worth attending. If you want my opinion on a specific event or producer, call me. This topic is addressed more thoroughly in the members section at www.GovernmentMarketingBestPractices.com.

January 23, 2007, IAC Growing Business Conference – (for small businesses), GWU Conference center, Washington, DC. www.actgov.org

February 21, 2007: Government Marketing Best Practices – Small Business Edition, Tower Club, Vienna, VA. 8:30 – 4:00 PM – Limited Seating – Reserve your seat today! http://governmentmarketingbestpractices.com/gmbp-registration.html

March 22-24, 2005 FOSE. DC Convention center  www.FOSE.com

May 15-17, 2007. GSA Expo, Orlando, Florida.  www.expo.gsa.gov

AMTOWER ON THE RADIO

The Amtower Marketing Report Wednesday at 4PM on WBIS 1190 AM (Annapolis MD, simulcast on www.WBIS1190.com ).

Upcoming guests on The Amtower Marketing Report include (to be verified) Jim Williams, Commissioner of FAS at GSA.

*** As always, your comments, questions and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks
Mark Amtower

The Amtower Report is published by Amtower & Company, and is written for companies targeting the government marketplace. The opinions expressed are those of Mark Amtower unless otherwise noted. Contact us at Amtower & Company, PO Box 314, Highland, MD 20777-0314 (301-924-0058). This material is copyrighted and may not be duplicated, reprinted or otherwise replicated without written permission of the publisher. Email subscriptions are free by request: sign up at www.FederalDirect.net