NOVATO, Calif.--Aug. 2, 2006--Acquiring new customers can cost five times more than retaining current clients, and the average company loses a staggering 10 percent of its customer base each year. To stay profitable, companies must reward the bird in hand rather than the two in the bush.

Listen on August 16th, at 9 am PST, to "Baby Please Don't Go: Five Customer Retention Tips That Maximize Lifetime Value," on Marketing Matters LIVE!, an Internet radio show presented by the American Marketing Association.

"Baby Please Don't Go" will feature Steve Webster, Chief Strategy Officer for iPost, a leading email service provider with hundreds of top-brand clients, including Keds, Armani Exchange and Fujitsu. Steve will share five proven strategies for driving retention, and will explain how to derive the best results from these tactics. He will also teach listeners how to create a successful loyalty program, which can be the key to high conversion rates.

Also featured on the show be Renee Will George, Director of CRM & Strategic Marketing for Kimpton, a popular boutique hotel group that is one of iPost's clients. Steve and Renee will tell the audience how they can make small improvements to their email and other marketing programs to easily boost customer interest and, in turn, loyalty program membership.

Marketing Matters LIVE! is the American Marketing Association's newest effort to promote and communicate leading marketing concepts and issues. The August 16th show's host, David Kinard, a.k.a. The Marketing Guy, holds a master's degree in adult education, is a 7 Habits of Highly Effective People facilitator, and has earned the AMA's Professional Certified Marketer credential (PCM). He has been a featured writer for Association Management and Executive Update magazines, and has been interviewed by Entrepreneur, The Wall Street Journal and Advertising Age. Currently, he is the director of marketing for Giant Campus, Inc., a provider of career-based technology training for youth and adults held at 35 universities throughout the nation.

To listen to "Baby Please Don't Go: 10 Customer Retention Tips That Maximize Lifetime Value," go to www.marketingpower.com/content67030.php and hit the "Listen Live" link on August 16th, 9 am PST.

About The American Marketing Association

The American Marketing Association, one of the largest professional associations for marketers, has 38,000 members worldwide in every area of marketing. For more than six decades the AMA has been the leading source for information, knowledge sharing and development in the marketing profession. For more information visit www.marketingpower.com

About iPost

Founded in 1996 by a team of email and data technology experts, iPost creates highly functional email campaigns for driving sales, website traffic, and integrated branding programs. The company is located just north of San Francisco, and serves more than 200 clients, including Keds, Armani Exchange, Fujitsu and FedEx Freight. For more information on iPost, contact Jill Beaverson at 415-382-4000, x121 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also visit www.ipost.com.

About Kimpton

Founded by Bill Kimpton in 1981, San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is a unique collection of boutique hotels coupled with chef-driven, destination restaurants. While all Kimpton Hotels are thoughtfully appointed and managed to help guests maintain and enrich their lifestyles on the road, each is individually designed to reflect the energy, personality, and pulse of its distinct location, history, and architectural style. Featuring highly personalized guest services, comforting in-room amenities, and one-of-a-kind specialty rooms and suites, Kimpton Hotels provide travelers with welcoming atmospheres that embrace its signature elements of care, comfort, style, flavor, and fun. Kimpton takes pride in its social responsibility, supporting select like-minded partners and is a leader in ecological practices. Kimpton currently operates 36 boutique hotels with restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. This includes the Onyx Hotel in Boston, 70 park avenue in New York City, and the recently opened Hotel Solamar in San Diego. Kimpton re-launched the Mayfair Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove, Miami in the fall of 2005 and additional projects are underway in South Beach, Dallas, Virginia and the Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.kimptonhotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.