Matrix Solutions on the North Side is growing with the addition of three to its software department in response to changing times and the changing landscape of media sales.
As a provider of sales strategy management software for the media sales industry, Matrix strives to meet the unique advertising demands of newspapers, TV stations, radio and cable.
Last November, the company hired Suzy Teele as president and COO. As the owner of a consulting company, Aceda, prior to joining Matrix, Teele brings 20 years of experience in software product management to Matrix. A fourth hire will be in marketing communications, bringing the total number of employees to 26.
"The key reason we're expanding is that the management of advertising sales has become increasingly complex due to industry mergers and multiple revenue sources," says Teele. "Years ago, our typical customer was concerned with selling ad time to ensure profitability for local TV or radio stations. Today, our customer is a national media sales organization with many properties and they are trying to make sense of their ad sales and develop strategies for revenue growth."
Web-based sources are also proving to be a more significant revenue source for customers who need to manage and report on that advertising, she adds.
The good news is that while advertising sales was down the past two years and many advertisers put spending on hold, industry analysts are now predicting a 20% increase in ad revenue growth beginning this fall and through 2011, Teele says.
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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Suzy Teele, Matrix Solutions