Ad Agency's Web Site Speeds Creative Approval Process.

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 1999--

In order to make life easier for clients, Austin Lawrence Group, a marketing communications agency, today announced a new interactive element to its Web site (austinlawrence.com) that allows clients instant access to ongoing projects in its advertising, direct marketing and public relations practices. The site provides access to current ALG assignments from any Internet-connected computer, anywhere in the world, saving clients time and money.

Agency clients are able to enter their secure Web area 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere they can access the World Wide Web.

"The days of waiting for creative to be delivered over e-mail, overnight mail and messenger are gone," said ALG President Kenneth Lempit. "Our clients have access to the latest creative from our shop 24/7. Status reports, advertising and direct marketing layouts as well as press release drafts are posted to a private area of our Web site. Clients can access all creative projects in-process and reports when and where they need it. To my knowledge, we are the first agency to offer this type of service for advertising, direct marketing and public relations account management."

This new use for the Web site is intended to resolve delays and delivery problems experienced with hard copy and e-mail transmission of documents, which the agency's executives believe slowed down the overall creative process. This, along with individual client businesses operating multiple offices worldwide, made it necessary to implement a new system. With this new Web functionality, all marketing executives within a client's company can view projects in-process and confer with one another - moments after agency work is submitted.

"This new system will help us better serve our clients and create stronger relationships within our client businesses. They can view the work in progress and increase the speed for approvals, which ultimately leads to a faster process from start to finish," explained Lempit.

"In strong client/agency relationships information flows two ways. The clients help the agency as much as the agency helps the client. Our new Web process grew out of a client suggestion," said Lempit, referring to a conversation he had had with Louis Parks, president of New York-based ClientXchange, a leading customer relationship management software vendor for financial services firms.

The Web site functionality, in production since mid-August, showed results immediately, instantly shaving time from the creative approval process. As soon as the account team approves work, it can be uploaded to the site for client review.

Austin Lawrence Group Inc., based in Stamford, Conn., is a full-service advertising, public relations and direct marketing agency specializing in high technology, telecommunications, financial services and health-care marketing. The agency's clients include Advent Software, British Telecommunications plc, ClientXchange, Cole Systems Associates, Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories, Falcon Financial LLC, Franchise Mortgage Acceptance Company, Telesciences, TELEHOUSE America and Zumbach Electronics. More information about the agency can be accessed at www.austinlawrence.com