ATT Market Strategies Term Paper

Total Length: 676 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Page 1 of 2

AT&T

Today AT&T faces a serious dilemma in whether or not to continue a relationship with their least profitable customers. AT&T's customer base today perfectly fits the 80/20 rule first devised by Italian economist Vilfredo Paereto in the 19th century (Krotz). Currently, over 80% of AT&T's revenue is generated by the top 20% of customers. By eliminating the least profitable 80% of customers, the company would make a profit similar to what is currently being seen. This raises the serious question of whether AT&T should consider eliminating these customers from their customer base. In the solution proposed today, this lower 80% of customers would be "sold" or outsourced to other firms that offer higher rates than AT&T.

Advantages

The most obvious advantage of getting rid of these least-profitable customers would be financial. Eliminating these customers would free the company from spending money on maintaining a customer relationship that is not profitable. Company resources could be focused more closely on increasing profit, rather then gaining revenue through these customers. As such, customer service resources could be better focused on keeping the top 20% of customers happy with AT&T.
This is especially important, as Krotz notes, the "cost of acquiring new customers... runs 8 to 10 times more than the cost of keeping existing ones." Thus, marketing to existing customers and to potential customers that fit the profile of the top 20% of customers may be a more efficient use of marketing resources than current efforts, which do not discriminate between the top 20% of customers, and the other 80%. As Peebles notes, these lower 80% of customers often waste energy, time and resources; resources which may be better spent on maintaining a relationship with the top 20% of customers.

Pitfalls

The most salient pitfall of "firing" the lowest 80% of AT&T's customers lies in the potential for serious damage to company credibility as a result of the outsourcing of customers. It is important to remember that "every relationship is an important link to other customers" (Staples). As such, it….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"ATT Market Strategies" (2004, June 25) Retrieved May 22, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/att-market-strategies-172425

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"ATT Market Strategies" 25 June 2004. Web.22 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/att-market-strategies-172425>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"ATT Market Strategies", 25 June 2004, Accessed.22 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/att-market-strategies-172425