Seems like the article is just setting up a strawman. You can't send bulk email, so you can't initiate contact at all, so you can't set up an industry event? Seems unlikely -- the result does not follow from the preconditions.
Basically, a world without unsolicited advertising would be one where you type "widgets" into Google and get a list of companies that make widgets. A lot of people do this even in the world with advertising.
Similarly, how do you know that Target exists down the street? Not from ads you see while reading The Atlantic... you know it exists because you can see it with your eyes.
So anyway, this argument is not very good. A world without spam and banner ads would be just fine. I'm already living in it.
Just as a counterpoint, I often find out about new things through advertising, on sites where the advertising is good. For example, I've found several tools that I use via Stack Overflow ads. They're a great example of targeted advertising that really delivers value to me, because it actually helps me discover tools that I need that I wouldn't have otherwise known existed.
But if I have never seen Target advertised and I haven't made an effort to go inside, how am I supposed to know what they sell? Are customers expected to make a visit to each new store that opens? Are they expected to give them a call or google the name of the store when they get home? How else would they initiate contact?
We do not exist in a vacuum. My wife just left on a baby shower with some of her friends. They're going to eat at a local restaurant we've all seen, but only one of them have been to. They said it was good.
How miraculous! How spectacular! How.... utterly ordinary and common.
Most people are complaining about push advertising. I don't know anyone who says they want stores to take down their signs or websites and wants to ensure none of their friends ever talk about any products or restaurants or anything.
Thanks, you're right that almost all the products I can remember buying I have been actively looking for, or I've learned about from word of mouth, forums or news sites.
I wasn't trying to argue that advertising is necessary, I was open to either opinion. I genuinely wanted to know how to approach businesses without causing annoyance, while still staying competitive.
Best answer to that I got was "write articles". Also I started considering putting an ad on some industry magazine more seriously now, since some people said that such advertising is not annoying, because people are actively looking for this information. When I remember reading magazines related to my own interests, I do recall reading the ads too and being interested in them (Wired magazine crossed the line though).
I think you might be slightly overemphasising how the average person responds to advertising. Not everyone thinks that all advertising is evil and intrusive. Most people don't like to admit that they are influenced by ads, but they are, especially if the ad is relevant and executed well. Think of some of the great TV ads of the past, people like them. Not all advertising should be tarred with the same brush.
Having said that I do hate the fact that ad's seem to be following me around these days. I checked out the supplement mentioned in Tim Ferris's Four hour body book and it followed me round for ages until I cleared my cookies. Now that is irritating.
By the way I think TF's new book is pretty shabby compared to his first.
Basically, a world without unsolicited advertising would be one where you type "widgets" into Google and get a list of companies that make widgets. A lot of people do this even in the world with advertising.
Similarly, how do you know that Target exists down the street? Not from ads you see while reading The Atlantic... you know it exists because you can see it with your eyes.
So anyway, this argument is not very good. A world without spam and banner ads would be just fine. I'm already living in it.