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.
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).