I’ve spent some time over the last few days trying to clean out my seemingly bottomless inbox.  And I came across a couple of interesting ways… for me to get hit by a car.

Let me explain.

I am constantly amazed, with all the studies out there about how over-saturated today’s consumers are, that companies are still looking for ways to plaster every available surface.  Russell Davies has posted on this ‘urban spam’ phenomenon a few times (here and here).  Geno and I have complained about the fact that The Cheesecake Factory features a bushel of random advertisements within the pages of its menus.  I’m sure you can name off plenty of similar examples.  And granted, that stuff is all annoying, but some things are just beyond ridiculous.  For example: this and this.

Headlights and parking space strips.  I suppose I can’t begrudge people the chance to ‘pimp their rides,’ but come on!  Vehicle vs. pedestrian just waiting to happen.

I would like to think it goes without saying… but I suppose the aforementioned links are evidence that it still needs to be said… a lot:  Rather than trying to invent new ways to intrude into people’s consciousness, shouldn’t we be investing in those genuine customer conversations that all those expensive studies have already confirmed are far more effective, engaging and enduring?

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