A flyer under my windshield wiper - focus on a more targeted market.

As a communications professional, I understand the importance of grass roots marketing and support the small businesses that work to advertise their businesses at a low cost. I must confess however, that I do not enjoy coming out to my car to find a flyer stuck under my windshield wiper. There is something about having a stranger make himself acquainted with my personal (and expensive) property while I am not around that is a bit unnerving to me. Yes, sticking flyers under hundreds of cars within a parking lot is a rather inexpensive way of distributing your message, but like someone picnicking in your yard while you are away; I feel that it is an imposition on my personal property.

I may be the only person who feels this way, but in fact - I have never actually read any flyer or pamphlet that has ever been stuck to my driver-side window or left underneath my windshield wiper. In fact I have to believe that it has worked in exactly the opposite manner for some companies. If I had read the flyers that have crossed my windshield, I would make a note to never frequent those businesses.

Similar to the flyers beneath windshield wipers, it is a little unsettling to me when companies assign employees to pass out handbills during busy times in the city. Passers-by aren't asking for this information, but the person handing out the information is standing on a busy corner shoving handbills towards unsuspecting travellers. I'm almost certain that the very first opportunity someone has to get rid of the information shoved at them by a stranger, they do. The one piece of advice I have for the companies that use this tactic is this - know your market and comprise a targeted plan on how to reach them. If the guy standing on the corner handing out flyers for the hottest new disc jockey at a club was giving them to people entering or leaving a club - that would serve as a much more receptive audience than the people rushing to and from work in business suits. And if there is a new mall opening up and someone posts signs on all cars in the parking lot of a nearby mall - that would also serve as a better audience. It's just an idea.