One of my favorite classes that I took in college was a business course in marketing. We learned a lot about the different types of advertising a product (or service) and for a while I was actually thinking about pursuing a career in marketing. The problem that I had with that, however, was that I could not find any local Advertising Agency to go to work for!
One day my sister talked to me about how she was starting a venture with a girlfriend that involved creating a local directory/guide to products and services directed at young and expectant mothers. They went to a lot of businesses to sell advertisements to pay for the printing and distribution of the guide. When they were finished with it she mailed a copy to me, and I was quite impressed with the job that they had done. I never did hear whether or not that turned a profit, but she has talked to me about whether or not I would like to participate in the soliciting of advertisements for another guide in a different market.
I told her that I would be willing to help her with the next one, but I’ve been waiting several months to hear exactly what it is that she would like for me to do. At this point I am not even sure what the product/service is going to be; I have a feeling that she might want to pick a different demographic, such as senior citizens retirement and health issues. Considering the aging of America, I think that would be a good idea, don’t you agree?