Some people say we live in the Information Age.

I call it the Distraction Age.

My new hometown is Distractionville. Everything and everybody shouts, "Hey, look at me!": E-mail, Internet, TV, telephone, newspaper, radio, family and friends. The Distraction Faction is as bright as the midday sun and louder than a freight train in Distractionville.

I have had conversations lately with many small business owners about promoting their businesses for more sales. Traditional methods of advertising are more expensive than ever for the results they offer. Newspapers, magazines, radio,TV and Yellow Pages worked well in the past but due to the increasingly shortened attention spans in Distractionville, these methods for getting information to your customers aren't getting results.

Business owners tell me they are often exasperated when their regular customers tell them about buying goods or services from another vendor that are readily available from their own businesses. The owners think what kind of customer loyalty is that for all of the service I offer to you? The owners say to the customers, "We offer that, too, you know".

"I didn't know you did that!" is the response from the customer.

Even if the customer should have known from your previous marketing efforts, it doesn't matter. The sale is lost forever.

How can you get your message heard and seen in Distractionville? Consider increasing the decibel level of your business by using some of the following ideas adapted for your business:

-A florist offers to put bosses on a tickler list for advanced contact and products for secretary's day for next year.

-The tire shop presents a coupon book of free tire rotations with every sale of new tires to get customers back for oil changes, brake inspections, etc.

-The dress shop calls its best customers to annouce the fall line is in with the customer's size in stock.

-The computer repair service mails post cards to customers with older systems annoucing a special on systems upgrades and wireless networking.

-The coffee house offers coupons to each customer for a discount on its fresh baked blueberry muffins for the next visit.

-The lawn service puts door hangers on current customers' doors with weeding and edging service information.

The solution for promoting all of your business goods and services to your existing customers is simple. Find new ways to tell them what you do. Then tell them again a different way. Then to be heard and seen above the roar of the crowd of Distractionville, tell them one more time.

Three easy steps:

1. Do it
2. Do it
3. Do it

Doug Emerson trains,consults and coaches small business owners daily about how to make more profit in less time.

He writes a FREE electronic newsletter filled with ideas about how you can improve your profits and create a life that balances work, rest and play. Go to this link and subscribe. http://www.douglasemerson.com/3Iwrotethis.htm

Or visit the website: http://www.douglasemerson.com