Last night my dinner was interrupted by a knock at the door. A salesperson for a local cable/internet company wanted me to switch to their service. I was admittedly not very nice and promptly told the man (who attempted to argue with me) to leave.

The companies that will thrive over the next decade realize that today we are moving away from “in your face” marketing. Seth Godin talks a lot about permission marketing, whereby you essentially gain a customer’s trust or interest based on your actions.

You want to impress me? You want my business? Don’t interrupt my dinner. Don’t show up unannounced at my home. Instead, be different. Do something remarkable. Contribute to your local community. Start some green initiatives. Show that you are a corporation with a conscience.

Just because you can scream the loudest doesn’t mean anyone is going to listen.