I'm beginning to think I'm cursed.

the New York Times had an article today about how the advertising industry is facing a serious shakeout.

Good thing I'm about a year away from graduating.

The article explains that companies are focusing on the bottom line now more than ever, and the old ways of advertising just aren't reaching people anymore. The bigger ad agencies aren't making the profits they are used to, and there's new competitors on the scene ready to pounce on business opportunities.

In an unrelated article, Mad Dogs is closing it's doors the ned of the month. Truly sad, they were a great agency.

Well, if we as consumers weren't flooded with information every second of every day, we might not have developed the filters we have.

Technology also helps. TiVo and Satellite radio and iPods are allowing people to get their entertainment free of commercials.

So, how do you sell stuff?

I'd say the first way is to not suck at what you do. For the past three years, my wife's company, Scathing Harpy Enterprises relied heavily on ads on www.craigslist.org and referrals from happy clients.

Another way would be to not saturate the world with more clutter. I am sick to death of the nike logo. After my first pair of Air Jordans, I swore not to wear another Nike Shoe again. That is, until I came across nikeid (www.nikeid.com/) Where you can design your own shoe. Mass customization is what online shopping was supposed to be about.

I already have an associate's in multimedia, so I'm familiar with some of the technology that the Times article talks about where the ad industry is headed, like GE's latest viral campaign where you send a virtual seed to a friend so it can grow. A sort of tomagotchi, I guess. Or even "Subservient Chicken" .

I'd like to see banner ads disappear. Or at least evolve into something beyond the animated quasi-game things currently en vogue.

Things like print ads and radio spots aren't going anywhere. The TV ad might evolve into something different, but will be around somehow.

There's always work for those who can adapt.