Here it is, nearly the year 2007. As I look at the dwindling days left on my calendar, I also look at the huge pile of 2007 calendars I have. Where do they come from? Mostly from well meaning friends and family, people I do business with, and every single charity that I have ever contributed to, and a few that I don’t contribute to even though they send me a calendar each year. Some come to me with thanks for doing business and giving referrals, even though I have never done either.

When did giving out calendars become such a common practice? Choosing a calendar is really a very personal thing. We have to use it for a whole year, and maybe I really do prefer to look at different puppy pictures each month.

The marketing use of calendars makes no sense to me. Sure, I can see the value from their point of view. What better way to keep your customers or donors thinking about you all year long? But when a marketing gimic becomes popular, every other organization wants to use the same gimic. Ironically, nearly all of them end up in the recycling bin. I simply don’t need a calendar on the wall of every room in my home. This is particularly sad when the calendars are coming from environmental groups. Do you know what eventually happens? I might pick out one or two for my home, but the one that hangs in my home office (the one I view most often) is usually one of my own choosing that I have bought during the 50% discount sales shortly after New Year’s Day.

So please - come up with a new marketing tool, something I can actually use. A brand new year is nearly upon us, so you have plenty of time to come up with something different.

By the way, would anyone like a free calendar?