Can you really believe in advertising?

While browsing the newspaper this morning, (which I try not to do too often for fear of starting the day discouraged) I saw the strangest ad. In the bottom left of a full two page news spread was a 2 inch square advertisement. The headlines read: "Why you can believe in advertising". The content directed me to a website - Advertising Standards Council of Canada, and also stated that this organization helps ensure the ads you see and hear are truthful. I wonder. How in the world can an organization like that oversee the millions of advertisements that run on TV, radio and in the news daily? How do they know that the content is in fact truthful and accurate? Do they really believe that this advertisement will helps us to have faith in or believe that the ads we see and hear are accurate? I hope not. Advertising as most of us know - is often loud, invasive and boring. Same old, same old sales, boxing day blowouts, white sales, inventory clear outs and 50% off days bombard us from every direction. It makes you wonder how these companies can afford to advertise AND offer 50% off. Perhaps properly marketing their goods at a reasonable price might be a better solution than a sale - or at least a start. The best advertising and marketing a company can do is to show me that they care about me as a customer. And that my friends, takes time and effort. Good marketing is not a fast buck scenario. Building trust with a potential client over a period of time reassures them - letting them know you care. Then and only then do you ask them to believe that what the see and hear is truthful and accurate. You can build trust with your potential clients by giving them good information, follow up and keep in touch with them. Building relationships with each and every one of them will put your business on solid ground. So, sorry Advertising Standards Council of Canada - your ad did not convince me. How do I really know you are ensuring that the ads I read, see and hear are truthful? Your 2 inch ad in no way showed me that you are holding advertisers to a standard. And even more ludicrous - is the idea that one agency could even begin to police such an industry. Self serving advertising like this ad went the way of the dodo bird because customers now want proof that advertising is accurate. People were tired of being ripped off and cheated. And they are showing it with their wallets. Businesses that are winning in todays market are those who continually build relationships with their customers. So the question remains: Can you really believe in advertising?