Sometimes I plan for these little waits by bringing along a book, but all too often I'm not thinking about it ahead of time, or I don't realize the wait is going to be so long. Of course, if the wait is short enough, I figure I'll just find some entertainment wherever I am to help pass the time.

This constant stream of waiting is something companies need to take advantage of. What is it that you see sitting around when you're waiting at a doctor or dentist? I see plenty of magazines, and the occasional catalog. What always surprises me is the lack of catalogs lying around on the tables.

Most companies pair and direct mailing as their chief means of getting those catalogs to the general public, but that most certainly isn't the only way you can get people interested in reading your catalogs. Every time I'm sitting around waiting is an opportunity to get me interested in reading your catalog.

Think about ways to get your catalog into as many different locations as you can. Are you able to go to a local dentist's office or doctor's office and give them some catalogs for free to place out in their waiting rooms? Are there any grocery stores or department stores you could strike up a deal with to have some of your catalogs in those racks by the check out lines?

Take a moment to ask yourself when all the different moments are throughout your day that you're stuck waiting around with nothing to do. There are all sorts of different moments beyond the normal wait at a doctors, and each time you're standing around bored ask yourself if you can get one of your catalogs into this location for people to read.

Catalog printing is only as valuable as the number of people who are reading them, which means you need to increase your pool of readers as much as possible. When I have nothing else to do is when I'm most likely to take interest in something I normally wouldn't have.

The best part is that once you get a person looking through your catalogs, you increase the odds of getting them permanently on your mailing list. A single glance can be all it takes to grab someone's attention who wouldn't normally even be looking.

Go beyond the mailing list. Get your catalogs into every corner you can possibly find for them. Every person who picks that catalog up is a potential customer. Never forget that.