What causes middle aged men to watch movies like Rocky and The Karate Kid for the umteenth time at 3:00 am? Why are young children endlessly enchanted by Cinderella? It's because these stories have at their core the triumph of the underdog -- … [Continue reading] about Storytelling Power In Ad Copy
Rare Direct Mail Ad for The Robert Collier Letter Book
I just turned up a fascinating, two-page direct mail piece for one of the most important sales letter books ever written: The Robert Collier Letter Book. I suspect the piece may have been written by Robert Collier, himself, though it's signed by Paul … [Continue reading] about Rare Direct Mail Ad for The Robert Collier Letter Book
Eugene Schwartz Ad #93: “Food Is Your Best Medicine”
Here is the 1968 space ad Eugene Schwartz wrote for Dr. Henry Bieler's book, "Food Is Your Best Medicine." This ad is still an excellent model for an advertiser in the health and wellness market. Everything you'd expect in a Gene Schwartz ad is … [Continue reading] about Eugene Schwartz Ad #93: “Food Is Your Best Medicine”
The Case Against Twitter
Twitter. Why do I need it and why do I care? That's been my reaction for the last two years. I first heard about Twitter over two years ago when my friend Joe Orr told me about it at the System Seminar. That would be the closest I'd come to … [Continue reading] about The Case Against Twitter
Twitter Invented in 1935?
Twitter may be headed to the moon with 17 million US visitors in April but there's surprising evidence that a "Twitter-like" service called the Notificator was up and running in London in 1935. Robot Messenger Displays Person-to-Person Notes … [Continue reading] about Twitter Invented in 1935?
My Life In Advertising (Chapter 5: Larger Fields) Claude Hopkins
Now I approach a tragic epoch in my life. I was close to my limits in Grand Rapids. The offer from Lord & Thomas gave me wider recognition. Ambition surged within me, because of my mother's blood. I became anxious to go higher. But I had built … [Continue reading] about My Life In Advertising (Chapter 5: Larger Fields) Claude Hopkins
My Life In Advertising (Chapter 4: How I Got My Start In Advertising) Claude Hopkins
That contact with Mr. Bissell led to frequent contacts. Soon we entered the cold-weather season when my duties became heavy. “I hear you are working hard,” Mr. Bissell said to me one day. I replied, “I should work hard, for I have so many easy … [Continue reading] about My Life In Advertising (Chapter 4: How I Got My Start In Advertising) Claude Hopkins
My Life In Advertising (Chapter 3: My Start In Business) Claude Hopkins
Up to my graduation from high school my ambition was the ministry. I was an earnest Bible Student. The greatest game we had in our house was repeating Bible verses. We took turns, as in a spelling bee, going around the circle, until all dropped out … [Continue reading] about My Life In Advertising (Chapter 3: My Start In Business) Claude Hopkins
My Life In Advertising (Chapter 2: Lessons In Advertising And Selling) Claude Hopkins
Father owned a newspaper in a prosperous lumbering city. The people had money to send, so advertisers flocked there. We smile now as we remember the ads. of those days, but we smile at the hoopskirts, too. Most of the advertisements were paid for … [Continue reading] about My Life In Advertising (Chapter 2: Lessons In Advertising And Selling) Claude Hopkins
My Life In Advertising (Chapter 1: Early Influences) Claude Hopkins
This book is not written as a personal history, but as a business story. I have tried to avoid trivialities and to confine myself to matters of instructive interest. The chief object behind every episode is to offer helpful suggestions to those who … [Continue reading] about My Life In Advertising (Chapter 1: Early Influences) Claude Hopkins
How I Made $100,000 With A Fool Idea
This lead generation ad for how to get-rich-in-real-estate appeared in "Popular Mechanics" just a few weeks before Black Thursday and the eventual market crash of 1929. That $100,000 in today's dollars would be about $1.3 million, so that was … [Continue reading] about How I Made $100,000 With A Fool Idea
Creating Your Own Tollbooth And 8 Examples
Last week, I posted a 36 page PDF of Harvey Brody's presentation on the tollbooth or toll position concept. Yes, it probably could have been condensed into half that number of pages and no, it was not a setup to sell you one of his products. Here … [Continue reading] about Creating Your Own Tollbooth And 8 Examples
20 Pounds in 30 Days…Came Up Short
"This Man Must Lose 20 Pounds In 30 Days... or he's putting one of his most valuable, virtual assets on the auction block." Dear Reader, I have until May 5th, 2009 to shed 20 pounds or this website gets auctioned off to the highest bidder on … [Continue reading] about 20 Pounds in 30 Days…Came Up Short
Caved In To Twitter Peer Pressure…Now Follow Me Damn It!
You can only be a contrarian for so long. I've resisted Twitter for a l-o-n-g time. But now that I've joined the insidious little service, I want followers...followers...give me followers! The very word sparks delusions of Medieval courts and … [Continue reading] about Caved In To Twitter Peer Pressure…Now Follow Me Damn It!
Weird Space Ad With Coupon At The Top
This infatuated advertiser credits David Ogilvy's "Confessions of An Advertising Man" for the inspiration to create a headlineless ad...with the order coupon curiously stuck on the top. Worth trying? Doubt it. Since this advertiser only ran … [Continue reading] about Weird Space Ad With Coupon At The Top