As Rosser Reeves noted: "A gifted product is mightier than a gifted pen." This evergreen book is a textbook example of that quote. Over thirty years later Getting Straight A's is still touted by students and parents alike. This ad had … [Continue reading] about All Time Top 10 Ad in Education (“How to Become a Straight-A Student”)
This direct mail package might as well have been written a lifetime ago, instead of the the early to late 2000s, when it mailed heavily. Look at all that's changed. … [Continue reading] about Jeff Paul’s Greatest Story Selling Ad… and What’s Become of Him
This financial lead generation took the world of print by storm in 1974. I'm virtually certain it's the work of copywriting legend, Dan Rosenthal. This 330 word ad to the left was so successful at sucking out red hot leads in the silver market … [Continue reading] about From RED HOT Lead Gen that Rocked Response in the Silver Market… to a 3,300 Word Double Page Spread (Dan Rosenthal Dynamite)
The great mail order copywriter, Gene Schwartz said: "You can't create demand, only channel it." And after the World Chess Championship in Iceland in August of 1972, there was a tidal wave of demand for learning how to play chess. The title had … [Continue reading] about The Power of Demonstration… During a SEISMIC WAVE of Demand
This entry demands some reflection before pushing the "publish" button. I've learned SO much about marketing and life from Joe Sugarman. (I couldn't keep it together for this picture, ergo, the goofy look on my face.) I'll be writing soon on … [Continue reading] about In Memory of a Marketing Legend (Joe Sugarman 1938-2022)
In 2016, I was having lunch with European marketing magnate and world class value investor, Norman Rentrop. Norman is remarkably down to earth, so you might not take him for a billionaire... UNTIL you spend a few hours with him, observe his … [Continue reading] about Copy Test: “Write If You Want Work” (UPDATE)
This was one of the most successful advertorial series of all time. NGC Sports were BIG TIME in sport fishing and golf and had TENS of thousands of insertions in everything from local newspapers... to trade publications like Oklahoma Farm … [Continue reading] about Charlie Allen’s AMAZING Golf & Fishing Advertorials
It doesn't get much better than Ogilvy's travel advertising from the 1960s through the 1980s. And who better than the famous Scotsman to promote the British Tourist Authority? How I wish I could go back in time and REPLY to receive one of these … [Continue reading] about “525 Castles & Palaces $15” (“Ogilvy Orchestration” Travel Advertising)
This entry was originally published waaay back on July 27, 2011. Thankfully, not all of the stuff I put out then was crap. I'm republishing it on March 16, 2022. What's changed in the world of direct mail supplement selling since then? … [Continue reading] about Promise + Proof = Profits
How is this for a HOT headline? "What would your profits be if you didn't have to pay any taxes?" It definitely gets your greed glands going. This ad was part of the legendary BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT series from Ogilvy & Mather for the … [Continue reading] about “What would your profits be if you didn’t have to pay any taxes?”
Joseph Segel created over 20 businesses over the past 70+ years, including The Franklin Mint, QVC, National Business Services, and the ritzy Le Mirador Resort in Switzerland. One of the great lessons of his career: "If you want a home run, you … [Continue reading] about The Genius of Joseph Segel and The Signed First Edition Society
There's been a lot written on Bruce Barton, so I figured I'd add a small piece to the pile. Bruce Barton packed a lot into one lifetime. He was... * Chairman and co-founder of one of the world's largest advertising agencies, BBD&O * … [Continue reading] about Bruce Barton: The Advertising Copywriter
Thomas Aquinas spelled out the Seven Deadly sins or vitia capitalia (capital sins) in the 13th Century. Pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. (I've only nailed down four of these within the last hour.) 800 years later, … [Continue reading] about Jewish Adman Swipes a Catholic Saint? “Seven Deadly Advertising Mistakes”
Have you ever noticed an ad in a newspaper or magazine and thought to yourself: "Who'd be crazy enough to pay for such an insertion?" Then you see the same ad again and raise your eyebrows. By the tenth time you come across the ad, you may not … [Continue reading] about Strange Ads That Sell
Just when you thought you've seen every Gene Schwartz print ad there is, another one creeps up from his seemingly endless oeuvre! This one promotes the Marshall McLuhan Dew-Line Newsletter which looks like it had a modest run between 1968 and … [Continue reading] about Marshall McLuhan Says That TV Killed Bob Kennedy (Gene Schwartz Newsletter Ad)
In February of 2010, (Yes, years ago but it was a great interview!) I had the chance to chat with author and former Ogilvy & Mather CEO, Ken Roman, at the invitation of my friend, Byrne Hobart. (I'm re-posting with some edits in January of … [Continue reading] about Interview With Former Ogilvy & Mather CEO, Ken Roman