Ogilvy on Advertising

Why reinvent the wheel when you have the soundest principles in advertising at your fingertips? Although Ogilvy's book is almost 25 years old, it's jam packed with timely instruction, insight, and examples. Or perhaps because it is 25 years old. Ogilvy quotes colleague Bill Bernbach: "It is fashionable to talk about changing man. A communicator must be concerned with unchanging man ... The creative man with an insight into human nature, with the artistry to touch and move people will succeed. Without them he will fail." Ogilvy had insight in spades, practical experience, common sense, a passion for research as well as creativity, and above all, a relentless focus on selling. Pick any few paragraphs at random and all those qualities will shine through. Among the many ideas I found really helpful-- 1. Branding means giving your product personality. (For example, the man in the Hathaway shirt wore an eyepatch.) 2. Facts sell better than hype. 3. The principles of direct response apply to all forms of advertising. 4. Creativity is worthless unless it sells. 5. Copywriting is the heart of advertising. 6. Use the brand name in your headline. Otherwise 80% of readers may never see it. 7. Long copy sells. 8. Analogies, big words, and naming the competitor confuse people. 9. Pricing cannot be determined scientifically. 10. Excellent graphic design is simple graphic design. 11. Corporate advertising is worthwhile. 12. Always include a promise in your headline. 13. The era of the blockbuster brand is ending. (Ogivly detected the "Long Tail" 20 years before most of us!) 14. According to Ogivly, "...advertising is no more and no less than a reasonably efficient way to sell." But this summary doesn't do the book justice. He makes solid points nonstop. Not surprising for a master copywriter and former door-to-door salesman, he writes in plain English. He offers "big picture" reflections on the advertising industry, including an impassioned defense of advertising against charges of hucksterism. He offers detailed tips that are just as important, mainly on print advertising, direct response, and dealing with clients. Educational, authoritative, fun to read. A+

Wow, almost 50 years later most of this information is still applicable. Love the way its written, straight no chaser!

David Ogilvy is one of the titans of advertising, and this book provides timeless insights into the business and psychology of the advertising business. Covering print, TV, radio and direct marketing - as well as career advice for the aspiring advertising professional, the book - though now 30 years old, still resonates. The element emphasized by Ogilvy that allows it to maintain his relevance was a quote he took from Bill Bernbach - human nature hasn't changed over the years, and won't. Advertising appeals to our fundamental nature, and Ogilvy captures it in a way that is both informative and entertaining. Full of color and black & white ads and examples, the book also gives the 21st century reader a nostalgic look at 20th century advertising. Interesting and worth reading.

Advertising is one of the most powerful skills for all of us. If you are student, a marketing pro or an entrepreneur this book is the best for value book you can find in the market. Is very helpful and it is written wisely. I highly reccommend it!

David Ogilvy’s Ogilvy on Advertising is nothing short of essential reading for anyone in marketing, advertising, or business. Written with the wit, wisdom, and no-nonsense clarity of a true industry pioneer, this book is packed with timeless principles that remain as relevant today as when they were first published. Ogilvy doesn’t just theorize—he delivers hard-earned, battle-tested advice on everything from crafting irresistible copy and understanding consumer psychology to choosing the right agency and running effective campaigns. His insights are backed by real-world success, making this far more than just a textbook; it’s a masterclass from the man who built one of the most legendary ad agencies in history. What sets this book apart is its brutal honesty. Ogilvy pulls no punches—he tells you what works, what doesn’t, and why most advertising fails. Whether you’re a rookie looking to break into the industry or a seasoned pro in need of a refresher, Ogilvy on Advertising is a goldmine of knowledge. If you want to learn from the best, this is it. Five stars—an absolute must-read!

The most interesting man in advertising being the most interesting man in advertising! What a wonderful and very insightful book! Highly recommend!

Anyone in this business should read it 20 times.

Obviously a well written book, but the production quality of the physical book is bad. The inner margin is so small you have to break the spine of the book to read it. The text in the book seems to be reproduced from images of text. On some pages, the characters are blown out so much that the thin parts of them are invisible. On other pages, the characters are overly bold like too much ink was used. It's as if the contrast of the pages was adjusted to make the images look good, with a result of difficult to read text.

Didn't think I was going to like this book when I flicked through it. Turned out that I loved it. Even though some of the bits are a bit dated it's a great read and still as relevant today as it was then. If nothing else I learnt that you can start a sentence with 'And'. A really good read - has definitely made me more aware of what I am writing.

A must-read classic for every advertising professional. Excellent binding, print, and paper quality. Without reading this, your knowledge in advertising will always be incomplete.

Un libro senza tempo che - a dispetto dell'età - ogni persona che si occupa di marketing o advertising dovrebbe leggere. Ha il pregio di essere un libro pieno di concetti teorici abbinati a molti casi di studio/esempi pratici che non possono non tornare utili nel trasmettere la filosofia di Ogilvy. Alcune pagine/capitolo sono effettivamente anacronistici e poco irrilevanti ma nel complesso il libro rimane una pietra miliare nella letteratura di settore. Qualche punto in meno lo darei per la condizione non perfetta in cui ho ricevuto il libro ma quello è un altro aspetto.

A great read to get a base on marketing

A fascinating read as well as an insight into how some of the great advertising minds think. While this was written many years ago and some information is dated, the techniques and methods are still hugely relevant. A very worthwhile read and a book I'll be going back to often.