May 25th, 2010 | Bill McIntosh, Founder

When I say his name, unfortunately not too many people have heard of this legendary giant of advertising.

He has often been called, “The Father of Advertising.”  In 1962, Time called David Ogilvy, “the most sought-after wizard in today’s advertising industry.”  Author Kenneth Roman wrote a book about David Ogilvy titled, “The King Of Madison Avenue.” There is no doubt that David Ogilvy still shapes contemporary thought on the practices of advertising and selling even to this day.

While the methods have dramatically changed over time, the basic philosophy has not. Some things about Man himself are timeless. David Ogilvy intuitively knew this better than most people. And because of that, David Ogilvy shaped and developed his craft to near scientific results.

David Ogilvy was not only brilliant and pragmatic in the arts of advertising, marketing and selling, but he also made it his life’s effort to educate others. He believed that individuals and companies could be better served if they were to engage in advertising properly. For a successful company meant jobs, increased productivity, higher sales and earnings and thus a better way of life. He truly served as a business coach, way before the term was coined.

Ogilvy’s advertising philosophy followed these four basic principles:

  • Research: Maturing as he did from a background in research, David never underestimated its importance in advertising. In fact, in 1952, when he opened his own agency, David billed himself as research director.
  • Professional discipline: “I prefer the discipline of knowledge to the anarchy of ignorance.” David codified knowledge into slide and film presentations he called Magic Lanterns. He also instituted several training programs for young advertising professionals.
  • Creative brilliance: David had a strong emphasis on the “BIG IDEA.”
  • Results for clients: “In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.”

Here is a video from David Ogilvy. may you listen, learn and in some way find a better way to bring about more prosperity for your company, your family and yourself.

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