David Ogilvy—often called the “father of advertising”—left behind timeless strategies that continue to drive results in today’s competitive marketing landscape. His focus? Practical, visual, and psychologically driven communication.
Here are four insights from Ogilvy that are still relevant:
“Story Appeal” Matters: Choose visuals that make viewers pause and wonder. A compelling image should suggest a narrative, drawing people into your message through curiosity.
Before & After Works: Ogilvy’s testing proved the persuasive power of visual transformation. When people can see the results, they’re more likely to buy in.
Photographs Outperform Drawings: Real images are more relatable and credible, which is why ads with photographs consistently outperform illustrated ones in terms of readership and trust.
Color Increases Memorability: Even when it came at a premium, Ogilvy insisted on using color in print ads. His reasoning? Color boosts retention, attention, and visual impact.
Ogilvy’s legacy reminds us that effective advertising doesn’t have to be flashy—it just must be smart. His research-backed approach to visual storytelling still offers marketers a blueprint for building ads that both attract and convert.
Full breakdown here: OgilysLessons