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David Ogilvy

David Ogilvy Quotes

Businessman

David Ogilvy, born on June 23, 1911 in Scotland, was an outstanding businessman. He was one of the founders of Ogilvy & Mather, an advertising agency that became one of the largest in the world. Known as the father of modern advertising, Ogilvy was renowned for his unique advertising philosophy and deep insights into consumer psychology, whose works had a profound impact on the global advertising industry.

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Famous David Ogilvy Quotes

“The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.”

Thinking Ideas Humor Creativity Design Jokes Innovation Marketing Advertising Marketers Great Marketing Advertising And Marketing Advertising Business Advertising Industry

Author:David Ogilvy

“I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing executives to use judgment; they are coming to rely too much on research, and they use it as a drunkard uses a lamp post for support, rather than for illumination.”

Use Support Too Much Judgment Research Marketing Posts Rely Executives Lamps Promotion Illumination Drunkards Reluctance

Book:Confessions of an advertising man

Source: Confessions of an advertising man

“Advertising is only evil when it advertises evil things.”

Evil Economy Marketing Advertising Motivational Business Adverts Evil Things Great Advertising Advertising Business Business Marketing

Author:David Ogilvy

“Never write an advertisement which you wouldn't want your family to read. You wouldn't tell lies to your own wife. Don't tell them to mine.”

Want Writing Lying Business Wife Mines Marketing Advertising Advertisements Advertising Agencies Adverts Great Advertising Advertising And Marketing

Author:David Ogilvy

“The consumer isn't a moron; she is your wife.”

Funny Wife Marketing Witty Advertising Consumers Sarcasm Sarcastic Moron Adverts Copywriting Great Advertising Great Marketing Advertising And Marketing Business Marketing Vapid Consumer Protection

Author:David Ogilvy

“Every advertisement should be thought of as a contribution to the complex symbol which is the brand image.”

Should Business Complexes Marketing Advertising Symbols Brands Contribution Advertisements Advertising Agencies Advertising And Marketing

Book:Confessions of an advertising man

Source: Confessions of an advertising man

“The more informative your advertising, the more persuasive it will be.”

Economy Marketing Advertising Persuasive Advertising Agencies Informative Adverts Great Advertising Advertisement Negative Advertising Industry

Book:Confessions of an advertising man

Source: Confessions of an advertising man

“I avoid clients for whom advertising is only a marginal factor in their marketing mix. They have an awkward tendency to raid their advertising appropriations whenever they need cash for other purposes.”

Needs Purpose Economy Marketing Tendencies Factors Advertising Cash Awkward Clients Appropriation

Book:Confessions of an advertising man

Source: Confessions of an advertising man

“I don't know the rules of grammar... If you're trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language, the language they use every day, the language in which they think. We try to write in the vernacular.”

“What really decides consumers to buy or not to buy is the content of your advertising, not its form.”

Form Business Marketing Advertising Consumers Insightful Great Advertising Advertising And Marketing Advertisement Negative Advertising Industry

Author:David Ogilvy

“Good copy can't be written with tongue in cheek, written just for a living. You've got to believe in the product.”

Believe Business Written Products Marketing Tongue Advertising Copies Cheeks Tongue In Cheek

Author:David Ogilvy

“You now have to decide what 'image' you want for your brand. Image means personality. Products, like people, have personalities, and they can make or break them in the market place.”

People Want Mean Break Products Personality Marketing Brands Personal Branding Make Or Break

Author:David Ogilvy

“Great marketing only makes a bad product fail faster.”

Humor Failing Products Marketing Faster Deep Thought Great Marketing

Author:David Ogilvy

“Do not address your readers as though they were gathered together in a stadium. When people read your copy, they are alone. Pretend you are writing to each of them a letter on behalf of your client.”

People Writing Together Business Reader Letters Marketing Advertising Addresses Copies Clients Behalf Stadiums Digital Marketing Marketing Strategy Content Marketing Advertising And Marketing Business Marketing

Author:David Ogilvy

“There isn’t any significant difference between the various brands of whiskey, or cigarettes or beer. They are all about the same. And so are the cake mixes and the detergents, and the margarines… The manufacturer who dedicates his advertising to building the most sharply defined personality for his brand will get the largest share of the market at the highest profit.”

Differences Share Building Personality Highest Marketing Profit Various Significant Advertising Defined Brands Beer Cake Cigarette Whiskey

Book:Confessions of an advertising man

Source: Confessions of an advertising man

“Unless your campaign has a big idea, it will pass like a ship in the night.”

Ideas Bigs Night Marketing Campaigns Ships Consumers Big Ideas Great Business

Author:David Ogilvy

About the Author

Born: June 23, 1911
Died: July 21, 1999
Known for: Businessman
Quotes: 223

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Advertising Ifs People Business Products Advertisements Consumers Economy Marketing Agency Clients Men Writing Advertising Agencies Great Advertising Ideas Brands Headlines Knows Thinking

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Books & Sources

Confessions of an advertising manRelated source material

The Unpublished David OgilvyRelated source material

An autobiographyRelated source material

Blood, Brains and BeerRelated source material

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