I came across this video recently on YouTube. It’s an interview with David Ogilvy, commissioned more than 30 years ago by the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

Looking at the size and strength of Ogilvy and Mather now it’s fascinating to hear David Ogilvy reminisce about it as the small agency it once was and the constant fear he felt that it could all “blow away” with the loss of a big account.

At nearly an hour long it’s a bit more of a time commitment than the average YouTube video but it’s worth it for Oglivy’s pearls of wisdom on creativity, hiring good staff, and the importance of research in advertising. He also gives the stories behind advertising campaigns of such iconic brands as Guinness, Schweppes, Rolls Royce, Shell, and Maxwell House.

Naturally many of the ads look dated now but the insight and understanding of consumer behavior and psychology that led to their creation still serve the agency well today.

The quote below – taken from the interview – may seem obvious but it does sum up advertising quite neatly.
“There isn’t too much difference between various brands of coffee; the one that gets the biggest share of the market is the one with the best image.”