Small Business Marketing Tip #2 - Return To The Roots Of Advertising

Gravitational Marketing is about returning to the rootsform, but as a medium of information." --David Ogilvy
of what advertising is really all about."Advertising in the final analysis should be news. If it is
But, the question is...What is real advertising?not news it is worthless."--Adolph S. Ochs, American
Well, I can tell you with surety that it is not what theyNewspaper Publisher
do on Madison Avenue these days. And for you, my"Advertising nourishes the consuming power of men. It
small business marketing friends, it is not what most ofsets up before a man the goal of a better home,
your peers are doing either.better clothing, better food for himself and his family. It
On Madison Ave they have lost all clarity about whatspurs individual exertion and greater production."
advertising is and its real purpose. I was reading an--Winston Churchill
article today by Denny Hatch, who is an amazing"If I were starting life over again, I am inclined to think
direct marketer, about the current Bud Lite "Realthat I would go into the advertising business in
American Genesis" advertising campaign.preference to almost any other. The general raising of
Denny was expressing his frustration regarding thethe standards of modern civilization among all groups
campaign and how the entire concept is a mockery ofof people during the past half century would have
the core customer that the campaign has beenbeen impossible without the spreading of the
designed to serve.knowledge of higher standards by means of
So, where do you draw the line on cute and clever?advertising." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Is entertainment value at the expense of your core"All of us who professionally use the mass media are
customer base a sound and acceptable practice inthe shapers of society. We can vulgarize that society.
advertising today? Should it be?We can brutalize it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher
I would have to say no.level." --William Bernbach, Founder, DDB
And I think the forefathers of advertising would backThese men know what advertising is supposed to be
me.about.
See, at the heart of all of the big Madison Avenue adWhat it takes to be a good marketer and what it was
agencies there was at one time a true ad man, a realwhen then started their agency. What they believed
marketer who knew what the purpose of advertisingthen is what we embrace today and what we teach
is.in Gravitational Marketing.
It's not entertaining, it's not alienating your coreSo, let me tell you why this is so important for you to
customer base, and it's not being funny or cute orunderstand.
creative for the sake of being funny, cute, creative orMany small businesses emulate the national advertising
entertaining.and marketing they see on T.V., Radio and in Print. -
But, these great ad men are gone and the newThat is the crap these new agency guys are putting
régime doesn't get it.out.
It's obvious they don't get it. Look at the high clientThe ad agencies in your area are wannabe Madison
turnover in the agency business and the crap they areAvenue agencies and don't even do the crappy
putting out on the streets.advertising half as good as they do. So it will never
I don't expect you to take my word for it...here arework.
some quotes from some of the great ad men of allDon't be fooled and fall in the trap of this mindlessness
time (courtesy of Denny Hatch's Business Commonand lies. Read our Ten Tall Tales of Traditional
Sense Newsletter.)Marketing That Cost Small Businesses Tons in the
"The object of advertising is to sell goods. It has noFREE e-books section at
other justification worth mentioning." --RaymondHow To Do Small Business Marketing Successfully
Rubicam, Founder, Young & Rubicam1. Become a master of your own marketing.
"Your job is to sell, not entertain." --Jack Maxson,2. Learn to use the powerful strategies of Gravitational
Freelance CopywriterMarketing
"If it doesn't sell, it's not creative." --Benton &3. Put them into action for your business.
Bowles Credo in the 1930s and 1940sNow go out and market your small business
"I do not regard advertising as entertainment or an artsuccessfully.