| Individuality in advertising |
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| Written by Claude Hopkins | |
| Saturday, 21 June 2008 23:41 | |
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A person who wants to make an impression must stand out in some way. However being eccentric or deviant is not an appropriate distinction and should be avoided, while engaging in admirable behavior and ideas in refreshing new ways gives one a great advantage. The same guidelines apply to salesmen, both in person or in print. Uniqueness which belittles and arouses resentment should be avoided, while refreshing uniqueness which enhances one's image, is welcomed and remembered. Fortunate is the salesman who has it. We try to give each advertiser a unique positive style. We make the person distinctive, perhaps not in appearance, but in style and character. The person gets an individuality best suited to the people he/she addresses. Where one person appears rugged and honest in a line where rugged honesty counts, another may be a good person where choice is favored. In other situations the person may stand out as an authority. In one case a woman made a great success in selling clothing to girls, solely through a created personality which appealed to the audience. Consequently we sometimes have signed ads - to give them a personal authority. For example a man who is talking and takes pride in his accomplishments lends more credibility and likeability than a "soulless corporation." Whenever possible we introduce a personality into our ads. By making a man famous, we make his product famous. When we claim an improvement, naming the person who made it adds effect. Additionally, we are cautious not to change an individuality which has proved appealing. Before a man writes a new ad on that line, he gets into the spirit adopted by the advertiser. He plays a part as an actor plays it. When advertising is successful, great pains are taken to never change our tone. That which won so many is probably the best way to win others. Consistency and reinorcement help people know us. We build on that rather than introduce new divergent approaches. People do not know us by name alone, but by looks and mannerisms. Appearing different every time we meet never builds confidence. Maintaning a consistent winning advertising program reinforces the product or service and encourages name recognition. However we never want people to think that salesmanship is made to order or artificial. Salesmanship must seem to come from the heart. There are winning personalities in ads as well as people. We enjoy listening to some ads, others bore us. Some are refreshing, some commonplace. Some inspire confidence, some caution. To create the right individuality is a supreme accomplishment. Pursuing this enhances an advertiser's growing reputation and brings him ever-increasing prestige. Never think we must change. Remember that a change in our characteristics would compel our best friends to get acquainted all over. Originally Written by Claude Hopkins, Rewritten by Net Advertising Group 2008.
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 June 2008 18:19 ) |


