An enlightening interview with David Abbott
This was posted a few weeks back on the Sell! Sell! Blog. It's the kind of stuff that I read and get so excited to live in a world where making ads is a viable profession. The advice (from the great David Abbott) spits in the face of a lot of advice we encounter everyday.
Is craft important? Enormously so.
Is it the most important thing? There are more than a few people who would say, "No."
And looking through some of my favorite ads from history I'm beginning to agree with those people. Where there is an idea that transcends craft and style it becomes great. An ad is truly brilliant when it has to power to make you stop and let it sell you something.
At very least I implore you to read the article. It should put some new (old) ideas into your head. Even if it does not fundamentally change your outlook on the ads you make.
It's important to make something you're proud of. Even more important is making that thing sell.
Note: If you haven't heard of David Abbott you've heard of his work. Think "iconic Economist ads". Yeah, that guy. Learn more here.