Copywriting advice from a long, long time ago…
Posted by James, 19 March 2021 (2 minute read)
We all know about the great copywriters of the 20th century. Giants of the industry – including David Ogilvy, Howard Gossage and Shirley Polykoff – have given us copywriters plenty of sage advice and countless inspiring soundbites.
But what if we delve further back – even as far as the 16th century? Because if we do, it becomes clear that good copywriting advice has been around much, much longer.
So in today’s JW’s Thoughts of a Copywriter, I’ve put together 15 examples of copywriting advice from a long, long time ago…
1. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo Da Vinci (1452–1519)
2. “The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock to save time.” – Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
3. “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” – Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
4. “There are two motives to action: self-interest and fear.” – Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821)
5. “Advertising is like learning – a little is a dangerous thing.” – P.T. Barnum (1810–1891)
6. “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” – Mark Twain (1835–1910)
7. “Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” – Mark Twain (1835–1910)
8. “Don’t use big words. They mean so little.” – Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
9. “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” – Anton Chekhov (1860–1904)
10. “Advertising is salesmanship in print.” – John E. Kennedy (1864–1928)
11. “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Albert Einstein (1879–1955)
12. “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.” – Dale Carnegie (1888–1955)
13. “You can make anything by writing.” – C.S. Lewis (1898–1963)
14. “Every writer I know has trouble writing.” – Joseph Heller (1923–1999)
15. “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath (1932–1963)
Which is your favourite? Do you know other examples of copywriting advice from a long, long time ago? Comment below, tell me on Twitter (@JWCopywriting) or direct message my Facebook page.
And JW Copywriting Services is here to help your business today, so take a look at the services I offer here!
In a couple of weeks, I’ll be taking a look at some of the most inventive examples of billboard advertising.
Until then,
JW