What Makes A Winning Online Ad?


Most people who have been involved with sales & marketing for any length of time have heard the axiom, "Sell them what they want. Then sell them what they need". But what does it mean? It sounds a little odd doesn't it?

Does it mean that people are frivolous & go around making irrational purchases that don't meet their needs, before more serious ones that sustain them? Should you try to sell trivial goods first, & then follow up with those that are more substantial? Should you put games & entertainment on your home page, and flour & salt in your follow up messages?

No, that's not it.

What it is trying to say is that people buy for emotional reasons. Does anybody buy a Mercedes Benz just because they NEED to get from point A to point B? Do they buy it because they NEED all of the amazing gizmos, the heated leather seats & hand polished wood trim?

No, a person buys an expensive car that they don't need because it makes them feel important. You may be shocked when I say this, but I'm going to say it anyway. Luxury purchases are motivated by vanity, envy, pride, jealousy, & narcissism, even greed. And, there is nothing sinister, or wrong with it. That's just the way we are as human beings. It's what makes us tick. In fact, these emotions are behind all kinds of everyday purchases too.

Understanding how they motivate buying behavior is critical to selling.

Look at this ad for the Wall Street Journal. It's said to be one of the most successful advertisements in the history of the world, responsible for over $1 billion in sales.

Look carefully, & see how skillfully it evokes one or more of these powerful emotions. Try to get a sense of how you feel when you read it.------------------------------------------------------

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL "TWO YOUNG MEN" LETTER

On a beautiful late spring afternoon, twenty-five years ago, two young men graduated from the same college. They were very much alike, these two young men. Both had been better than average students, both were personable, and both - as young college graduates are - were filled with ambitious dreams for the future.

Recently, these men returned to their college for their 25th reunion. They were still very much alike. Both were happily married. Both had three children. And both, it turned out, had gone to work for the same Midwestern manufacturing company after graduation, and were still there.

But there was a difference. One of the men was manager of a small department of that company. The other was its president.

Have you ever wondered, as I have, what makes this kind of difference in people's lives? It isn't always a native intelligence or talent or dedication. It isn't that one person wants success and the other doesn't. The difference lies in what each person knows and how he or she makes use of that knowledge.

And that is why I am writing to you and to people like you about The Wall Street Journal. For that is the whole purpose of The Journal: To give its readers knowledge - knowledge that they can use in business.

The letter closes:

About those two college classmates I mention at the beginning of this letter: They were graduated from college together and together got started in the business world. So what made their lives in business different?

Knowledge. Useful knowledge. And its application.

I cannot promise you that success will be instantly yours if you start reading The Wall Street Journal. But I can guarantee that you will find The Journal always interesting, always reliable, and always useful.-------------------------------------------------------

This is a newspaper! It doesn't get much more mundane than that, but the same principle applies, do you see the power in it?

What we are talking about here are emotions that are inextricably tied to the universal desire for esteem that's hard wired into our nature as human beings. If you've got a pulse, you're under its spell. But here's the kicker. Most of the time, we are not even aware of the stimulus, only the response.

When you were reading the story about the graduates and the reunion, chances are, you were playing out your own meta program inside your head, and experiencing one of the esteem emotions. And it triggered your own personal desire to show the world what you could do, didn't it?

Esteem (to feel valued) is NOT a WANT at all. It is a basic human NEED almost as fundamental as food & water. Your prospect's hunger & thirst for it. Their emotions are the expressions of that craving.

If you can trigger them, & then associate satisfaction of the "esteem needs" with your product, you've got a winning ad!

Copyright 2005 Daniel Levis

Daniel Levis is a top marketing consultant & direct response copywriter based in Toronto Canada. Recently, Daniel & world-renowned publicist & copywriter Joe Vitale teamed up to co author "Million Dollar Online Advertising Strategies - From The Greatest Letter Writer Of The 20th Century!", a tribute to the late, great Robert Collier. Let the legendary Robert Collier show you how to write words that sell...Visit the below site & get 3 FREE Chapters!http://www.Advertising-Online-Strategies.com/ad-strategies.html





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
Game news: 'GTA IV' hits 10 million, EA meets ESPN (AP via Yahoo! News)
Real news from the virtual world: News and notes on the PGA Tour's top 20 golfers (USA Today)
Get the latest news and notes on the top 20 golfers on the PGA Tour. These rankings are based 2006-07 PGA Tour results. UAL shares walloped by new posting of old news (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
A nearly 6-year-old news story on the 2002 bankruptcy filing of UAL Corp resurfaced on the Internet on Monday, clobbering the airline's shares briefly as some traders mistook the report as current and plausible news. Asyncast delivers custom news to hands-free mobile devices (CNET)
The company's Rocketron service allows users to set preferences for the kinds of news stories they want to hear, as well as filter controls for news they don't want. Young adults want less election news (UPI)
EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. young adults say there is too much election-related news on Internet news sites, a university study indicates. CNET News Daily Podcast: The new Zune plays its tune (CNET)
Microsoft lets "slip" Zune news one day before Apple's big shindig. Big ad group says Google-Yahoo is a bad idea. Who says real spies don't dig social networking? Game News: 'GTA IV' Hits 10 Million, EA Meets ESPN (CBS News)
Real news from the virtual world: ABC News gets first Palin interview (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
ABC News' Charles Gibson has snagged the first interview with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin since she was named the GOP's vice presidential pick on August 29. United Airlines hit by 5-year-old news (UPI)
CHICAGO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- United Airline's stock value plunged Monday after a 5-year-old news story was posted on a Florida newspaper's Web site. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI)
Spears wins 3 MTV Video Music Awards ... 'Wrestler' wins Golden Lion in Venice ... Report: MSNBC shuffles election anchors ... Iconic Astroland park closes ... News from United Press International.

Site: news - Google News
New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority - New York Times

Washington Post

New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority
New York Times, United States - 4 hours ago
The latest on the presidential transition and other political news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion. ...
Video: Senate Leaders Say Burris May Be Seated AssociatedPress
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News ... CBS News
New Congress hears call to 'get something done' USA Today
Boston Globe - Los Angeles Times
all 8,584 news articles
O'Brien: Apple's final appearance at Macworld signals new era - San Jose Mercury News

guardian.co.uk

O'Brien: Apple's final appearance at Macworld signals new era
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 4 hours ago
Schiller unveiled a series of upgrades and new features to Apple products that pleased the Mac faithful, but otherwise felt incremental. ...
Video: Steve Jobs Weight Loss Due to Hormone Imbalance AssociatedPress
Apple unveils software updates, new laptop San Francisco Chronicle
Alternate Universe of Macworld News PC World
Contra Costa Times - New Zealand Herald
all 2,660 news articles
Challenges for the New Chief Performance Officer - Washington Post

ABC News

Challenges for the New Chief Performance Officer
Washington Post, United States - 1 hour ago
When Bernie Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme hits the news, we realize the Securities and Exchange Commisssion needs to step up its enforcement. ...
Video: Obama Names Chief Performance Officer AssociatedPress
AP Top News at 12:16 pm EST The Associated Press
Breaking News Obama names Killefer as first CPO FCW.com
The Washington Independent - Minnesota Public Radio
all 453 news articles
Israel Mulls New Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal - CBS News

WELT ONLINE

Israel Mulls New Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal
CBS News, NY - 9 hours ago
Israel entered the current conflict saying it wanted to change the situation in Gaza, not necessarily change the regime, reported CBS News correspondent ...
Video: Gaza Gets a Brief Break AssociatedPress
News Analysis: How far to Gaza ceasefire? Xinhua
Sarkozy: 'Too Soon to Talk of Good News in Gaza' Voice of America
The Associated Press - Philadelphia Inquirer
all 27,817 news articles
McGraw-Hill Hires Groves for New S&P Ombudsman Post - Bloomberg

McGraw-Hill Hires Groves for New S&P Ombudsman Post
Bloomberg - 2 hours ago
Groves will start his new job on Feb. 16, New York-based McGraw-Hill said in a statement today. S&P and Moody?s Investors Service have been criticized for ...
Happy New Year, Mark Zuckerberg! Facebook hits 150 million - CNET News

Happy New Year, Mark Zuckerberg! Facebook hits 150 million
CNET News, CA - 4 hours ago
Most of the site's new members now come from outside the US "This includes people in every continent--even Antarctica," the post read. ...
Apple, labels, sing new tunes on iTunes - CNET News

Times Online

Apple, labels, sing new tunes on iTunes
CNET News, CA - 23 hours ago
CNET News' Greg Sandoval, who broke that story, talks about Apple's plans to expand DRM-free music, and roll out a flexible pricing strategy for selling ...
Apple disappoints: No Jobs or big news at Macworld Reuters
iTunes Music Store Finally Drops DRM, Adds New Prices Wired News
New iTunes is DRM Free but It's Still Restricted All About Jazz
MacNN - CrunchGear
all 1,145 news articles
Level Vision Electronics Appoints New President, CEO - CNNMoney.com

Level Vision Electronics Appoints New President, CEO
CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
Level Vision Electronics Ltd. (PINKSHEETS: LVLV) (FRANKFURT: M4U) announced today the appointment of Habib Coriaty as the new President, CEO and as the new ...
Projected deficits put Obama stimulus in new light - The Associated Press

The Miami Herald

Projected deficits put Obama stimulus in new light
The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
Obama indeed offered a promise of long-term fiscal discipline at a news conference that he held just a short time after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget ...
Obama Appoints New Officer to Get Rid of Government Waste Voice of America
Mr. Obama vs. $1trillion-dollar Deficit | World News | World ... International Reporter
Obama Warns About Years of Trillion-Dollar Deficits New York Times
Washington Post
all 921 news articles
Health Buzz: Bird Flu Kills in China and Other Health News - U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report

Health Buzz: Bird Flu Kills in China and Other Health News
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 3 hours ago
Some are worried that the bird flu could mutate into a virus that can be transmitted from person to person, the New York Times reports. ...

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for advertising
Ad-averse Mobile Users Will Pay to Avoid Advertising (Cellular-News.com)

Mobile providers looking to boost their revenues through content downloads and advertising are in for a rough ride, according to a new study by market researchers TNS. A Web advertising dark horse goes on the offensive (Market Watch)

While its rivals have been fetching multibillion-dollar acquisition offers from the likes of Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp., online-advertising firm ValueClick Inc. has been busy digging its way out of a legal mess. Intergi's Video Game & Entertainment Advertising Network Has Largest Potential Reach in U.S. According to Newest ... (Centre Daily Times)

Intergi (www.intergi.com), a leading video game and entertainment site representation company and advertising network, today announced that it now has a total potential advertising reach of 52.4 million unique visitors in the United States, topping other targeted ad networks - including bellwethers such as Advertising.com Games and Yahoo! Games. Based on the latest data from the August 2008 ... Largest ever advertising billboard at London Bridge Station (London SE1)

A huge advertising billboard has been unveiled at London Bridge Station to promote the NSPCC and brighten up hoardings on the concourse. Online Brokerage Sites See Increased Visitors With Ramped up Online Advertising Efforts (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)

comScore, Inc. , a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study of the online trading and brokerage industry showing strong visitor growth to online brokerage sites coinciding with heavy online advertising efforts by several of the key brokerages. Advertising spend in Qatar crawls (MENAFN)

Advertising spend in Qatar crawls Intergi's Video Game & Entertainment Advertising Network Has Largest Potential Reach in U.S. According to Newest ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.----Intergi , a leading video game and entertainment site representation company and advertising network, today announced that it now has a total potential advertising reach of 52.4 million unique visitors in the United States, topping other targeted ad networks - including bellwethers such as Advertising.com Games and Yahoo! GCC advertising expenditure rises by 23.6% (MENAFN)

GCC advertising expenditure rises by 23.6% NeoMedia and Format Dynamics Join Forces to Integrate Innovations in Online & Offline Advertising (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)

NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC.BB: NEOM), and Format Dynamics, Inc., today announced a strategic alliance designed to accelerate innovation in both online and offline advertising. Bald Is Beautiful (Advertising Space) (CBS News)

New Zealand's national airline is offering to pay bald travelers to use their heads - literally - in a new advertising campaign. Site: advertising - Google News
US court upholds LA ban on billboards - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Business Journal

US court upholds LA ban on billboards
Los Angeles Times, CA - 9 hours ago
The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a lower-court ruling, saying the city's 2002 prohibition of outdoor advertising does not violate a sign ...
Laurence Tribe Tangles with Los Angeles -- and Loses! LA Weekly
Rare Victory: Sign Company Slapped Down By Court Curbed
Appeals court upholds LA's billboard ban San Jose Mercury News
Los Angeles Times
all 34 news articles
New York Times now offers front-page advertising - MarketWatch

The Money Times

New York Times now offers front-page advertising
MarketWatch - Jan 5, 2009
"In 2006 we began testing ads on some section fronts and received a very positive response from the advertising community," said Denise Warren, ...
Video: Money Minute: Times Ads, Hyundai, Construction AssociatedPress
How much are those front-page Times ads? Reuters
NY Times debuts front-page ad; new revenue source The Associated Press
Western Standard- Shotgun Blog - Adweek
all 360 news articles
Time Warner Writes Down $25 Billion In Assets, Cuts '08 View - CNNMoney.com

TopNews

Time Warner Writes Down $25 Billion In Assets, Cuts '08 View
CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
Time Warner also said "the economic environment has proved somewhat more challenging" than previously expected, especially for its advertising-dependent ...
Time Warner to Report Loss After $25 Billion Charge Bloomberg
Time Warner to Suffer Net Operating Loss for '08 Adweek
Time Warner now expects a loss BloggingStocks
Silicon Alley Insider - Mediapost.com
all 554 news articles
France Plans Ban on Mobile Phone Advertising to Children - Bloomberg

France Plans Ban on Mobile Phone Advertising to Children
Bloomberg - 48 minutes ago
7 (Bloomberg) -- France plans to ban advertising of mobile phones to children on concerns about possible long-term health damage caused by their increased ...
Recession raises stakes for Super Bowl advertising - guardian.co.uk

Recession raises stakes for Super Bowl advertising
guardian.co.uk, UK - Jan 6, 2009
"The Super Bowl remains this incredibly unique advertising opportunity because you get all this focus and all this attention and all the PR buzz around it," ...
Biggest-Advertising Lawyer Spent $20M in 2007 - ABA Journal

Biggest-Advertising Lawyer Spent $20M in 2007
ABA Journal, IL - 2 hours ago
Sokolove spent more than $20 million advertising his firm in 2007, but he refers all of his cases to other lawyers and takes a percentage of the recovery, ...
Iliad, France Telecom CEOs Press Senators to Cut Public TV Tax - Bloomberg

New Zealand Herald

Iliad, France Telecom CEOs Press Senators to Cut Public TV Tax
Bloomberg - 9 hours ago
President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed a 0.9 percent levy on the telecommunications companies? sales to make up for lost revenue from an advertising ban on ...
Is Nicolas Sarkozy really trying to Berlusconise French TV? Telegraph.co.uk
Strikes greet Sarkozy's TV reform BBC News
French unions decry TV advertising change Forbes
World Socialist Web Site - Voice of America
all 155 news articles
BeliefNetworks, Inc. Launches AffinityAgent Advertising ... - MSNBC

BeliefNetworks, Inc. Launches AffinityAgent Advertising ...
MSNBC - Jan 6, 2009
Utilizing this technology, BeliefNetworks is able to help a variety of customers in the advertising and publishing world develop relevant ad concepts and ...
Dallas Pushes for More Video Board Advertising - MSNBC

Dallas Pushes for More Video Board Advertising
MSNBC - Jan 6, 2009
The city council is looking to add more video advertising boards and told city staff that the five currently planned for Main Street are not enough. ...
American-Muslims And The Advertising Agency Dilemma - mediabistro.com

mediabistro.com

American-Muslims And The Advertising Agency Dilemma
mediabistro.com, NY - 1 hour ago
The world is a crazy place right now so, we decided try and make sense of at leat one puzzle: Islamic/Arab/Desi advertising in the US Naturally, ...
New Ad Agency Caters To The Muslim-American Consumer And Their ... mediabistro.com
all 2 news articles
Home | Site Map | Resource Links