Who Needs College? Lessons From Mad Men: Advertising 101

Published by Andrew on September 4, 2008

For all of you who have not yet watched AMC’s Mad Men, it is a masterful piece of programming. It is set in the 1960s during the height of Madison Avenue and the advertising execs that ruled their world. In season 1, the account execs were discussing the latest Volkswagon ad:

Straight Talk Express

This ad, while calm by today’s standards was a shock to the advertising world 50 years ago. The VW Bug is clearly a lemon-shaped car. The ad makes no hyperbole about that fact, and gives consumers the “straight-talk express,” so-to-speak. Contrast this ad to Lucky Strike’s “It’s Toasted” campaign and the real striking point comes out.

Here’s Your Bullshit Sandwich, Sir

Any mention of the fact that cigarettes may cause some health risks? Make you smell like shit? Make your teeth yellow? Nope, they’re toasted! VW put the straight facts in the advertisement and put the decision in consumers’ hands. You’re not going to walk into a Volkswagon dealership and expect this car to help you scale the Himalayas, and honestly, you don’t need it to. You’re going to be driving this car to work and home, and possibly hit a speed bump or two on the way.

Have We Learned?

Gawker brought up an interesting post, regarding the VW ad and asking us if we have learned anything from this breakthrough ad 50 years ago. I think what we’ve seen with viral marketing, guerilla marketing, and social media, we’re seeing a real revolution in advertising.