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AI is here to stay, which means good taste is about to be even more of an invaluable asset.
If you want to be able to distinguish good work from derivative dribble, you’ve got to start cultivating your taste in ads. Here’s how:
Regularly watch high-quality ads. How do you find them? According to Ogilvy, good ads are:
- ☑️ Enviable (“Do I wish I had thought of it myself?”)
- ☑️ Strategic (“Does it fit the strategy to perfection?”)
- ☑️ Surprising (“Did it make me gasp?”)
- ☑️ Original (“Is it unique?”)
- ☑️ Timeless (“Could it be used for 30 years?”)
Next, you’ll want to practice active viewing. Analyze ads by asking:
- 💡 What problem does the ad solve? (Business problem + Customer behavior/belief)
- 💡 What’s the human insight? (Relatable truth)
- 💡 What’s the creative technique?
- 💡 What’s the hook? (Visual or verbal attention grabber)
Start an ad journal to organize your thoughts. Track insights and learnings across your favorite ads, using a structured template for consistency.
Advertising is an art! So, study like an artist.
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