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To advertisers: "Do not compete with your agency in the creative area. Why keep a dog and bark yourself?"
David Ogilvy
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Agencies are hired for their creative expertise; don't undermine that by trying to take control of the creative process.

David Ogilvy's quote emphasizes the importance of trusting the expertise of your advertising agency. By attempting to manage the creative aspects yourself, you not only diminish the value of the agency you've hired but also risk ineffective advertisements. The metaphor of keeping a dog yet barking yourself highlights the absurdity of not allowing a trained professional to do what they do best.

Themes

AdvertisingCreativityAgencyTrustMarketing

In practice

Example use cases

In a marketing seminar discussing the role of agencies.

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Experience has taught me that advertisers get the best results when they pay their agency a flat fee. It is unrealistic to expect your agency to be impartial when its vested interest lies wholly in the direction of increasing your commissionable advertising.
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