The Legal, “ILLEGAL” Fishing Lure

Fishermen don’t stand a chance…

A smart (and honest) fishing salesperson will tell you, “Fancy fishing lures aren’t meant to catch fish, they’re meant to attract fishermen.” That hits the nail on the head, when it comes to this amazing ad.

Normally, it’s a bad move to associate your product or service with something illegal. But there are exceptions…Namely, when you’re proving the gizmo you’re selling is so superior to the crap the competition is selling, there must be something “illegal” that gives it an unfair advantage.

In this classic ad for a fishing lure, the illegal angle backs up the claim that it may soon be banned from fishing tournaments.

This ad has been running for an incredibly long time. Let’s see how it lures in fishermen, hook, line and sinker… Continue reading

The $14,615 Exercise Bike Sold Through Mail

Would you buy this time-machine on the easy payment plan?

I’m going to start the ad review with one of the all-time great direct response lead generation ads.

Take one look at the ROM, and you know there’s no way in the world this friggn’ time-machine looking contraption can possibly do what it claims. It looks ridiculous…impractical… intimidating…and complicated.

And it costs a whopping $14,615. And then there’s that outrageous claim, “Exercise in only 4 minutes.” Four minutes! “Yeah right,” blasts the voice in your head. Common sense and logic dictate you should’ t even take a second look at this ad and just turn the page. Yet…

…Versions of this ad have been running in magazines (including Robb Report, Forbes, Fortune, etc.) for years. Obviously, it’s getting customers to buy. And any ad that can sell this device–is a great ad. And there are a ton of powerful marketing lessons to learn here. First, notice… Continue reading