Claude C. Hopkins

Claude C. Hopkins (1866–1932) was one of the great advertising pioneers. He believed advertising existed only to sell something and should be measured and justified by the results it produced. He was also a man of honesty, a man who only spoke the truth and provided a benefit to his clients.

For the jazz pianist, see Claude Hopkins.

He worked for various advertisers, including Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company, Swift & Company, and Dr. Shoop's patent medicine company. According to David Ogilvy, in 1907, at the age of 41, Hopkins was hired by Albert Lasker, owner of Lord & Thomas advertising, at a salary of $185,000 a year.[1] Hopkins insisted copywriters research their clients' products and produce "reason-why" copy. He believed that a good product and the atmosphere around it was often its own best salesperson, and, as such, he was a great believer in sampling.

To track the results of his advertising, and then tested headlines, offers, and propositions against one another. He used the analysis of these measurements to improve his ad results, driving responses and the cost effectiveness of his clients' advertising s. While working for the Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company, Hopkins sent out five thousand letters recommending carpet sweepers as Christmas presents - one thousand people sent in orders. He also convinced Bissell manufacturers to offer more variety of carpet sweepers, such as making them with twelve different types of wood. Following these changes, Bissell sold two hundred fifty thousand in three weeks.[2]

His book Scientific Advertising was published in 1923, following his retirement from Lord & Thomas, where he finished his career as president and chairman. This book was followed, in 1927, by his autobiographical work My Life in Advertising. He died in 1932. Hopkins has been credited with popularizing tooth brushing, as a result of his campaigns for Pepsodent.[3]

Hopkins was much more interested in direct marketing than branding advertising. He believed advertising was more about scientific results than image.

References
  1. Hopkins, Claude C. (1960). Scientific Advertising. New York: Bell. p. 60.
  2. Akerlof, George A.; Shiller, Robert J. (2015). Phishing for Phools: The Economics of Manipulation and Deception. Princeton University Press.
  3. Duhigg, Charles (2012). The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Random House. ISBN 9781400069286.
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