According to an article in Forbes (and they are pretty smart), ads featuring cats or dogs get more attention.

But if you use a cute dog picture to lure people to read about something else … their attention may not last very long. That kind of deceptiveness could rather turn them off. At the ad agency where I once worked, we referred to that cheap trick as a loose nose. Engaging RELEVANT pictures sell.

If you’re in car sales and marketing, you already know that good car pictures help to sell more cars. And that the real hurdle In used car sales is not any lack of dogs … but the impossibly large numbers involved. If you’ve got hundreds or thousands of new and used cars to sell …

…. where do you find a thousand cute dogs to make a thousand unique used car ads stand out? Imagine the chaos and noise in the photo studio. :o) Sorry, couldn’t resist that, just kidding.

Thousands of dealers use Phyron AI automated online video ad service. Ensuring maximum attention and highlighting all relevant facts for ALL their cars, throughout the buying journey. All the cars and related services. Always-on.

So, what was that thing about dog houses?

The original Morris Mini was launched by British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1959. In the roaring sixties it became an icon for British pop culture, in total synch with duffle coats, free love, Rolling Stones and Beatles music. But ... here it comes:

In Sweden, the Mini was better known as ”Hundkojan” (Swedish for ”The dog house”.), obviously referring to its compact, boxy appearance. The car for young, cool urban drivers. College types, fashion models, creative professionals … the extreme opposite of old American V8s proudly flaunted by greasers at the other end of the socio-cultural spectrum.

I was barely 17, no driving license in sight, when my best buddy Tommy bought his first, very pre-owned cream-coloured Mini with black roof. Speaking of colours, I was green with envy. Today’s all-electric version is superior in every way. But I’ll never forget that cheeky little dog house on wheels.

The picture shows an all-electric Mini Cooper SE. And the hairy gentleman is a Shetland sheepdog, aka Sheltie, named Simba.

Rolf Andersson
Phyron Writer and Editor

Photo: Chris Helin