How Has Advertising Changed?

Without a doubt, the world of advertising has changed over the past few decades. At first, almost all ads were print ads. There was no television and there was no internet. This means that print advertising was the only type of advertising that was possible. Billboards, magazine ads, and advertisements in newspapers were some of the leading examples.

Electricity

With the evolution of electricity, companies started to try and work flashing lights into their ads. The hope was that this attention-grabbing message would help people focus on the ad. Over time, ads started to pop up all over the country with flashy words such as “buy” and “save.” Time’s Square in New York City quickly turned into a giant light show.

Direct Advertising

One of the next big changes was the evolution of direct mail advertising. Instead of waiting for the customers to come to the company, companies decided to go to the customers. Large companies, such as Sears, started to send postcards directly to the mailboxes of countless Americans. Through this advertising campaign, the development of “junk mail” took place.

Jingles and TV Shows

With the development of TV, companies started to purchase ad time during some of the most popular television shows. They felt that this would be a great way to reach millions of people at once. Companies started to develop catchy jingles that would stick in the heads of the viewers long after the show ended.

Now, advertising includes state-of-the-art technology, such as the internet. Despite this, print advertising is still relevant. People will always like the feel of something concrete in their hands and people who still subscribe to magazines and newspapers are among the most loyal readers. Clearly, this is a great way to reach a target audience, helping to increase the value of print ads everywhere.