Advertising is an ancient art.
In the Babylonian sea ports, merchants hired barkers to announce the arrival of wine, spices, and fabrics.
Citizens in Greece hung “Lost” posters in hopes of being reunited with children, jewelry, or slaves.
And elaborately painted signs (billboards) sprung up throughout Pompeii to announce plays, carnivals, and races.
Surprised?
You shouldn’t be. The history of advertising is full of the tools, tactics, and strategies you — as online marketer — still use.
Let me show you why this matters.
Same as it ever was
The first printed advertisement in English was a 3-by-5 inch handbill that offered a prayer book for sale.
The year was 1477.
Shortly after that came the most sustained advertising campaign in the history of the modern world: colonizing America.
