Digital Marketing Background

In Digital Marketing background, I will open a parenthesis, in my opinion, very valuable, among the articles that we already had in the blog previously, to emphasize how things were done in the world in terms of marketing before this internet phenomenon arrived.

Contents

Introduction

The history of marketing and mass communication is a story of constant adaptation and change. Since the earliest days of humanity, we have sought effective ways to convey ideas and messages. In this quest, the invention of new media and technologies has always been at the forefront, redefining the way people and organizations interact and influence each other.

At the heart of this evolution, we have Johannes Gutenberg and his revolutionary printing press in the fifteenth century. This invention allowed the mass production of printed texts, which resulted in an unprecedented diffusion of knowledge and information. Books, newspapers and pamphlets became accessible to more people, democratizing access to information.

Over time, other innovations changed the way companies communicated with their customers. Radio, in the early twentieth century, allowed real-time communication with a mass audience. Radio broadcasts became an effective way to reach a large audience, and soon became a medium for advertising and marketing.

Later, in the mid-twentieth century, television became the new frontier of marketing. Combining moving images with sound, television provided a platform that allowed marketers to tell more complex and engaging brand stories. Television commercials became a fundamental tool for marketing strategies.

Despite these advances, most forms of marketing remained one-way. Companies conveyed their messages to consumers, but there was little dialogue or interaction. However, this changed with the advent of the digital age.

The advent of the Internet in the mid-90s completely transformed the dynamics of marketing and communication. Now, businesses could have an online presence, allowing unprecedented access to consumers around the world. But most importantly, the internet provided a space for dialogue and interaction, allowing consumers to respond and participate in brand conversations.

Digital marketing is born from the opportunity that the Internet provides to businesses to interact, learn and personalize their offerings to consumers in a way that has never been possible before. Email, social media, search engines, content marketing, and most recently artificial intelligence, are just a few of the tools digital marketers use today to reach their audiences more effectively and efficiently.

Pre-internet era

The pre-internet era refers to the period of time before the internet became a commonly used tool in everyday life and in the business world. In this period, communication, information and marketing were handled very differently than they are today. Here are some aspects of the pre-internet era:

Communication

Before the Internet, communication was mostly by telephone, face-to-face or by physical mail. International correspondence could take days or even weeks. Faxing was a popular way to send documents quickly, although it still required a physical process.

Access to information

Without the Internet, people relied on print media (books, newspapers, magazines), television, and radio for information. Libraries played a very important role in access to information and knowledge.

Marketing and advertising

Marketing in the pre-internet era relied heavily on traditional media. Advertisements were broadcast through television, radio, newspapers, magazines, leaflets, posters and billboards.

Pre-internet marketing, often referred to as traditional marketing, has a rich history that laid the foundation for the marketing techniques and strategies we use today. Although tactics and media have changed with the advent of digital marketing, the fundamental principles remain the same. Understanding these roots can provide valuable insight into how and why marketing evolved the way it did.

Before the Internet era, marketing was based on four fundamental pillars, known as the 4 P’s: Product, Price, Place (place of distribution) and Promotion. The focus was on the product and how it could be sold to the consumer. Marketing decisions revolved around these four elements and were implemented through various means.

1. Advertising: Traditional advertising used media such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines and billboards to reach consumers. Ads were created to generate brand awareness and stimulate demand for products or services. Although these media could reach a wide audience, they lacked the segmentation and personalization capabilities that digital marketing provides.

2. Public Relations: Public relations was used to create and maintain a positive image of the company and its products or services. This involved working with the media to get news coverage, organizing events, and managing any PR crises that might arise.

3. Direct Selling: Direct selling involved face-to-face contact with potential customers, either in a physical store or through home sales or telemarketing. This tactic allowed for personalized customer interaction, but it was costly and time-consuming.

4. Sales Promotion: Sales promotions included discounts, coupons, free samples, and other incentives to induce consumers to buy. These tactics were often used to boost short-term sales and attract new customers.

Pre-internet marketing had its limitations. Lack of interactivity and difficulty in measuring campaign success were significant challenges. In addition, reaching consumers was often an expensive and inefficient process, as it relied on a “broadcast” approach that hoped to reach a relevant audience through mass media.

The advent of the internet changed all this, providing new tools and techniques that enable a more personalized, interactive and measurable approach to marketing. However, many of the skills and principles of traditional marketing are still relevant today. The ability to understand and meet customer needs, build relationships, and effectively communicate the value of a product or service are critical in both traditional and digital marketing.

Sales & Purchasing

Before online shopping, sales were made in physical stores or through mailed catalogs. Consumers had to visit a physical store to view, try and buy products.

Entertainment:Digital Marketing Background

Without access to online video and music streaming services, people relied on movie theaters, television, physical video and music players (such as VHS, DVDs, vinyl, cassettes, CDs), and live events for entertainment.

Work and business

In the business world, everything was done on paper and meetings required the physical presence of participants. Businesses relied heavily on the telephone to communicate with customers and business partners. Documents were stored in physical files, which required a large storage space.

The world changed drastically with the emergence of the internet, digitizing and accelerating many of these processes and completely revolutionizing the way we live and work.

External resource: Wikipedia

This post is also available in: English Français (French) Deutsch (German) Español (Spanish) Dansk (Danish) Nederlands (Dutch) Svenska (Swedish) Italiano (Italian)