Changes in Early Advertising

As the combination of new technology and falling prices helped to create a market for diversions, ie. movies, magazines and outlets for disposable income, manufacturers of these items had to find a way to get there products into the minds of consumers while at the same time having to deal with competitors. Welcome to advertising. Although advertising had existed in different forms before this this, it wasn't until the 1900's that it took off as a way of really selling products and began to take a form that we could recognize today. In the past products had been advertised just on their perceived benefit such as coca cola for its medicinal benefits, but later on it began to be advertised as a refreshment and almost as a lifestyle drink. Advertisers began to enlist the help of athletes and actors to help get their message across and to separate their product from their competitors. This trend continues today, as modern day athletes continue to get multimillion dollar endorsement deals.