New Age of Advertising

Dramatic Rise in Advertising Usage From 1865 to 1930

Why did the period between 1865 and 1930 see such a dramatic rise in advertising usage?

The timeframe from 1865 to 1930 is representing a shift in the nation and society. This is because technological advancements helped to invite transformations from an agricultural society to one that was focused on industrial manufacturing. These changes meant that firms had to offer various reasons for purchasing their products and services during this time. To fully understand what took place requires examining this period and how it created a rise in the industry. Together, these elements will illustrate the way advertising was used to connect with the growing segments of society.

The main reason why there was such an increase in advertising usage was from a shift in society. This occurred with more people moving to the cities and wanting to purchase various household items. Advertising was a way producers could promote their products and reach out to a larger demographic of people. (Johnson, 2005) (Pincas, 2008)

At the same time, everyone was wealthier and they wanted to buy items that were once considered to be a luxury. To encourage them to purchase these products, advertising was a way of showing how something was stylish and that it would simplify their lives. These factors are what led to the initial rise in advertising. (Johnson, 2005) (Pincas, 2008)

As time went by, the various technological advancements meant, that there was a need to promote even more products to this growing segment of consumers. Advertising was the most effective medium in reaching out to them and informing potential customers about what they had to offer. (Johnson, 2005) (Pincas, 2008)

In the 20th century, society changed and became consumer driven. After everybody made their first purchases, they needed to have another avenue of encouraging them to spend more money. The best way that this can be achieved is through utilizing advertising, to encourage them that they must have a specific product. (Johnson, 2005) (Pincas, 2008)

For example, in the early 1900s, Ford dominated the marketplace with its Model T. This car made it possible for many people to have the one luxury item they could never afford. Once they bought these items, there was no effective way of encouraging them to make another purchase anytime soon. (Johnson, 2005) (Pincas, 2008)

In the 1920s, General Motors realized that there were different tastes and styles. The result; is they offered customers with a larger selection of cars and trucks. The most notable include: Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac. The basic idea was to encourage consumers to buy the latest models to meet these tastes. (Johnson, 2005) (Pincas, 2008)

Advertising was an avenue which was utilized to show how someone could live up to these standards. This led to GM outselling Ford, by offering customers with a larger variety of choices. In 1926, Ford was forced to abandon the Model T. And begin offering a larger assortment of vehicles to meet these guidelines. Advertising helped companies to connect with cliental and stand out among competitors. (Johnson, 2005) (Pincas, 2008)