In case you haven’t noticed, we’re huge car fanatics here at GM Authority… and chances are, if you live, breathe, and dream cars like we do, you also have some kind of an interest in business and advertising. After all, cars is — first and foremost — a business; and most car companies — not excluding GM — advertise to get that business.
So you could imagine our interest in seeing this infographic, courtesy of Infolinks, that outlines the history of advertising. The infographic lists the birth of the automobile as the catalyst for the rise of billboards in the U.S… but we’re having a difficult time with the 1835 date. Perhaps they meant 1935?
We also find it ironic that billboards take the driver’s attention off of driving… as such, aren’t they similar to cell phones? Maybe they should also be banned…
Comments
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*expletive* advertising.
Noting makes you feel more used like a lifeless meat puppet than advertising.
Advertising is critical to any business. Despite your feelings, most people are moved directly by it in some way and the others (yourself included) are moved by it indirectly. I understand that you don’t like to be told what to like, but if you’ve got a quality product at an affordable price as GM does you need to be able to inform the public about it. I really found this post entertaining and informative to some degree. Thanks GMA!
Perhaps, but I would suggest more thought be put into an ad.
I’m offened when any organization pretends to know you like they’re you’re best friend. It’s impersonal, insulting, and belittling.
“You deserve more”…more than what? What have I done exactly that warrants me getting a new phone plan? I raked the leaves and bagged them, now a phone provider says I should get this new plan because I’m deserving of it.
“For the man who has everything”…then I don’t need your product if I have everything, right?
“X made easy”…How f’ing lazy can you get?
Charts with no numbers, look for that next time brand A is “compaired” with brand B.
I’m not going to keep going as GMA doesn’t need to be filled with an exhaustive list of the less pleasant parts of advertising.
Apart from one last thing, what car was around in 1835 to see a billboard? Sure there were early attempts at self-propelled wheeled vehicles, but they never sold in droves and virtually all were junked. Heck, the Benz Motorwagen didn’t appear until 1886. If anything, billboards were around then, but pitched at horse-drawn carriages.
Nice rant man! Seriously, epic! 🙂
I think the folks who made the infographic meant to put 1935 rather than 1835.
At the end of the day, most people will want:
1. Easy
2. Everything
3. More
Or at least that’s what advertisers assume…