- Ancient Beginnings: Advertising dates back to around 3000 BC, when Egyptians used papyrus to share messages. Early forms of advertising also appeared in Greek, Chinese, Roman, and Indian civilizations.
- Mass Media Emergence: In the 20th century, print, radio, and television transformed advertising. Brands used creative visuals and catchy slogans to reach larger audiences.
- Digital Revolution: In 1994, the first clickable online ad was sold, marking the start of digital advertising. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, search engine ads and auction-based models (like Google AdWords) changed the game.
- Modern Programmatic Advertising: Today, sophisticated real‑time bidding (RTB) and programmatic systems allow highly targeted advertising. While billions are spent every year, most of that revenue has traditionally gone to big tech—until now. Now, it goes to you.