From Town Criers to Instagram Reels: What History Can Teach Us About the Future of Marketing

Marketing isn’t new. Long before algorithms, automation, and influencer collabs, brands (and kingdoms) relied on whatever tools they had to get the word out. Town criers shouted promotions in medieval marketplaces. Ancient Egyptians carved “ads” into stone. And yes, even the Romans used signs and symbols to distinguish products in the marketplace.

Technology has changed everything, except the basics.

The Evolution of “Getting the Word Out”

Let’s take a little time travel tour:

• Middle Ages: Town criers were the first “push notifications,” delivering news and public announcements at volume 11.
• 1440s: Gutenberg’s printing press turned word of mouth into word on paper — the original content marketing.
• 1700s–1800s: Newspapers, posters, and pamphlets flourished. Brands used storytelling, testimonials, and urgency (limited time offers, anyone?).
• 1920s: Radio arrived, bringing personality and emotion into homes — the early days of brand voice.
• 1950s–60s: TV turned marketing into a spectacle. Jingles stuck. Characters were born. Mass appeal peaked.
• 1990s–2000s: Enter the internet. Websites, emails, and pop-ups (so many pop-ups).
• 2010s–Today: Social media flipped the script. Now customers market you just as much as you market to them.

Each wave of technology didn’t replace marketing fundamentals, it refined them.

Tech Has Changed. People? Not So Much.

Here’s the kicker: while platforms have evolved, human psychology hasn’t. We’re still drawn to stories, connection, credibility, and convenience.

That’s why:

• Authenticity matters more than ever.
• A brand’s personality can make or break loyalty.
• Content is king but context is the crown.

New tech like AI, automation, and data analytics can amplify your message, but if it doesn’t speak to real human needs, it’s just noise in a digital amphitheater.

Lessons from the Past, Tools from the Future

So, what does this mean for modern marketers?

It means being as resourceful as those early tradespeople who hand-painted signs to stand out. It means understanding the power of format the same way TV marketers leaned into visual storytelling. And it means using today's tools (yes, even ChatGPT) with the wisdom of what’s worked before.

We don’t market because of technology.
We market better with it.

Marketing Is a Time Traveler’s Game

The platforms will keep changing. But if you stay grounded in what truly connects with people…emotion, relevance, trust…you’re already ahead of the curve.

So go ahead: write that blog, launch that campaign, analyze that dashboard. But every now and then, ask yourself:

What would a town crier do?

(Then maybe don’t shout it in the town square...email works better.)