Digital Marketing
How the digital age has changed advertising.
The History of Digital Marketing
To begin talking about the early history of digital marketing, we need to start with the history of Traditional Marketing.
Advertisements, Selling, “Snake oil salesman” … it’s all been around for centuries.
In fact, word-of-mouth and visual ‘marketing’ techniques can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago. Markets in city-states like Ur and Babylon have documented these techniques being used in their records. (via World History, 2022)
This displays a key fact that explains why digital marketing has developed and become the way it has today.
The human psychology has remained the same, the median that the material is delivered however… that is the differentiator.
Is Digital Marketing a legit career/profession?
In short, yes.
Digital Marketing, at the moment, is still incredibly new.
Traditional Education routes into Digital Marketing haven’t fully established in the way it has with other industries.
The fact that Digital Marketing is not readily available in schools also causes its legitimacy to be questioned.
However, if you dig a little further than surface level you’ll quickly notice Digital Marketing as all other industries do, have their own entry-level jobs, mid-level roles and senior positions with different qualifications and skillsets required for each respective position.
Think of Digital Marketing as a new, forward-thinking, visionary industry that has yet to be bound by rigid hiring requirements.
Early History/Origins of Digital Marketing
From newspaper ads and physical mail-outs to informative videos and short-form picture adverts on the massive billboards of Times Square and Tokyo, marketing has always followed the attention.
How did such a humble newspaper ad transform into digital content in what seems to be the blink of an eye?
Here’s a clue: eyeballs.
In earlier years, the most eyeballs were on TV screens and city foot traffic. That’s where the bulk of advertising budgets went — the channels where people were most present.
Now? It’s the digital age.
U.S. adults are projected to spend nearly eight hours per day with digital media alone by 2025, nearly double the time spent with traditional media formats like TV, radio, and print.(via Statisita, 2024)
Digital tools — from search engine optimization (SEO) to paid social media and programmatic ads — allow businesses not only to reach more eyeballs, but to target the most relevant ones based on behavior, demographics, and intent.
Cheaper Advertising. More Efficienct Spending. More Convenient Campaigns. Deeper Analytics. Sharper Results.
Do you see the appeal of Digital Marketing now?
According to HubSpot’s 2025 State of Marketing Report, over 78% of marketers are investing more in digital marketing channels this year, with a growing emphasis on AI integration, automation, and long-term brand building across platforms. (via HubSpot, 2025)
Do you see why companies – and advertising – have evolved so rapidly?
The data shows why they’ve adapted.
Examples of Traditional Marketing
Real world examples of traditional marketing (marketing that exists seperate from the digital space) can be seen as you’re going about your every day life.
Bus stops. You see a billboard advertisement right in front of your eyes!
Newspapers. I get it… no-one really reads them anymore other than our grandparents! But that’s the charm with traditional marketing. Tried and tested.
TV advertisements/Commercials. A very familar one for those who love watching TV. A very recent development in the larger picture of traditional marketing but one of high significance in the transition over to digital marketing.
Bare in mind, this is not a compete list.
Simply a list to give you a feel for Traditional Marketing and allowing you to really feel the presence of marketing in your day-to-day life.
Examples of Digital Marketing
Social Media Ads. I’m sure you’re guilty of “doom-scrolling” as we all are… but during our content consumption, every so often that sponsored post, that #ad pops up. That’s digital marketing in its purest form. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Very similar principles to other materials you see in newspapers, TV etc. but the median and format is the difference!
Email Marketing. Definately a familar one… almost too familar. Those follow up emails, sale announcements, feedback requests. All Digital Marketing and Email Marketing personified.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM). A little bit more technical here, but nothing less familar to you. In the search results of a search on Google, Bing, Yahoo etc. you will see those ads at the top. Those are paid to be there and are very familar to those that use web searches.
Want to get into Digital Marketing?
To get yourself involved in this exciting, cutting-edge and still very new industry is very unique and is all dependent on you.
No two Digital Marketing Career Paths Are The Same!
Industry-recognised online certficates, such as those provided by, but not limited to; Coursera, HubSpot Academy and Skillshop.
These can provide anything from foundational knowledge for begginers, all the way to advanced and specialised certificates for those already in the industry and looking upwards into more advanced Digital Marketing and E-commerce jobs.
Have a look at this interesting article, written by an individual that has spent 15 years in this industy, on this very topic! (via Career Foundry)