F or more than 4,000 years , the advertising industry has been defined by new technologies that allow companies , governments and individuals to attract and retain the interest of their target audiences . In Egypt , papyrus was used to deliver some of the world ’ s first commercial advertising in poster form . The first ever advertising “ jingle ” or sonic logo was the result of ladies of the night in 750 BC Greece hammering nails into their shoes to produce a distinctive tone to attract clients . The advent of the printing press , radio , television , and now the internet and social media have all radically changed the way in which products are sold .