Advertising
Origin
Advert - Middle English, to perceive, pay heed, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French advertir, from Latin advertere, from ad- + vertere to turn
- 15th Century - (advert).
- 18th Century - (advertising)
Definitions
- Advert
- 1: to turn the mind or attention —used with to <adverted to the speaker>
- 2: to call attention in the course of speaking or writing : make reference —used with to <adverted to foreign-language sources>
- Advertising
- 1: the action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements
- 2: the business of preparing advertisements for publication or broadcast
Description
Advertising or advertizing in business is a form of marketing communication used to encourage, persuade, or manipulate an audience (viewers, readers or listeners; sometimes a specific group) to take or continue to take some action. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common. This type of work belongs to a category called affective labor.
In Latin, ad vertere means "to turn toward." The purpose of advertising may also be to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful. Advertising messages are usually paid for by sponsors and viewed via various traditional media; including mass media such as newspaper, magazines, television commercial, radio advertisement, outdoor advertising or direct mail; or new media such as blogs, websites or text messages.
Commercial advertisers often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "branding," which involves associating a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. Non-commercial advertisers who spend money to advertise items other than a consumer product or service include political parties, interest groups, religious organizations and governmental agencies. Nonprofit organizations may rely on free modes of persuasion, such as a public service announcement (PSA).
Modern advertising was created with the innovative techniques introduced with tobacco advertising in the 1920s, most significantly with the campaigns of Edward Bernays, which is often considered the founder of modern, Madison Avenue advertising.
