In a time where algorithms, analytics, and AI-generated images are so prevalent, it’s easy to forget that marketing hasn’t always been so high-tech. Before we were chasing impressions and engagement rates, marketing was hands-on, personal, and at times, charmingly imperfect. So let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the basics in marketing methods that we still think about today.
Old Signs
There’s something really special about old signs. So much love and attention went into not just the design, but the physical creation of these signs—whether they were hand-painted, welded, or carefully lit with neon tubes.
Boise recently put some of its most iconic neon signs on display in a gallery walk. A true nod to the past and a reminder of how creativity used to shine (literally).
Jingles
What catchy jingles do you still remember hearing on the radio or TV? For me it’s the Reese’s Puffs “Amazing Things Can Happen” commercial. In case you need a refresher: Reeses Puffs – Amazing Things Can Happen.
I still remember “Reese’s Puffs Reese’s Puffs, peanut butter chocolate flavorrrrrr” every time someone mentions Reese’s Puffs (I work with kids, so this comes up more often than you’d think!)
Jingles remind us how powerful sound can be in marketing, and how much they can stick with us.
Billboards
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the classic highway billboard. There’s something iconic about those giant signs that would suddenly pop out of nowhere during a family road trip—the ones that suddenly make you feel hungry, curious, or have a supposed note from “Jesus himself.” A well-designed billboard can catch your attention for just long enough to plant an idea, a craving, or just make you wonder.
That’s the power of storytelling in a single frame.
Mailers
We all have experience with mailers. I still receive them advertising 50% off windows if I order before the end of the month.
While I feel like that may be a scam, mailers can be especially useful in small towns or for new businesses; they’re a smart (and personal) way to make an introduction. A good mailer can be a nice surprise to receive—even more so when there’s a coupon attached!
It’s tactile. It’s local. And it’s still one of the most underrated ways to make your brand or company feel real.
Yellow Pages
Now nearly obsolete, Yellow Pages were once the go-to spot for finding anything. Need a new roof? An electrician? A new family dog? The yellow pages had your back. It was our analog search engine long before Google. And honestly, there’s something to be said for the simplicity of flipping through those pages and seeing your company, or local businesses that you support, represented in print.
Today, we see glimpses of that spirit in the Jackson Hole Daily newspaper, where neighbors can find their local handyman or the latest deal on winter tires.
The Lemonade Stand
Marketing doesn’t have to be polished and perfect.
Think about the classic lemonade stand with hand drawn signs full of crooked letters, and the definitely made-up pricing, but still so delicious and refreshing.
There’s honesty and heart in imperfection. Not all brands are created equal, and the best ones? They aren’t afraid to show their human side.
In The End…
Going back to basics in marketing gives us a sense of comfort. It doesn’t mean going backward, it means remembering what made people connect in the first place. That’s creativity, storytelling, and authenticity.
Whether it’s a neon sign, a jingle, or a lemonade stand on the corner—the best marketing still comes down to the same thing: people reaching people.
