What day is it?

Advertising surrounds us everywhere. We can no longer imagine television, radio, social networks, newspapers, magazines without advertising. Sometimes it bores and annoys, and sometimes it helps in the search for the right product. Every year on October 23, Ukraine and other countries of the post-Soviet space celebrate a professional holiday of those who are related to the creation and placement of advertising — Advertiser’s Day. This holiday is relatively young, it has existed since 1994. Advertisers are always creative and inspired people who are able to create a brilliant idea out of nothing. Employees of fields related to advertising – marketers, designers, promoters, copywriters, brand managers – also join the celebration on this day.

How did the idea to celebrate the Day of the Advertiser (Day of Advertising Workers) come about?

Advertising as a phenomenon has existed since ancient times. Advertisements for the sale of slaves have been found on Egyptian papyri. In the period of antiquity, in Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, oral versions of advertising texts prevailed. This was due to the small number of people who could read and the high cost of papyrus and parchment.

Verbal advertising of that time can be considered the appeals of market traders praising their goods, the solemn speeches of orators in honor of rulers and commanders. Information about certain craftsmen, merchants, and political figures was also transmitted orally.

Advertising becomes more sophisticated in the Middle Ages. City heralds and knights’ servants – heralds – are of great importance. The profession of a conjurer appears, whose duty is to attract buyers to shopping malls, taverns, and craftsmen’s workshops.

The appearance of printed books led to changes in the form of advertising and created the prerequisites for the emergence of new genres. Printed price lists and catalogs appeared. The way of making posters and signs changed – they began to be printed.

The 19th and 20th centuries were marked by technological progress. Photography, cinematography and radio changed the usual forms of advertising, made it diverse, and most importantly, mass, accessible to a large number of people at the same time. All possible types of art are involved in advertising.

It is during these times that the genre of the poster gains importance. Advertising activity acquires a creative character. Information agencies are developing, which are gradually turning into advertising agencies of the modern type. The first mass advertising campaigns are carried out, industrial exhibitions are organized, many of which become international. The presentation of awards for the quality of goods at such exhibitions becomes an effective means of advertising for manufacturers.

In Ukraine during Soviet times, advertising almost did not exist. This industry has started to grow rapidly since our country gained independence. The adoption of the Law “On Advertising” in 1996 can be considered the beginning of the development of the advertising business in Ukraine.

Since then, advertising has come a long way and has become a whole industry that unites various specialists. There are several types of advertising in terms of location, placement, and purpose. First of all, this is commercial advertising aimed at selling goods and services. Political advertising, including pre-election, is aimed at obtaining voters’ votes. There is also social advertising, which is designed to draw attention to charity and other socially useful causes. Quite specific types of advertising are anti-advertising, which discredits certain politicians, manufacturers or products, and counter-advertising, which refutes unfair advertising.

Advertiser’s Day (Advertising Workers’ Day) in history

• 1612

  In France, the first advertisement was printed in the magazine “General d’Affiches”.
• 1841

  The first private advertising agency appeared in Philadelphia (USA).
• 1876

  The first state advertising campaign was held. The UK government has launched a massive advertising campaign on the benefits of public savings and life insurance. Then a million advertising leaflets were printed.
• 1920
  November 2

  In the United States, advertising was broadcast on the radio for the first time. The period from 1921 to 1940 is considered the peak of the popularity of radio advertising in the world.
• 1941
  1st of July

  The first commercial on television. A New York City television station interrupted a baseball game with a 20-second advertisement for a watch. The cost of the world’s first TV commercial was $9.
• 2006

  The first advertisement embedded in video content on YouTube appeared.

Frequent Questions and answers about the Day of the Advertiser

How to celebrate Advertising Workers’ Day?

Usually, on this day, advertising agencies of Ukraine hold corporate parties and reward the best employees.

Advertisers celebrate their professional holiday in informal communication with colleagues and business partners. Thematic parties, contests for the best commercial or the most successful advertising text are held on the day of advertising workers. Advertisers are active people, they don’t really like to sit in offices, so their places of celebration are often restaurants and clubs. When these creative people get together, it is very interesting to listen to them, because they can recall many funny stories from their work biography. And in the ability to tell them there is no equal. So if you are suddenly invited to celebrate Advertiser’s Day, don’t refuse – you’ll get real pleasure.

There are many interesting films about advertising and advertising people that are worth watching. For example, the film “99 Francs” is the most famous picture about the advertising business in the consumer society, based on the novel by Frederic Begbeder; “Syrup” is a film about how to create an image and sell yourself as expensive as possible; the series “Mad Men” is about the world of advertising in New York in the 60s of the last century. Although we perceive cinema as entertainment, such films will help to better understand advertising not just as a business, but as a sign of modern civilization, a special philosophy and a means of managing people.

Why is this day important?

At first glance, the Day of Advertising Workers is a day of people whose work helps us choose a certain product or service. But in fact, in our time, advertising has much more interesting functions.

1. Advertising contributes to people’s desire for a higher standard of living — quality food, comfortable rest, and better living conditions.
2. Presenting the most modern household appliances, advertising promotes scientific and technical achievements.
3. Thanks to the advertising of vitamin preparations, fitness clubs and simulators, and the support of sports events, people are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle.
4. Advertising focuses public attention on certain social problems.
5. And, after all, advertising can be created based on historical subjects or inspired by classical music, thereby introducing people to works of art.

Advertising itself is an art if it is original, informative, scientifically based and simply beautiful.

When will we celebrate Day of advertising workers?