The more I delve into the past of technology, the more I find lessons we could use today. Sure, we may not be able to learn tactics like technical SEO or attribution modeling from how they sold shoes in the 1700s, but at least we can take away some meta lessons. And the older I get, the more I am convinced meta lessons is where it’s at.
Which is why this topic fascinated me. While we all know Thomas Edison as a genius inventor (or… borrower), he was arguably a better marketer. If you see what he did in the late 19th and early 20th century, he was doing what many today are trying to do - popularise revolutionary technology that he invented. Here are five specific things he did which I think are testament to his marketing prowess and business savvy.
The Tone Test for Phonographs
Though he invented the phonograph - the earliest sound reproduction device - back in 1877, it wouldn’t be till the early 20th century that he started making noise (heh!) about it. He realised that the commercial success of the phonograph hinged less on supply (musicians, distributors) than demand (ie, making people want one). This was a bigger challenge than it may seem to us today - music was consumed only ‘live’ or by just playing it yourself. Heck, a transition from a Discman to Spotify seems easier.