Not Digital Marketing
But it was a start… OR the start?
Digital marketing didn’t exist in the 1980s — and neither did the internet, not for regular people.
Computers were mostly found in offices, universities, or on telly.
If you wanted to buy something, you’d go into town, flick through the Argos catalogue, or wait for an ad during The Bill.
That was marketing — physical, printed, and pushed right in your face.
Then came the 1990s, and everything started to shift.
Home computers began turning up in ordinary houses. If you had a ZX81 or a Sinclair Spectrum, you were ahead of the curve — even if you needed a cassette tape just to load a game.
You’d sit there listening to what sounded like a fax machine being strangled, hoping it would finally load without crashing.
And then came dial-up internet — and if you lived through that, you’ll never forget the noise.
That screeching, cracking, fizzing sound as the modem tried to connect through the phone line.
Half the time it failed.
The other half, you’d finally load a page, and someone would pick up the phone in the kitchen and disconnect you.
Kids today wouldn’t have a clue what we’re talking about.
They open a laptop, tap a screen, and they’re online instantly.
We had Nokia bricks that really were the size of bricks.
And before that, if you had a mobile at all, it was tied to a battery the size of your house.
You didn’t carry it — you wheeled it around.
Phones back then were so basic they could only do one thing: call someone.
And even that was slow.
Remember the rotary dials? You had to stick your finger in a hole and physically spin the numbers one by one. And if you messed up halfway through — you had to start again.
And here’s a thought:
What’s the second-best invention after the telephone?
Another telephone.
Because with only one, you’ve got no one to talk to.
Look how far We've Come
And that’s the point — the tech only mattered when more people had it.
Same with the internet. It only really worked when there were enough of us onlineto make it useful.
But look how far we’ve come.
Those early computers filled entire rooms. Big, noisy machines full of spinning reels, flashing lights, and air conditioning just to keep them alive.
NOW?
That same power lives inside a chip smaller than your little fingernail.
And that chip sits inside your phone, in your pocket, probably next to a receipt and some old chewing gum.
Technology didn’t just speed up — it changed everything.
How we work. How we live.
And eventually… how we sell.
👉 Read Blog #2: What's a Digital Product?
Want to chat about this blog?
Join my Discord and share what you remember about the ZX81, Sinclair Spectrum, dial-up days, or your first mobile brick.
Like what you're reading?
If you'd like to get new blog posts sent straight to your inbox, just enter your details below.
I’ll only send updates when something new drops — no spam, no sales pitch. Just honest content for people who want more than the 9–5 grind.
SHARE
Your details are safe. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.