Influencer marketing has existed for centuries but evolved into what we know today with the rise of social media. Here’s a quick timeline of influencer marketing’s history:

Table of Contents

📌 18th-19th Century: The First “Influencers” – Royalty & Celebrities 👑

Brands used famous figures to promote products.
1760s: Josiah Wedgwood, a British potter, called his products “Royal Approved” after Queen Charlotte used them—an early form of influencer marketing.
1880s: Coca-Cola used celebrity endorsements, like hiring actress Hilda Clark for ads.

➡ Takeaway: People trusted influential figures to recommend products even before social media.

📌 1920s-1990s: Hollywood Celebrities as Influencers 🎬

Brands partnered with actors, musicians, and athletes.
1950s: Marilyn Monroe promoted Chanel No. 5, boosting sales.
1990s: Michael Jordan’s Nike Air Jordans became a massive influencer marketing success.

➡ Takeaway: Brands relied on mainstream media celebrities for marketing.

📌 Early 2000s: The Rise of Bloggers & YouTubers 💻🎥

Blogging became mainstream, with fashion, beauty, and tech bloggers gaining trust.
2005: YouTube launched, giving rise to influencer content creators.
2009: Michelle Phan started beauty tutorials, leading to her own makeup brand.

➡ Takeaway: Regular people could become influencers without being celebrities.

📌 2010s: The Social Media Boom 📱📈

Instagram (2010), Vine (2013), and Snapchat (2011) created new influencer platforms.
Brands started partnering with everyday creators, leading to the first wave of influencer marketing as we know it today.
2015: The term “influencer marketing” became widely used.

➡ Takeaway: Influencers became trusted, relatable figures—not just celebrities.

📌 2020s-Present: TikTok & AI Influencers 🚀🤖

TikTok (2018-2020) made short-form influencer marketing explode.
AI influencers like Lil Miquela gained popularity.
Influencer marketing became a $21 billion industry (2023).

➡ Takeaway: Brands now rely heavily on micro & nano influencers, not just big names.

🔹 Conclusion: Influencer Marketing Started Centuries Ago, But Evolved Massively in the 2010s

📍 1760s – Royals as influencers
📍 1920s-90s – Celebrities dominate marketing
📍 2000s – Bloggers & YouTubers rise
📍 2010s – Social media influencers take over
📍 2020s – TikTok & AI influencers reshape the game

🚀 Now, brands invest billions in influencer marketing! Are you looking to get into the influencer space? 😊

When Did Influencer Marketing Start? 📅🚀