The average consumer gives little thought to the truly massive world of online marketing. After all, any properly implemented strategy will occur behind the scenes and hardly be noticeable. The history of this profession is nonetheless extremely interesting. Understanding how digital advertising has evolved will provide us with a unique way to appreciate past efforts as well as to more accurately predict what the future may hold. Let’s take a look at a brief timeline as well as a handful of major milestones.
From Humble Beginnings
Some will argue that modern digital marketing can trace its roots back to the launch of the first website builder in 1994. GeoCities allowed users to create sites from scratch and while basic, they certainly ushered in a bold new era. Such methods have now been replaced with professional hosting services offering domain names alongside other cutting-edge utilities such as DDoS protection, user-friendly editing tools and dedicated account managers.
The Introduction of Google
Believe it or not, search engines as we now know them did not exist during the halcyon days of the Internet. We would have wait until the latter half of the 1990s before they became standard practices. Perhaps the most well-known example occurred when Google was launched in 1998. Not only did this allow websites to compete for the highest rankings, but Google enabled browser-based searches to take on a user-friendly appeal.
The Rise of Spam
The early days of the Internet were rife with spam. From blind links and annoying banner ads to misleading advertisements and everything in between, consumers were often bombarded with needless “fluff” during an average browsing session. This all changed thanks to the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. Marketers were obliged to adhere to specific regulations and a lack of compliance would often result in stiff penalties. This was excellent news for the average individual.
Artificial Intelligence
One of the latest trends seems to already be taking on a life of its own. The growing presence of AI (artificial intelligence) is set to transform the world of digital marketing. AI now provides a host of innovative opportunities such as:
- Voice-powered searches.
- The use of human-like chatbots.
- Predictive analyses.
- The ability to easily collect big data.
- “Smart” email marketing campaigns.
What is perhaps the most interesting observation involves the fact that we are only beginning to understand the impacts that AI may have upon the online community as a whole. Assuming that advanced platforms such a ChatGPT continue to advance, there is little doubt that the notion of traditional online advertising will be forever transformed.
Onward and Upward
Where might we be headed in the coming years? Even industry experts are not able to accurately predict what the future of digital marketing may have in store. There is still little doubt that this field will become even more advanced. As a result, the need for professional services is set to become commonplace. Either way, be prepared for a host of additional innovations.
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