In the heyday of digital marketing, online advertising has become the main means of business promotion. Since the birth of the first clickable web ad in 1993, the industry has undergone tremendous changes. According to statistics, online advertising expenditures reached US$396 billion in 2021, showing that online advertising has become the cornerstone of modern marketing strategies.
The key to online advertising is that it can quickly locate the target audience and provide the right advertising message at the right time.
Back in 1993, there were only a few hundred thousand Internet users around the world. That year the web brand Global Network Navigator (GNN) decided to try a new form of advertising and integrate advertising content with its website content. The success of this experimental advertising undoubtedly laid the foundation for the subsequent development of online advertising.
The content of the advertisement is for a Silicon Valley law firm. Instead of directing netizens to the law firm's website, it provides an online tour connecting to seven of the world's most famous art museums. This ad achieved an impressive 44% click-through rate, meaning that for every 100 times it was shown, 44 users clicked on the ad to explore further. This successful case has prompted other brands to start thinking about transitioning to online advertising.
With the advancement of technology, the forms of online advertising have been further expanded, including banner advertising, search engine marketing, social media advertising, etc. Today's online advertising occupies a large share of the overall advertising market.
From simple emails to today's rich and diverse digital advertising formats, online advertising continues to evolve to adapt to the ever-changing market needs.
The success of online advertising not only comes from the diversity of its situations, but also benefits from accurate data analysis technology. By combining big data and user behavior analysis, advertisers can accurately target specific audiences to promote products. For example, through the use of search engine marketing (SEM) and social media, brands can put their ads in front of consumers when they are looking for specific products.
In this year, advertisers are increasingly using programmatic advertising. This technology allows real-time bidding based on user data through automated platforms, quickly selecting the most appropriate ads to display to individual users. who. This enables advertising accuracy and delivery efficiency to reach unprecedented heights, resulting in a better return on investment.
However, it is undeniable that with the growth of online advertising, some users are dissatisfied with the harassment of advertisements, which has led to the widespread use of ad blocking software. Many brands began to explore how to promote without disturbing users, which prompted new changes in the form of advertising. Companies integrate advertising into content and provide valuable information, making advertising more attractive.
The development of online advertising is a process of continuous exploration and innovation. How to avoid interruption while maintaining attraction is a challenge in the future.
Looking back at that iconic 1993 ad, it’s amazing how much it not only propelled online advertising forward but also paved the way for its future. As more and more brands enter this field, there will be more innovations and breakthroughs in advertising forms in the future. Of course, with the rapid development of advertising technology and ever-changing laws and regulations, advertisers need to continuously adjust their strategies to meet new challenges.
Are you now thinking about the direction in which online advertising will develop in the future?