The term digital marketing was first used in 1990 when the internet was commercialized, but it wasn’t until 1993 that the first clickable banner went live. Hotwire bought a few ads that year, and that marked the start of digital marketing. One year later, companies started exploring the opportunities in the digital space, and Yahoo was born, along with new advertising technology.
Today, digital marketing is making waves in the business scene because it’s cheaper and more effective than traditional media. While Television and print are not dead yet, the future of advertising looks digital.
How Digital Marketing Works
It’s easy. You first strategize and come up with an objective. A startup, for example, might be looking to build a brand, and that makes engagement their main goal. An established brand, on the other hand, might be looking for conversions or traffic to their new product. And that’s what makes digital marketing so powerful.
You can also measure every little thing in digital marketing from engagement levels to clickthrough rates and everything in between. The idea is to give marketers a blow by blow picture of how their marketing budget is spent.
Most companies outsource digital marketing, and that has seen a rise in the number of agencies in the past couple of years. These digital companies will handle everything, including SEO, paid social, and reputation management.
The Future of Digital Marketing
The future of digital marketing looks bright. People are more interested in measurable marketing platforms, and that rules out TV and print. Business owners are taking digital marketing courses or opting to outsource their marketing efforts to experienced freelancers and agencies.
Also, social media is continually coming up with better ways to monetize their platforms, creating even better opportunities for marketers. So, this is the time to jump on the digital ship before it leaves the dork.