Although the Internet is an integral part of marketing and business today, it has been around for a shockingly short span of time. In fact, it wasn’t until 1996 that the Internet really started to take off. Back then, dial-up connections were the only option, and the Internet was used more for research and informative sites than for sales and advertising.

 

In fact, the easiest way to see how the Internet was used in the past is to use sites like the Wayback Machine that allows viewers to look at websites from as far back as 1996. It is easy to see how quickly the Internet changed from being a text-based research tool to the photo-based advertising medium of today! Take a look at this infographic from Dr4ward that shows how the usage of the Internet has changed over time.

 

Today, the cost of Internet marketing tops $200 billion according to Forrester Research. Companies have realized that they can spend a lot less online to reach a much larger market than they can offline.

 

The 1990s

 

In the 1990s, the marketing potential of the Internet was barely touched. Google was one of the first companies to offer online advertising, and most of the advertisements were for sites with less-than-reputable reputations. Text links were the first online advertising methods, quickly followed by graphic banner ads and annoying pop-up advertisements. Search engine companies, like Yahoo! and Google started to bring in huge profits from online advertising.

 

The Early 2000s

 

In 2000, the Internet marketing bubble burst. Flashing banner ads were no longer considered appropriate. The speed of the Internet increased, meaning that additional interactive features were added. This gave users the option to turn off pop-up messages- which of course, most people did. This caused advertisers to have to look for new ways to advertise online. The 2.0 marketing trend was the result of this, which focuses on relationship-based marketing. Companies started to use social media tools and other interactive features to engage with customers and reach out to potential customers. Engaging, viral advertising campaigns were introduced.

 

The Mid 2000s

 

Right when companies started to realize that they could build their brand through relationships, the power of bloggers was discovered. Companies found that if they advertised through blogs and other expert websites, additional people would try their products or purchase their brand supplies. This gave bloggers the key to making money online. From about 2006 to today, bloggers are still one of the most powerful forces on the Internet and in marketing today. If a successful blogger endorses a brand, that brand can earn millions of additional profit dollars in just a few months.

 

Today
Today, brands use a variety of engaging features to connect with brands. Most companies have blogs that post helpful content to visitors. Brands use social media, funny video campaigns, and website building techniques to draw customers to their brands. Additionally, most brands advertise for other, similar brands on their website to boost the affiliate income of the website.

 

The only way to capitalize on Internet marketing is to use it. If you are unsure of where to start, a professional website builder can help you find the key to success. It is not too late to start. You can benefit from online marketing at any point.

 

Byline

This is a guest post by Lilly Sheperd. She’s a freelance tech writer who shares her thoughts on various blogs. When not blogging she plays netball with her friends or kills enemy forces on Battlenet.