Internet Marketing refers to a collection of methodologies and tools used to promote products and services over the Internet. Compared to usual business marketing, Internet marketing involves a broad range of marketing elements because of the availability of extra channels and marketing methods on the Internet. Internet marketing is also known as Online Marketing, Web Marketing, Digital Marketing, E-marketing, and Internet Advertising.
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The History of Internet Marketing
Though the present level of Internet marketing business is high, the Internet marketplace is very young. The history of Internet Marketing shows that the timeline of this marketing is short. Some corporate and consecutive events lead the online marketing business to where it is now. At first, the Internet was not introduced for advertising; instead, it was the medium for exchanging information and emails. But within a short time, it caught the marketers’ sight that this tool could help them grow their businesses.
Here are the events that lent a hand in commencing Internet marketing: At the Start
When email was invented, it was used mainly by universities and the military. In 1979, CompuServe (the first primary U.S. commercial online service) offered personal computer users email and other technical services. Email was used only for exchanging data and information for the next two decades. In the early ’90s, business owners started revealing email services’ marketing advantages.
Introduction of the First Browser
Tim Berners-Lee invented the ‘World Wide Web in 1990, the first web browser. It was later renamed ‘Nexus,’ but it didn’t get much popularity. In 1993, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois released a graphical web browser named ‘Mosaic.’ It was much easier to install and use. After this, the use of the Internet began to expand.
Initiation of Business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce
For creating ‘the first Internet,’ the credit was given to the National Science Foundation. In 1991, when the foundation opened its Internet for business purposes, business-to-consumer (B2C), e-commerce gained popularity. In the next few years, online marketing began to grow. Amazon, the leading online seller globally, started its journey in 1995.
Release of Search Engines
The first search engine, Archie, was invented in 1990. In 1994, WebCrawler introduced a search engine capable of indexing titles and headers of a web page and its entire content. After that, another search engine called ‘Lycos’ came to rank search results depending on relevancy. In 1996, the search engine Google was released. In 2003, Google Company initiated its AdWords campaign. This system helped marketers to provide ads according to a user’s requirements.
Thus, Internet Marketing has begun to grow since 1996. The acceptance of online marketing is increasing day by day. It can offer an incredible opportunity to people who prefer to launch their own business on the Internet. Internet marketing allows a broad range of marketing techniques for earning money online. Internet Marketing’s history tells that it is a new marketing technique. It has brought a marketing revolution in history faster than any other marketing technique.
Importance of Internet Marketing
The benefits of Internet marketing are vast. The reasons why the internet or online marketing is imperative for any business to grow successfully are discussed below:
To build up a relationship with the targeted audience
Online marketing is a reliable tool for marketing as it can grab the targeted audience’s attention for any business. The Internet is an excellent platform for initiating and maintaining good communication with customers.
To provide products or services according to customer preferences
People are getting more interested in purchasing products and getting services online because of their busy lifestyles. Nowadays, online purchases have significantly increased. It allows customers to access information and order products and services through the Internet. So, through Internet marketing, any business can provide customers easy access to information about their goods and services according to the customers’ preferences or choices.
Cost-effective
To establish any business online, advertising is an essential part. One of the most cost-effective techniques of advertising is Online marketing. To set up a business online, the cost of starting a business, writing blogs or articles, or using social media for marketing is less than traditional marketing techniques.
To increase the web traffic
Internet marketing strategies aim to find and increase targeted website traffic. This can be done by writing marketing articles or using social media sites. The more visitors will visit the site, the chances for sales will also increase.
To increase sales
As Internet marketing allows consumers to purchase products or services online, the customers don’t have to go physically to the outlets. It increases the sales rate and helps get a good return on investment (ROI), undoubtedly one of the most significant benefits of Internet Marketing.
To customize the offers for products and services
Digital marketing has a broad range of techniques that the advertisements for any product or service can be placed to reach the targeted customers or audience. So, when consumers see the offers for their desired products or services, they get interested and respond accordingly. Online marketing can help a business make customized offers to customers by keeping the history of purchases. It can be done by creating profiles of the customers, tracking web pages to get an idea about their interests, storing information about their preferences, and making customized offers accordingly.
To increase brand awareness
An Internet marketing campaign can increase brand awareness. When customers or visitors browse or make queries or searches on the web, they may get familiar with a product or service’s name, logo, or brand name. Thus, it helps businesses to increase their brand awareness.
To keep up with the changing demands
As days pass by, technologies are also changing and getting updated. Now a growing number of users are using the web. Using Internet marketing methods, it will be easier for business owners to get a continuous report about the changing demands of the customers.
Always available to the customers
Due to work schedules and busy lifestyles, customers are interested in online shopping. Using Internet marketing strategies, businesses can render consumers 24-hour services.
To build up credibility
Among the many benefits of Internet Marketing, another one is that it helps to earn customers’ reliability. Setting up an online existence through internet marketing is an excellent way to keep the business up to date and serve the customers with all the advantages and benefits they need anytime. Thus, business owners can quickly earn customers’ credibility at a minimal cost with effort.
Recently, Online marketers have been innovating new online marketing techniques to drive more visitors to their websites and make more sales and profit. As the number of customers is increasing and becoming more imaginative, and their demands are also changing, companies are also trying to develop new ideas for Internet marketing and establish their online presence.
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