Most of us couldn’t be without our mobile phones; less telephones, more personal computers, mobile phones allow us access to pretty much everything we need to go about our daily lives – from our email accounts and bank accounts, to keeping us in touch with friends & family all across the world, 24/7.
Advancements in mobile technologies, particularly over the last 10 – 20 years, have dramatically changed the way we communicate with the outside world on an individual basis – providing us with the ability to access almost any information we need, at any time, instantly. And as technology changes the way individuals consume information, it in turn changes the way businesses relay information.
This is where digital marketing comes in…
In its most basic form, digital marketing is the marketing of a product or service using online platforms; from Social Media & Pay Per Click advertising (PPC) to email marketing, and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Although it may seem complex if you’ve never really done it before, realistically, if digital marketing isn’t an integral part of your overall business strategy, you’re missing out; with over 2.8 billion people throughout the world using Social Media platforms alone every day, together with 40,000 searches made on Google every second of everyday.
But, as the demand for digital marketing increases, you may be wondering where it all began…
So, here is a brief and potted history of the evolution of digital marketing and the technology that enabled its rise to power:
The personal computer
Social Media
The iPhone
The mobile tablet
However, it wasn’t until…
With advancements in technology came small but significant shifts in the evolution of digital marketing; the birth of HTML forming the basis of all of this – as the possibilities of web development were realised.
Touch screen and mobile technology paved the way for user-led experiences and the birth of the app; which in turn unleashed new concepts in design, data capture, and targeted marketing to captive audiences.
The almost explosive rise of social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and later Snapchat gave the spotlight to the individual; an avenue through which businesses have been able to personalise marketing campaigns based on likes, interests, and geographical locations.
As technologies evolve, so too do the possibilities of digital marketing; 4 years ago, for example, businesses may never have thought using Snapchat as an effective marketing tool would have been appropriate, viable or even possible – where today, businesses are flocking to provide unique and exclusive content on Snapchat to their dedicated followers.
It’s no surprise then that, as the power of digital marketing is unleashed, the uncertainties of printed marketing are coming to the fore; businesses leaning more towards the data-driven, versatile, traceable nature of digital and the demands that new technologies push upon businesses to market to their customers in the ways they wish to be marketed to.
The very landscape of marketing is evolving, and it’s latest incarnation? Everything digital.
In short, if you’re not invested in digital marketing, you should be, so why not start now and talk to us today about creating a digital marketing strategy?
Get in touch now - it could be the start of something special.