Facts About Free Web Advertising
Web advertising has seen enormous growth and undergone incredible changes, since its beginnings in the early 1990s. Online advertising offers consumers a more interactive way to research products, compare prices and purchase goods and services. It also gives sellers more effective ways to target and reach their ultimate customer.
A look back at the history of web advertising, where it came from and where it is going, reveals some interesting facts about free web ads:
- The first web advertising appeared in 1994. It has in many respects “leveled the playing field.” No longer do you need to have a huge advertising budget to compete for customers. In fact, if you are willing to roll up your sleeves, you can advertise for FREE.
- By 1999, online spending had reached nearly $1 billion. Savvy retailers, service providers and entrepreneurs saw free and low-cost ways to cash in. For the first time ever, you could start a business and advertise as effectively as the big retailers, for free.
- As online advertising changed the way consumers purchased products, it also changed the way sellers advertised to reach those products. The amount of money spent was no longer the measure of advertising success.
- By 2009, social media had become firmly entrenched, giving entrepreneurs even more opportunity to advertise for free. Creative promotional use of social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, opened a wide array of new and free advertising options.
- The world of Internet advertising is exploding and while you can still advertise for free, it is becoming more difficult. The seemingly unlimited number of affiliate marketing and traffic generating offers make it hard to decide what is really free and what is more trouble than it is worth.
- Internet users are now being constantly bombarded with ads. It may be time to switch tactics and utilize free advertising options that are more of a “soft sell.”
- To be “heard” over the din of all that free advertising, position yourself as an expert. Give people information and gently lead them to your products. It works!
- While all you needed was traffic in the past, “traditional” free Internet advertising, such as free classified ads, opt-in emails and search engine submissions, now needs to stand out for a couple of reasons. First, there is so much more of it. Second, the algorithms used to rank your site have become much more sophisticated.
- Advertising etiquette is critical when it comes to free Internet advertising. Overstep, become too aggressive or “spammy” and you will be blacklisted or banned from the very free advertising sites that were working for you.