Discover the Powerful Impact of Digital Marketing on Local Businesses
Welcome to the world of SharpNet, a cornerstone in digital marketing that celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2018. Reflecting on our journey, we've seen not just our company but the whole landscape of digital advertising grow and evolve. Let's take you on a journey through time to show you how far we've come.
A couple of decades ago, I was working as a process engineering specialist at Agilent Technology, a spin-off from Hewlett Packard. As jobs around me were getting cut, I decided it was time to take charge and venture into something new. Thus, the seed for SharpNet was planted – and just in time too. My old department wasn't far behind in facing layoffs. Looking back now, it was one of the best decisions of my life.
Back then, SEO wasn't even a term that people knew about. It was so new that we didn't even have an industry description when filing insurance paperwork! Finding experienced workers for hire? Near impossible! The internet itself was still budding – Facebook was six years away and Google wasn't known to the common man yet. But amidst all this chaos and uncertainty lay endless opportunities and potential.
Google might be everywhere today but back in the day, it had some tough competition from Yahoo, Alta Vista, Lycos and Excite among others. Goto.com dipped its toes into Pay Per Click first but Google quickly followed suit with AdWords. And just like that, a whole new era of digital advertising began.
However, this journey hasn't been without obstacles:
(1) Security Concerns: Shopping online was a foreign concept and naturally, people were sceptical. But as the saying goes, 'necessity is the mother of invention', we saw security measures drastically improve and online shopping is now a norm. Just look at Amazon!
(2) High Speed Internet: The availability of fast and affordable internet was crucial for the growth of digital marketing. Imagine trying to stream a video or load a website on slow internet. Impossible right? That's how important high-speed internet is.
(3) Dot Com Boom: The initial years of the internet were rocky, to say the least. The Dot Com Boom aggravated this situation but eventually, we evolved and adapted.
The challenges might have been daunting but giving up was never an option. Today, it's clear that the internet has revolutionized our lives in ways we couldn't have imagined. Businesses either adapt to this new reality or get left behind. Having an online presence isn't just about having a website; it's about your 'online appeal'. It's what draws customers to you even before they step into your store.
Let's take Amazon as an example here – it doesn't have a single storefront but still manages to be one of the largest retailers in the world! A feat that wouldn't be possible without embracing digital marketing.
So, what does the future hold for digital marketing? It all depends on where the internet is headed next and currently, all signs point towards Artificial Intelligence (AI). With Google already integrating AI into their operations through RankBrain, it won't be long before other industries follow suit – and when they do, we'll be ready!
Imagine websites that know your preferences down to a tee - from what you like watching or reading to which ads you're most likely to click on. Websites so smart that they adapt themselves according to who's browsing them. Now that's a future we're excited to be a part of!