Online advertising

1929- Advertising revenue as percent of GDP (US)

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Online advertising, also known as digital advertising, is a form of marketing and advertising which uses the Internet to deliver promotional marketing messages to consumers. It includes email marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), social media marketing, many types of display advertising (including web banner advertising), and mobile advertising. Like other advertising media, online advertising frequently involves both a publisher, who integrates advertisements into its online content, and an advertiser, who provides the advertisements to be displayed on the publisher's content. Other participants include advertising agencies, servers, and advertising affiliates.

Types of Online Advertising

Online advertising is broadly divided into several types:

• Search Engine Marketing (SEM): This involves promoting websites by increasing their visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) primarily through paid advertising.
• Social Media Marketing: Utilizes social networking websites as a marketing tool. The goal is to produce content that users will share with their social network to help a company increase brand exposure and broaden customer reach.
• Display Advertising: This form of advertising involves the use of web banners or banner ads placed on a third-party website or blog to drive traffic to a company's own website and increase product awareness.
• Email Marketing: Involves sending marketing messages directly to a group of people using email. It is a way to reach consumers directly via electronic mail.
• Content Marketing: A strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.
• Affiliate Marketing: A type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate's own marketing efforts.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Online advertising offers distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

• Wide Reach: It allows for a global reach, presenting an advertisement to a wide audience across different geographies.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to traditional advertising methods, online advertising can be more cost-effective, with options to control and adjust spending in real-time.
• Targeting: Advertisers can target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, making ads more relevant to the audience.
• Analytics: Online advertising provides immediate feedback and data on the effectiveness of an advertisement, allowing for quick adjustments and optimization.

Disadvantages

• Ad Blockers: The use of ad blockers has risen, making it difficult for advertisers to reach their audience.
• Privacy Concerns: There are increasing concerns about privacy and data protection, leading to stricter regulations which can impact targeting capabilities.
• Ad Fatigue: Consumers can become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of online ads, leading to ad fatigue and reduced engagement.

Regulation

Online advertising is subject to regulation by various bodies around the world, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States. Regulations focus on issues such as false advertising, privacy, and data protection. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union has also had a significant impact on online advertising, particularly in terms of personal data processing and consent.

Future Trends

The future of online advertising is likely to be shaped by advances in technology, changes in consumer behavior, and evolving regulatory landscapes. Trends such as the rise of voice search, artificial intelligence (AI) in ad targeting and personalization, and increased emphasis on privacy and data protection are expected to influence the direction of online advertising.