A decade can make a world of difference, especially in the digital world. Everything was a lot easier in 2010. There were only a handful of smartphones available, and all it took to decide was to access a few websites. From using brick phones with keypads to using styluses on touchscreens to using highly advanced voice commands, technology has come a long way in a short time span. Fast forward to 2024, the world wide web has outperformed firmware technology by leaps and bounds making space for dozens of options and websites about each particular product.
As a result of all the advancements made in the digital sphere, prospective clients now evaluate a brand based on its website and its online marketing initiatives. Before they even get in touch with the business, you can bet that a prospective customer is fully informed about the business.
Bespoke Leads knew the digital marketing sector, especially, has had to evolve over the last ten years to stay up with both technology and how people interact with their gadgets. But how drastically did the change take place? Without further ado, let’s talk about the specific ways in which digital marketing has evolved over the past ten years.
Social Media Popularity
For the majority of firms, social media has proven to be an effective marketing tool. Who would have imagined that large firms would sell their goods and services on Facebook and Twitter ten years ago? But in just ten years, it transformed from a medium for connecting with friends and family to one for building our personal and professional brands. The rise in social media usage has compelled marketers to alter their approaches. According to current estimates, Facebook alone has close to 2 billion users worldwide. The total number of active social profiles on all other platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others, is at least 4 billion.
One of the most revolutionary developments in social media marketing has likely been the introduction of sponsored advertising. Businesses understood that simply having a social media account was insufficient. It was important for them to make sure that people were actually going to their page and reading what they were posting. Additionally, automation has contributed to the development of social media marketing. A whole army of customer care agents may possibly be replaced by chatbots today. To understand how far technology has come, all you have to do is take a look at these Facebook chatbot instances.
SEO Growth
Another significant factor that has drastically changed digital marketing is search engine optimization (SEO). Marketers recognised the value of content in advertising in 2010. They figured that the only way to grow online was by producing great material. However, during the past ten years, things have evolved, and search engines like Google no longer place the same value on content as they once did. When Google officially identified Black Hat SEO strategies with the Panda update in 2011, things took a different turn. Companies that offer value to their audiences have started to get rewarded thanks to the Panda upgrade. The greatest content publishers are competing for the top Google rankings, and this has changed the way that SEO is done.
As the industry leader in search engines, Google frequently updates its algorithm. Companies that effectively implement SEO and weed out black hat SEO practitioners would benefit more from these developments than others. Quality has shifted ahead of quantity on the curve. Since keywords were being employed incorrectly, SEO specialists had to adjust their methods. In terms of content, search engines still prioritise quality over quantity. A safer website nowadays increases user trust and improves Google ranking, which in turn helps the SEO. The SEO space is still evolving and there are still no accepted industry standards on this subject ten years later.
Mobile-first Approach
A few years ago, few companies and corporations understood the value of having their own website. Even the small number of businesses with websites never took it seriously. However, the advent of mobile advertising in 2017 forced businesses to acknowledge the value of having a website. This is because a lot of people were using their smartphones to access the internet.
Google began implementing mobile-first indexing in 2018, which implies that Google now considers any website’s mobile version to be its primary version. Businesses had to adjust to these developments in order to stay competitive. With Google’s mobile-friendly improvements, websites that provide a well-balanced UX for mobile consumers now receive higher rankings.
Through mobile advertising, firms can now more easily target potential customers. Mobile advertising increased as more individuals used the internet. However, the feasibility of using websites for advertising is currently threatened by the introduction of numerous applications. The industry of app development is very large.
The Era of Digital PR and Influencers
Public relations no longer function as they once did in the modern world. Today, unlike in the past, brands cannot just hold a press conference. Since social media and technology have advanced over the past ten years, PR professionals need to keep up with new developments in the field of digital marketing.
Social media has transformed the way journalists communicate with their sources. Press releases and spokespeople are no longer necessary for journalists to obtain information from brands. They can now follow companies and organisations on social media to find the information they need.
It is crucial for PR professionals to use social media in the same way that reporters are. Monitoring social media profiles and online news allows you to obtain information that will give you a competitive advantage. Your spokespeople will be much better able to answer inquiries from the public if you can determine what the trending topic is that surrounds your brand.
The advertising industry now has another perspective thanks to social media. Due to the rise in social media usage, businesses are now aware that they may hire well-known people to represent their brands on numerous social media platforms. For instance, some famous people have more than a million Facebook or Twitter fans. The outcomes can be substantial if a company chooses to employ such a person to promote or market its brand.
