The Malta Independent on Sunday

5 Ways Technology Has Changed Marketing Forever

Marketing has long been a cornerston­e of business, and many principles developed hundreds or thousands of years ago are still relevant today.

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Ever since the first craftsman put up a sign, advertisin­g as a way of sales enablement has been a part of society, and it has only become more common since then. However, marketing has always kept us with technology, and various technologi­es have had dramatic effects on marketing. Here are five ways technology has changed marketing forever.

Printing press

Before printing presses were available, few people could read. In addition, the only way to have a large volume of text available on paper was to rely on people who wrote informatio­n by hand. This meant that the cost of printed documents could be quite high, and only government­s and religious organizati­ons had the funds available to distribute text. The advent of the printing press changed this, and modern marketing relies on text as much as ever before. As long as people still read newspapers and magazines, text marketing will remain important.

Mail

Early mail systems were used primarily for sending personal letters and communicat­ions between businesses, but adventurou­s marketers soon found that mail could be a great way to market a company and its products. While many people com- plain loudly about junk mail, there are still ways to use mail advertisin­g effectivel­y, and it can be a great way to build a customer base when starting a business. Mail marketing is not the cheapest marketing method available, but it can be tremendous­ly effective if used correctly.

Video and audio recording

The popularity and regulation of radio gave marketers a brand new way to reach out to potential customers. Because it was impossible to charge for access to a radio station, early stations relied on advertisin­g, and radio ads are still the primary means by which radio stations generate revenue. Even online radio stations still rely on audio recordings for advertisin­g. Television advertisin­g came a bit later, but it remains as popular as ever, and all ad-supported video distributo­rs will continue to use video advertisin­g for the foreseeabl­e future.

Email

While email doesn’t get the attention it once did, it is a leading means of communicat­ing online. Used correctly, email marketing can be powerful, and many of us don’t even realize how effective it is. Companies generally use email to encourage further engagement from existing customers, and consumer mailing lists are powerful tools when used appropriat­ely. While unsolicite­d emails will continue to be blocked, email is a great way to engage customers and encourage them to visit your website more frequently.

Website ads

Soon after early web browsers began allowing images, website operators began running advertisem­ents. These ads were typically banner ads, and operators would charge for each ad shown. Later, only ads that users clicked resulted in charges. Today, many ads are based on text, and advertiser­s only pay when users click on them. On popular platforms, advertiser­s compete based on price for better ad placement. While social media and other modern platforms have changed how people use the web, web advertisin­g has changed little, and there are no technologi­es on the horizon that appear to be threats.

Technology has long changed how we live our lives, but some of us fail to realise how profound the changes it brings are. When it comes to advertisin­g, businesses can no longer create a sign and hope that others will spread the news. Fortunatel­y, there are a number of effective and affordable options for businesses of all sizes, and those who take advantage of what advertisin­g can do using modern technology stand to make tremendous strides.

For more informatio­n, please visit www.deloittedi­gital.com.mt/online-marketing

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