Businesses seem slow to catch on to the explosion of the internet in terms of growth all over the world. Ninety percent of all businesses are not proficient in internet marketing. They desperately need help with their internet marketing techniques if they want to keep up.
MediaWeek recently reported that advertising on blogs, networks and similar venues where content is produced by consumers is about to explode in popularity and become a much bigger business. This year it is expected to hit a billion dollar business, however by 2011 it will grow beyond $4.3 Billion, eMarketer says.
Companies that are providing internet marketing software solutions are now filling this tremendous need to educate individuals and small business. This is particularly true for software marketing firms like newcomer EDC, founded by Craig Garcia and Michael Michael Corcoran, that has built up a large base of distributors devoted to helping small and medium size businesses thrive in the challenging cyber environment.
Unfortunately, it’s not all candy canes and lollipops. The picture is not so rosy when you think about it without their training and support.
For starters, the people who create all this content that’s getting monetized - you, me, your Aunt Tilly - are not going to continue doing so for free. If the platforms are getting all of the financial gain, then the community should stand to get a significant share of that money. Sites should start to implement these systems now in a fair and ethical way.
Second, people are getting a lot more sophisticated when it comes to ad blocking technology. Younger, more technically adept users have extensions installed. However, it’s going more mainstream. There will be an arms race between those who serve banner ads and the ad blockers that’s similar to the spam wars of today.
Google and Ask.com have been butting heads with the likes of Microsoft whose has to deal with this in order to survive long term. With the recent upgrade of its MSN search platform, Microsoft is beginning to go after large business clients. Microsoft, with its large cash reserves will remain competitive, even with the likes of Google.
“The advertising industry is evolving and growing at an incredible pace, moving increasingly toward online and IP-served platforms, which dramatically increases the importance of software for this industry,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft. “Today’s announcement represents the next step in the evolution of our ad network from our initial investment in MSN”. Ballmer is referencing its recent decision to acquire aQuantive, a internet marketing platform, for approximately 6 billion dollars. Ballmer goes on to say, “Microsoft is intensely committed to creating a thriving advertising business and to partnering closely with all key constituencies in this industry to help maximize the digital advertising opportunity for all.
”Microsoft faces competition from both established competitors and fast growing newcomers. EDC is well known to the small business world because of its large inventory of over 1900 software offerings. The company has focused specifically on digital downloads as a primary distribution system mechanism.
The internet has now reached its second phase of development. Consumers are now beginning to comprehend all of the unique advantages that the World Wide Web has to offer. Businesses must follow the lead now or they will not survive.
I have recently established this business oriented blog to track and comment on new internet developments and how to take advantage of them. I’ll attempt to always keep you informed as to the latest and greatest breakthroughs concerning internet marketing.
