Banner advertising was first used in the early 90’s as a means to increase web site traffic. Global Network Navigator (GNN), one of the first web sites in cyberspace, sold the very first clickable banner advertisement to a law firm in 1993. Within a very short time, Hotwired.com was selling banner advertising in large quantities. AT&T and Coors were the first big name corporate clients to buy into banner ads in 1994. For the record, Hotwired.com also coined the phrase “banner ad” and became the very first company to release click through reports to clients.

These types of sales became the primary tool behind any successful online advertising campaign. Sites fortunate enough to have considerable web site traffic were able to lure in advertising clients with the promise of high volume banner ad impressions on the most popular sites online. Sales reps were able to easily draw in new business despite the fact that banner advertising packages weren’t necessarily a bargain. There was a demand. It was pretty much a given that people would pay a pretty penny to advertise on sites with a reputation for consistent web site traffic.

This approach to banner advertising sales worked like a charm, providing sites with plenty of revenue and an economic base for their web site. Sites had more money for design enhancements and advertising funds, which increased their web site traffic, guaranteeing them higher banner advertising sales. This fairytale built mansions for young entrepreneurs until 2000 when the dot com industry’s bubble ruptured and banner advertising as we knew it literally crashed!

Banner advertising is still a practical modern day method of Internet marketing but the value of the ads are no longer what they were at the Internet’s dot com peak. While this news may sound unwelcoming, the great news is the ad rates are no longer ridiculously overpriced and more people can actually afford banner advertising, reaping the rewards of increased web site traffic!

This is also a lot more visually stimulating than it was in the past and can be used in other ways besides increasing your presence on the web and your web site traffic. Not only can you profit from turning your web site traffic into paid subscribers, someone that buys your product, pays for your services, etc. but you can also build revenue by selling banner ad space on your own site or earn commission from a banner advertising affiliate program. This type of banner advertising will have you selling products and earning commission whenever a click through on your site turns into a purchase on the other site. We see this method of banner advertising everyday whenever we visit a web site and notice banner ads for books, DVD’s or music available through Amazon.com or a similar site.

So, in closing, while the Internet bubble did indeed burst back in 2000, there are computers in more homes with more people online than ever before, meaning more web site traffic than ever before. Banner advertising is still a very effective way to boost your web site traffic and potentially make money as a result!