How One Simple AT&T Ad Changed Internet History Forever

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Apr 4, 2025

Discover how AT&T's iconic banner ad in 1994 revolutionized digital advertising with a staggering 44% click-through rate. Uncover the rise of Google AdWords and its transformative effects on search ads. Delve into Facebook's targeting techniques that reshaped political landscapes. Explore the evolution of mobile and programmatic ads that track user behavior. Finally, glimpse into the future of ad-powered payments with insights from Philip Belamant of Zilch, promising a more efficient approach to commerce.

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ANECDOTE

First Banner Ad

In 1994, Hotwired.com featured the first banner ad for AT&T, boasting a 44% click-through rate.
This success sparked an advertising boom, with companies rushing to replicate it.

INSIGHT

Internet's Framework

The first banner ad shaped the internet's framework, with content, search, and social subsidized by ads.
This ad marked the beginning of the internet's transformation into a cash machine.

ANECDOTE

Banner Blindness

By 1996, banner ad prices soared, but oversaturation led to declining click-through rates and "banner blindness."
Users, overwhelmed by ads, started ignoring them.

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