Click Creative Digital Agency is… 21 Today!
Happy Birthday to us! One thing’s for sure, a lot has changed in 21 years. Don’t forget the Y2K bug… when computers around the world were supposed to stop working. And what actually happened… nothing, nada, nil, wala!
Funny though, since then it’s been full steam ahead in the digital world. That’s when our Founder Darryn Thomas decided to build his first website. And the rest as they say is history.
Let’s revisit the key stages our intrepid team of designers, developers, and marketers have experienced over the years, along with our wide range of clients in just about every industry imaginable.
2000-2003: Early Awareness & Exploration
Technology Path: Websites were primarily informational, with simple HTML and CSS layouts. Flash animation started becoming popular to create more engaging experiences. Wow, making things “pop” in a website was the goal.
Public Understanding: People and businesses were largely unfamiliar with the potential of the web. Early adopters, often tech-savvy individuals and corporations began creating basic websites.
User Acceptance Stage: Completely Unfamiliar with the Internet
2004-2008: Mainstream Adoption & Initial E-commerce Boom
Technology Path: The Click team started off with our own Content Management System (CMS), but soon realised more popular platforms like Joomla and WordPress made it easier to build and manage websites without advanced coding. E-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also gained popularity.
Public Understanding: Businesses started hearing about websites as valuable marketing tools, and individuals began seeing the internet as a convenient marketplace.
User Acceptance Stage: Heard About Websites
009-2013: Social Media Explosion & Mobile-Friendly Design
Technology Path: Social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many others) shifted how people interacted online. We progressed to Mobile-responsive design websites, which became essential as smartphones surged in popularity making the ability to view many different screen sizes essential.
Public Understanding: More businesses and individuals saw the value of having a personal or professional website. Online presence started becoming essential for credibility.
User Acceptance Stage: Everyone Got Their Own Website
2014-2018: Content-Driven Engagement & Data Insights
Technology Path: Website functionality improved, with tools for SEO, analytics, and personalised user experiences. The emphasis shifted to content marketing, with blogs, videos, and SEO taking centre stage.
According to many in digital, this phase became the “early maturation” of the many digital tools and platforms. ROI for online marketing was not only possible, it was demanded.
Public Understanding: The business community began to recognise the potential for revenue through websites, using e-commerce, ads, and subscription models.
User Acceptance Stage: Realised it Can Make Money for You
2019-2023: AI Integration and Advanced Automation
Technology Path: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning found widespread application, from chatbots for customer service to analytics-driven business strategies. OpenAI's ChatGPT and similar tools introduced conversational AI to the mainstream.
We diversified into a wide range of CMS and marketing platforms to cover client requirements for “fit-for-purpose”, making Click a truly platform-agnostic agency. You want custom… we can deliver it.
Public Understanding: AI-powered assistance became common across fields, and users embraced these tools to streamline business operations, create content, and enhance customer engagement.
User Acceptance Stage: Introduction of AI Assistance in Various Use Cases
2024 and Beyond: The AI Transformation Era
Technology Path: AI is moving beyond assistance to influence decision-making, workflow automation, and personalised experiences on an unprecedented scale. The "AI takeover" is seen as a shift where AI will hold increasingly autonomous roles in the workplace.
Within only one year, artificial intelligence tools have raced ahead, with agencies and their clients looking to leverage this rapidly improving technology.
Public Understanding: People and businesses are now preparing for a world where AI is integral to operations. The focus is on understanding, adapting, and preparing for a collaborative AI-human workplace.
User Acceptance Stage: Potential Takeover in the New World of Artificial Intelligence
Summing up our 21 Birthdays
The journey we've bee on and the timeline above captures how public understanding has evolved from unfamiliarity to active engagement with technology, marking significant milestones in the acceptance and integration of digital and AI tools.
It’s true that we have never seen such change in digital. And to keep up with the many technologies not enough… it’s now about being ahead of the game. If you’re looking to lead your market and not follow up, reach out for a discussion. Our digital agency Melbourne team would love to hear from you, the pressies are on us.
Let’s revisit the key stages our intrepid team of designers, developers and marketers experienced over the years, along with our wide range of clients in just about every industry imaginable.
