Although the phrase 'native advertising' was coined in 2011, the idea behind it has been around for much longer.
Do you recall when sponsored material started to appear alongside the genuine article in newspapers and other print media? There used to be an advertisement for your neighborhood laundromat next to an article about how to clean your laundry.
That was native ad platform back then, which has only grown popular since.
When other means of advertising failed, native advertisers resorted to the Internet instead of tuning into newspapers and periodicals. And now we are at a period when the largest websites and platforms display native adverts.
Simply defined, native ads are sponsored commercials that are designed to fit in with the topic matter, tone, and style of the media they are displayed on. Like other ad types, native ads use audience targeting based on demographics, location, interests, and online activity. They can easily circumvent ad blockers and provide consumers with something beneficial but commercial.
