Google Launches AdWords Advertising Platform in 2000, Later Rebranded as Google Ads

Google launched its AdWords advertising service on 23/10/2000, introducing a platform that allowed businesses to display text-based ads alongside search results. The initial version of AdWords offered placement on a cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM) basis and was designed to help companies reach users actively searching for related information on Google’s search engine. In 2002, Google expanded AdWords by introducing a cost-per-click (CPC) model through an auction-based system, where advertisers bid on keywords and paid only when users clicked on their ads. This update also incorporated a quality-based ranking system, combining bid amounts with ad relevance and click-through rates to determine placement. The shift to CPC and auction-based pricing became a core component of Google’s advertising business model. AdWords grew rapidly as internet usage expanded, providing businesses of various sizes with access to targeted online advertising. The platform also introduced tools for campaign management, geographic targeting, and performance tracking. Over time, Google extended AdWords beyond search to include display advertising across partner websites through the Google Display Network. On 24/07/2018, Google officially rebranded AdWords as Google Ads, aligning the platform with a broader range of advertising formats including search, display, video, and mobile app promotions. By this time, advertising services had become Google’s primary source of revenue, contributing the majority of the company’s annual earnings. #GoogleAds #AdWords #DigitalMarketing #Google #TechHistory