Covert Web Agency Promotions - Will More People Ask: How Do I Erase My Browser History?

The Internet is undoubtedly a powerful tool for all kinds of people; for online shoppers, dedicated researchers and web savvy government departments needing to achieve the same goals with less capital.But more web-users may begin to ask the question: How do I erase my browser history?

Whilst the Internet is incredibly useful and is welcomed with open-arms by many, some Internet users will be questioning the tactics employed by some web agency search marketing experts and company online marketing departments whereby your Internet browser history is ‘read’ to present relevant products to you based on websites you’ve visited and your assumed interests.

Search marketing resource SEOmoz has recently written about creating a better performing website using the technique, and in many ways, whilst it may appear invasive initially, it’s similar to being targeted by anonymous marketing materials based on the postcode in which you live. Companies make sweeping generalisations about the kinds of people who live in certain areas and they do so for a reason – it reaps rewards. However, it’s worth remembering that they’ll only make money if the consumer spends it. Of course, presenting a product to people who need or want it is more likely to generate a purchase. The trick most businesses want to learn is finding out what they need, what they want and when. Take this slightly flippant example; leaflet dropping residents in the City of Westminster advertising cattle grids may be about as fruitful commercially as promoting the latest suede-lined suitcase in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Therefore, businesses go where their offer is wanted or needed – it’s as simple as that.

Concerns over privacy and information being used illegitimately without prior consent are perfectly understandable and despite reassurances from businesses, Internet industry experts and official authorities, many Internet users remain sceptical. However, there are things web-users can do to prevent or reduce the amount of data that their Internet browser gives out. This can include deleting browser history and emptying your cache, changing your browser’s settings to prevent it from saving cookies and using private browsing windows which automatically provide a secure browsing environment for you to use without needing to reset its default settings. The long and short of it is that Internet users do have the choice – it just may not be as obvious a choice as some would like.

In real terms, protecting the data that your browser shares about the websites you’ve visited is a trade-off between total information control and benefitting from receiving a more personalised and relevant website experience. Businesses are increasingly trying to find new ways to market online using sophisticated methods and many are turning to web agency professionals to help them do this. The remaining question is, if everyone benefits, then maybe ‘browser history marketing’ is not such a bad thing after all?