Digital marketing gives people 850 more reasons a day to buy (page 2 of 2)

While users have taken control of feedback, and are now believed more than claims made in advertisements, companies in the region still prefer to stick their heads in the sand than face problems. Only around a third of companies said they monitor user generated sites for comments about them and their products or services.

Delegates at the conference admitted this was a problem among their clients. But even when companies do see negative comments they rarely put their side of the story, preferring instead to use old media such as newspapers to answer their critics or to ignore them altogether.

The problem with both of these approaches is that it not only leaves potential customers with a - perhaps incorrectly - bad impression of the company, but in years to come the online archive will show only one side of the story - the many negative comments.

The good news for marketing companies is that while at work, 15% of respondents admitted they spend time on non-work related activity.

Idle surfing during the working day was highest in Saudi Arabia, perhaps in part because while internet connections are poor in the country they are likely to be better in an office.

Men or those who work for government organisations are more likely to be doing non-work related activities online compared to women or those working for private companies. 'It's an opportunity to access those people in the work environment,' said Healy.

Research was conducted in March 2008 among AME Info readers. Over 1,400 people responded to the survey, which was then filtered for the opinions of only those who live in the GCC, are 21 years old or above and are employed. The final number surveyed was 833.

See also:
Digital Marketing 2008 - Metrics
Navigating the digital maze