First use of video streaming on MSN Arabia

The ads promote Miami Glow, a new scent by Jennifer Lopez and a tie-in competition to win a trip to Ibiza. The two video streaming ads were developed by 121, Dubai's fastest growing e-marketing agency. Early statistics on the successful campaign reveal the click-through rate on the MSN Arabia home page in Saudi alone was a staggering 2.75%, in a market where 1.5% is considered very good. MSN Arabia also registered 10,200 contestants for the trip to Ibiza.

"When we approached MSN to include our V-Ads technology in the Miami Glow campaign, their response was very positive," said Anthony Rischard, Managing Partner and Technology Director at 121. "This campaign is a wonderful example of agencies like 121 working closely with the media properties to move the technology forward, give the audience a better online experience and significantly increase the ROI for our clients. This is an exciting time - with several new technologies in development, we feel that this type of collaboration can only strengthen our industry as a whole."

Online video streaming technology is highly effective as a marketing tool. Placing a dynamic ad online has the potential to reach vast numbers of individuals all over the world, as opposed to the limited reach of a newspaper or magazine ad. Furthermore, the impact of an online ad is further increased by its content. By using video streaming, content can be made more visually appealing, with a positive impact on brand visibility.

"Without a doubt, video streaming will make a significant addition to marketing specialists' toolkits. It is both new and visually appealing; adding visibility and attraction to any product advertised using this technology. This, combined with advertising online on MSN Arabia, a portal with proven reach to millions of users, is a sure way to increase product exposure," commented Rasha Abdelhadi, Senior Account Manager, MSN Arabia.