Maktoob.com set to introduce blog revolution in Arab world

The new development will allow the web portal's large member base of over 4 million users to express their thoughts on issues ranging from music to movies, lifestyle to business, cars to gaming, sports to politics, travel to tourism and food to technology, among others.

The new development, called Maktoob Blogs (web address) is the latest in the web community's initiatives to encompass as many useful features on its website as possible, in order to appeal to all types of users. The Blogs sections will allow Internet users to communicate with other people in the Arab world and share their experiences through online journals that they can use to comment, debate, publish and educate.

A top Maktoob.com official explained that the launch of the blog site will help Arab blog writers, who until now had to depend on non-Arab sites, to post their views in their own language. It would also help them to address a wider audience of Web-savvy readers who constantly search for useful reading content.

"Blogs are the progressive, new way for Internet users to connect with other people who share likeminded interests," explained Samih Toukan, CEO of Maktoob.com.

"The new portal has been developed to host thousands of blog postings through a medium that will provide rich, unfiltered and compelling content to millions of blog writers and visitors in the Arab world."

Toukan added that by offering this innovative platform, Maktoob.com aimed to be at the forefront of the technological revolution that is sweeping the Arab world. "Maktoob.com believes strongly in creating and expanding thriving online communities and I am confident that it will create a milestone in our service. Through Maktoob Blogs, both experienced and amateur contributors can explore new levels of expression and creativity with complete control over their editorials," he added.

Toukan added that Maktoob.com's latest feature will also enable media in the region to communicate with their readers directly or gain a direct understanding of audience perceptions of various issues in their countries. The spread of the blogging phenomenon has also compelled media companies worldwide to build their profile on this important feature.

"Most Weblogs are produced by individuals, who have a passion for a particular subject. But now, worldwide, we are witnessing the emergence of top journalists, both independent and professional writers, who are looking at the blogs as an excellent way to interact with their audiences," he explained. "This positive trend will undoubtedly go a long way in increasing the Arabic content on the web."

Toukan pointed out that companies worldwide were increasingly using blogs to improve relations with their employees and increase brand awareness among consumers. "The blogosphere started with a few young people writing their journals but it has now spread to the business world, which is continuously exploring new ways to speak directly to its audiences," he said.

Businesses around the world over were increasingly creating corporate blogs to boost their internal and external communications as part of their efforts to connect with their employees, consumers, partners and investors in order to stimulate discussion, solicit opinions and understand their requirements, he added.

"The rapidly growing population of bloggers in the Arab world would soon compel advertisers and marketers in the region and beyond to devise specific strategies to target them," Toukan said.

"While being an effective extension of our existing services, blogs are an excellent way of educating your target consumers about your business," he stated. "In fact, an impartial study by comscore.com on Internet behavior has found that blog visitors are more frequent visitors to websites and spend substantially greater time online in comparison to the average visitor. They are also more likely to buy products and services online than other Internet users."