Programme

Attend and get a free Google Adwords coupon worth $50!


DAY ONE: 4th March 2009

08:30 Registration and coffee

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09:00 Chairman's opening remarks

Chad Hussain, Sales Director, AME Info

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09:10 Adapting your marketing strategy to gain from online behavioral changes in the Middle East

• Understanding what your audience wants
• Recognizing your audiences requirements and assessing the best strategies to reach your customers
• Clarifying the barriers to implementation
• Harness the benefits of localisation

Nahel Menon, eComms Director, DU

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09:50 Client/Agency debate: How can the Middle East become a Digital Marketing World Leader?

• What lessons can the Middle East learn from other markets?
• What hurdles are preventing the industry from faster growth?
• Who should take the lead?

Moderator
Rob Jones, Editorial Director, AME Info

Speakers
Ali Sinaei, Head of Online Advertising, Bayt.com
Yousef T. Tuqan, CEO, Flip
Nathalie Turpin, Regional Director of Marketing - Arabian Peninsula & Indian Ocean, Hilton Hotels
Jimmy Leach, Editorial Director for Digital, The Independent

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10:30 Morning refreshments

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11:00 Accountability through metrics and measurements for informed decision making

• Adopting the latest tools to justify your marketing allocation and spend
• Examining long-term benefits and cost implications ...
• Exploring the strengths and weaknesses of a single tracking approach

Alain Portmann, Founder Web Liquid

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11:40 Examining learnings from Middle East Research

• Assessing opportunities from recognised growth areas
• Predicting future consumer trends and new opportunities for marketers

Dan Healy, CEO, Real Opinions

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12:20 Panel Debate: Determining the optimal budget allocation and finding the right mix of online channels

• Understanding when to use

o Affiliate marketing
o Paid and natural search
o Social Media
o Display Advertising

• Validating percentage allocation spend
• Managing your budget to achieve your objectives for each channel

Moderator
Ziad Khammar, General Manager, AME Info

Speakers
Richard Mullins, Director ME, Acceleration
David Sheridan, CEO, Neo Digital
Sajid Abdul Rahiman, Business Consultant - Middle East and North Africa, Yahoo!

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13:00 Lunch and networking

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Finding your online audience

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14:30 SEO and SEM - Striking a balance to restrict competition from your keyword space Best practice for organic search use and PPC

• Defining search engine users
• Exploring the optimum use for organic search
• Examining the effective use of PPC

Laszlo Horvath, President, ActiveMedia

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15:30 Afternoon Break

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16:00 Panel Debate: How important is search to your bottom line and which search channel should you adopt?

• How important is search in Middle East?

o Understanding benefits and the cost implications of PPC and SEO
o Using online reputation management to ensure your brand is protected

• Uncovering the vast opportunities in search

o Implementation of semantic search and its usefulness for higher conversions
o Arabic search as a tool for reaching the Middle East online audience
o Video search - reality or promise?

Moderator
Zeid Nasser, Founder & CEO, Mediascope group - digital media

Speakers
Laszlo Horvath, Founder and President, ActiveMedia
Caroline Whyatt, Portal Manager, AME Info
Husni Khuffash, Country Business Development Manager UAE, Google
Terry Kane, Digital Marketing Manager, Jumeirah

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17:15 Chairman's closing remarks and end of day one

Chad Hussain, Sales Director, AME Info

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17:30 Evening drinks reception