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Google launches interest-based advertising
Google has announced the beta launch of interest-based advertising on YouTube and the Google content network. The company says interest-based ads are a way for marketers to better deliver the right messages and offers to people as they surf the web. It will also enable marketers to better connect with people based on their interests and visits to websites, the company added.
Dubai Lynx has most ever entries
Advertising festival Dubai Lynx has reported that it has received over 2,000 entries from 165 companies for this year's awards competition. The companies - the most that have ever entered - are spread across 18 countries. Winners will be announced on March 17.
UAE designates official media spokesmen
Government ministries in the UAE will for the first time have a team of dedicated spokesmen to respond to reporters' enquiries, The National has reported. The Federal Government Spokesperson System is aimed at improving transparency and communication between federal agencies and the media and public. Certain government officials have now been designated as the only individuals who are authorised to release statements to the media, and information collected through anyone other than these individuals will not be considered as valid and authorised information, said Secretary General of the Cabinet, Najla al Awar.
Saudi firm to launch new magazines
The Saudi Research and Marketing Group has announced plans to launch eight new publications including the nation's first on Islamic banking and a political affairs title, reports Media Week. Further publications will include Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, and Quattroruote. The political affairs title will be Al Rajalla while the Islamic banking magazine has yet to be named.
Arab Journalism shortlist approved
The shortlist for the Arab Journalism Award 2009 has been approved by the governing board. The awards received 3,000 applications from 19 countries and the names of the winners are expected to be released in April.
Alhurra launches live show
Alhurra Television has launched a new live Arabic television show. The 3-hour programme, Al Youm, provides coverage of the latest news from the Middle East, the US and the world. The show also includes health topics, entertainment news, sports, technology, social and cultural issues. Al Youm airs from Sunday to Thursday, 4pm to 7pm (GMT) throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
Philips appoints Omnicom as global PR
Philips has selected a newly-formed multiagency team from Omnicom Group called One Voice to work exclusively on their account as global agency. The PR responsibility, which changes hands on July 1, was earlier handled globally by Publicis Groupe's MS and L Worldwide. The PR pitch is worth an estimated $10m to $20m according to industry estimates.
WPP profits fall 5.8%
WPP Group, the company behind Hill and Knowlton, Ogilvy and Mather and Yong and Rubicam, has said that profits for 2008 were down 5.8%. The group reported net profits of GBP439.1m, down from GBP466m in 2007.
Venture clinches Asia Sports deal
Asia Sports Marketing has signed an advertising partnership agreement with Venture Communications, providing the former with a one-stop shop communications solutions. Asia Sports Marketing owns the advertising rights of the Dubai football clubs related to the UAE National League and has also managed other sporting events including tennis, horse racing, golf and basketball.
Social media 'a good branding exercise'
Social media outlets should be used as a branding exercise rather than as direct revenue stream generators concluded the panel at the afternoon session of the AME Info Digital Marketing conference.
Digital lite media agencies will die
Media agencies have been warned that unless they fully embrace online media they will not survive the global financial crisis. Speaking at the AME Info Digital Marketing Conference in Dubai today, Mohammad Itani, digital director at Mediacom, said the credit crisis was forcing companies to be digital savvy. 'It's ironic to see that because of [the financial crisis] online budget is going up. Any agency that doesn't do online, that doesn't do digital will go down.'
Mideast consumers want engagement
Middle East users are ready for engagement, but creative agencies and portals are lagging behind, said panellists on day two of AME Info's Digital Marketing Conference. 'Users have always been ahead of the agencies and the clients,' said Laith Zraiket, director of innovation and co-founder of Jeeran. Fadi Kachkouche, regional marketing manager at Cisco, added: 'You feel close to something you are part of or have helped create. You embrace any brand you have had a say in.' But Mohammad Itani, digital director at Mediacom warned that while users are ready for engagement marketing, 'from the tracking side, it's not ready'.
ITV to cut 600 jobs
ITV Plc, the UK's biggest commercial broadcaster, said it plans to cut a further 600 jobs and omit dividend payments after posting a £2.56 billion net loss for 2008. Ad revenue dropped 4% to £1.43bn last year while the overall market declined 5%, the London-based company said in a statement yesterday. 'Current conditions in the advertising market are the most challenging I have experienced in over 30 years in UK broadcasting,' Executive Chairman Michael Grade said in the statement.
Google's single result dream
Husni Khuffash, UAE Country Business Development Manager for Google, has said the search engine giant's dream is to be able to return just one result from a search query. Speaking at the AME Info Digital Marketing Conference in Dubai, he said the company would love to one day be in a position where a single, perfect search result could be returned. He told delegates that if only one result is returned it means 'you truly understand the person searching on Google'. It means being able to understand that person's online use - which requires registration - in terms of their search patterns and history, he added.
No silver bullet to topping Google
Search engine expert Laszlo Horvath, President of ActiveMedia, has told delegates at the AME Info Digital Marketing Conference that there is no silver bullet to get a company to the top of a search ranking. The most effective method of being on the first few pages of results is to ensure you are 'relevant to your customers', because that way, a company is likely to be using the correct keywords that will make their site more visible.
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