Al Bawaba, the company which owns and operates the highly popular Middle East focused websites, Albawaba.com and Mena Report, today announced it has launched the first Arabic/English 'blog survey' - designed to learn more about the blogging habits of middle eastern users from both Arabic and English speaking backgrounds.
"We know blogging is popular, we only have to look at our system to see there is a large blogging community in the Middle East." explains Mark Gatty Saunt, Gulf Director at Al Bawaba.com. The purpose of our survey is to discover more about the regions blogging habits. The results should make for very interesting reading due to the high volume of users blogging with us every day on very different topics. We are also excited by our survey as this is a first for the region - with the results we will be launching new blog related projects to reward our existing bloggers and to encourage new people to blog."
Blogging has rapidly established itself as a leading method of communication - and the Middle East has a big following on the blog phenomenon.
But what is a blog?
Short for 'web log' a blog is basically an online diary which has a different attitude to the conventional secret and personal diary which is more widely understood. Although similar, a blog user (or 'bloggers' as they are known) entries or 'blogs' are accessed in reverse chronological order, a blog (unlike a diary) is designed to be shared, discussed and collaborated with other users (bloggers.)
It's a unique opportunity for people to have complete freedom of speech - topics that possibly could not discuss for whatever reason in their own lives have a place online thanks to the anonymity of the internet. Paradoxically, users can use their own name and identity to promote a project or service.
The ways to blog barely scratch the surface of what a blog can actually be; it's a place to upload, share and discuss your photos; a place to form hobbyist groups, talk about the days news or perhaps you're a blogger who does not blog! You just use the search facility to browse around other peoples entries and choose not pass comment - only to secretly read others publishing's. The possibilities are endless.
The survey is live now for both new and existing bloggers and ready for participation in English or Arabic and can be found at the following addresses;
(English - http://surveys.albawaba.com/blogs/en/)
(Arabic - http://surveys.albawaba.com/blogs/ar/)
New users to Alabawaba.com can quickly become a member for free - giving them full access to the survey and blogging facilities.
All applicants will be entered into the draw to win an ipod Nano.
-Ends-
About Al-Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
Albawaba.com is one of the leading Internet destination sites for residents of the Middle East and for all those with specific interests in the Arab world. Albawaba.com provides a rich range of up-to-the-minute news reports and in-depth articles, plus analysis on a variety of Middle Eastern topics, including business, politics, sports, health, beauty, kids, travel, entertainment and a music store. Al-Bawaba's content also includes:
Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
Mena Report (Middle East and North Africa Business Report) is Al Bawaba's business news portal. Coverage is provided for the following popular industries within the region: Economy & Trade, IT and Telecom, Financial Markets, Oil and Energy, Agriculture, Advertising and Marketing, General Industry, Retail and Services, Real Estate, Healthcare, Transport and Tourism. Mena Report also provides a weekly free newsletter, which is distributed to an ever growing number of global subscribers.
For further information please contact:
Shenoy - ekadaa PR
Tel: 971 4 391 2100
Fax: 971 4 390 4740
E-mail: shenoy@ekadaa.com
© Press Release 2006
