Dubai Media City Hosts Seminar on Search Engine Marketing

Dubai-UAE: 21 August, 2008 - The latest advances in measuring and optimizing online marketing and the advantages of implementing such strategies in a competitive marketplace were discussed at a seminar on Search Engine Marketing hosted by Dubai Media City, a member of TECOM Investments.

The two-hour interactive workshop was organised in association with WSI Internet Consulting, a leading provider of internet solutions to businesses worldwide. The event witnessed the participation of 95 regional marketing professionals, representing advertising and PR agencies, media buyers and other professional organizations, keen to optimize the online presence of their companies and clients.

Mohamed Almulla, Executive Director, Dubai Media City, said: "The seminar is in line with our objective to offer a suitable platform for corporate leaders based in the UAE and the wider GCC market to benefit from latest technological trends. We are confident this event will further reinforce Dubai Media City's mission of launching initiatives that are geared towards nurturing the region's knowledge economy."

Husam Jandal, Internet Business Consultant, WSI Internet Consulting, said: "With the highest growth rate of Internet users in the world, the Middle East represents a vast opportunity for the business community to promote their products and services online.

"With more than 90 per cent of all traffic generated on the Internet coming from search engines, it is important for the local business community to identify various ways of utilizing these Internet tools to achieve the desired visibility for their businesses."

He added a majority of the regional companies are yet to realize the immense benefits that could accrue through the use of the Internet, which can be tapped for generating fruitful business leads and for building brand recognition.

He added: "There is a huge gap between demand for information and the supply of relevant content in the business arena. There are people who are desperately looking for certain products and services but unable to find relevant links because business offerings are not available online, or at least not visible on search engines. As an essential marketing tool for businesses, search engine marketing has become one of the world's most preferred marketing strategies due to its flexibility, accessibility, accuracy, and cost effectiveness."

Focusing on the details of regional internet usage, experts who led the seminar found Yahoo, Google and MSN as the most preferred search engines, a trend akin to the Western world. However, recently launched language specific search engines such as 'Araby' have become increasingly popular among Internet users in the Arab world, the seminar highlighted.

The workshop also underlined the findings of market studies that the Internet is the best vehicle for addressing the youth segment as a key target audience with more than 65 per cent preferring the Internet as their main source of information, according to a recent study by Maktoob Research, another regional internet market research company.

-Ends-

About Dubai Media City
Strategically located at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Dubai Media City is rapidly emerging as the region's media hub.  The City provides an advanced infrastructure for media-related businesses to operate globally out of Dubai.  Dubai Media City is the place where activities Publishing, Music, Film, New Media, Leisure & Entertainment, Broadcasting, Media & Marketing Services, and Information Agencies will thrive. The facility offers an environment that allows companies and individuals to operate with collective synergy and freedom. 

Companies based in Dubai Media City have the unique edge of commercial benefits derived from our free zone status including 100 % business ownership and exemption from personal income and corporate taxes. Since its official opening in January 2001, Dubai Media City has grown to become a thriving media community of over 1200 companies and hundreds of freelance media professionals. Several global media giants and promising entrepreneurial ventures have joined this unique community.

For further information, please call:
Zeba Ahmad
JiWiN
The Exclusive Middle East Affiliate of Burson-Marsteller
Tel: +9714 361 3590 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
+97150 494 2989
Fax: +9714 388 8001
e-mail: Zeba.Ahmad@jiwin.ae  
 
Cynthia Luna-Harb
JiWiN
Tel: +9714 375 5878 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
+97150 2285363 (mobile)
Fax: +9714 388 8001
email: Cynthia.Luna@jiwin.ae   

© Press Release 2008