'Because we Can't Track its ROI' - Middle East Brand Managers Claim Reason for Slow Adoption of Digital Marketing

DUBAI, UAE, May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the number of social media users in the Middle East reaches 30 million, more digital marketers are recognising the potential this new medium of communication has to drive up business.

According to research by the International Quality & Productivity Centre, 31% of respondents from a detailed survey in February 2011 had accounts on 4 different social media platforms, with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and MySpace being the favourites. The statistic underscores the reality that a growing segment of the populations in the Middle East are increasingly spending more time on social networks.

The most telling result of the survey is the two biggest reasons stopping brands and companies from adopting digital and social media marketing into their mix: a lack of ways to measure Return on Investment (ROI) and the lack of understanding of this new channel by senior management (24% and 14% respectively). Given the growth in this channel in markets such as the US, Europe, India and even parts of the Far East, it is indeed surprising that the Middle East region - with the recent involvement of social media in helping the revolution in Egypt and Tunisia bearing fruit - is still facing a slow adoption rate due to these reasons.

At a meeting this June in Dubai called Click 5.0 - The Digital Marketing Event for the Middle East, marketing leaders who have seen this medium grow from its infancy in the region and have worked with the biggest brands will address these and other issues and will provide the knowledge required to overcome these concerns. A key figure leading these discussions is Ali Hussein, Head of Digital Media at MTV India and Viacom 18 who will use his expertise on monetising social media to bring to light strategies on measuring ROI and converting a fan base.

Joining Ali are Yousef Tuqan Tuqan, CEO of Flip Media, Donald Steel, Chief Communications Advisor, BBC, UK, Said Baaghil, Brand Marketing Strategy Consultant, Baaghil Marketing, KSA and Dan Stuart, CEO of GoNabit, UAE. The meeting takes place from 26-29 June at the Arjaan by Rotana. All information is available at http://www.clickmarketingsummit.com

About IQPC: IQPC provides business executives around the world with tailored practical conferences, large scale events, topical seminars and in-house training programmes, keeping them up-to-date with industry trends, technological developments and the regulatory landscape. IQPC produces more than 1,700 events annually around the world, and continues to grow. Founded in 1973, IQPC now has offices in major cities across six continents including: Bengaluru, Berlin, Dubai, London, New York, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto. IQPC leverages a global research base of best practices to produce an unrivalled portfolio of conferences.

    
    For more information, please contact
    Eileen Grace Espelita
    Marketing Manager
    IQPC Middle East
    +971-4-364-2975
    enquiry@iqpc.ae