The UAE had 3,779,000 internet users, as of June 2010, representing an internet penetration of 75.9%. At this rate, businesses in the UAE can no longer afford to ignore digital marketing that has become a powerful means to reach out to customers, according to Husam Jandal, Senior Digital Marketing Consultant, WSI. 

 

Jandal's comments came during the media roundtable held to announce 'DigitalOne', the WSI Digital Marketing Summit 2011 that will be organised in partnership with Tecom Investments Media Cluster on 10 February at The Address Dubai Marina.

 

The DigitalOne Summit (www.DigitalOne.me) will include seminars and panel discussions on social media implementation, case studies of social media success stories, content marketing, online PR and the billboards of the Web - display advertising. The event will also include an interactive discussion between speakers and the audience through a question-and-answer session and open dialogue.

 

The WSI Digital Marketing Summit 2011 will target CEOs, marketing managers, managing directors, general managers, e-commerce entrepreneurs and businessmen, as well as senior-level marketing and advertising executives. It aims to provide the participants with the practical knowledge to implement and improve the online presence of their organisation.

 

Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of Tecom Investments' Media Cluster, said, "Our support to DigitalOne Summit is in recognition of the increasing importance of digital platforms for the media industry in the Middle East. It is particularly pertinent to identify trends such as convergence that will impact the future of the media industry."

 

"As a catalyst contributing to the growth of the media and technology sector, Tecom Investments' Media Cluster is committed to lead such discussions that bring thought-provoking perspectives to the table for looking ahead as well as gearing up for dynamic shifts in the industry," he added.

 

Speakers at the full-day event will include Husam Jandal, Senior Digital Marketing consultant; Francois Muscat, Internet and Search Marketing expert; Tracy Spence, an Internet Marketing consultant and Fahed Bizzari, a Web Strategy consultant.

 

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Entertainment and Media Outlook 2010-2014, with a young population and increase in broadband penetration in the Mena region, digital migration will spread at full force in the coming years. The report forecasts that household internet penetration is projected to touch 64.3% by 2014 with remarkable growth in digital media segments such as online advertising, social media, mobile applications and increase of Arabic language content.

 

"Today's customer is too consumer-savvy to be fed constant, impersonal information about a brand in the hopes of kindling buying interest. They demand engagement, interaction and rely on the internet and social media for positive brand relationships," Jandal added.

 

A multinational, WSI is a digital marketing company that offers advanced digital marketing solutions to suit the needs of corporate businesses from multiple industries, as well as help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) increase their revenues and expand their markets through online marketing.

 

Tecom Investments' Media Cluster - Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and International Media Production Zone - has evolved dramatically through offering business friendly regulatory frameworks and a state-of-the-art infrastructure. Though its support to industry events, it aims to build a knowledge base for the benefit of media industry stakeholders.