Smartphone, smart price

/0 Comments/in /by

Team TMN are always on the hunt when it comes to value for money, but like most, we aren’t ones to compromise on quality. Upon hearing that a certain brand had released its first mid-range smartphone, we were curious to see what all the fuss was about…

What: BlackBerry Z3 smartphone

Where: Available from major electronic dealers across the UAE

When: Launched July 2014 (in the UAE)

The promise: ‘Get the best, now for less – the latest BlackBerry 10 experience at an attractive price. Stay connected, share what you value, stay on top of what’s important and be more productive.”

Did it deliver? Naturally, the first thing Team TMN noticed about the BlackBerry Z3 was its sleek design. While a slightly odd size (think somewhere between an IPhone 5S and a Samsung Galaxy Note 3), it certainly didn’t look like a budget phone, dynamically square in shape and relatively light for its size. Another pleasing feature we found on first sight – BlackBerry have finally decided to put its charging doc at the bottom, which is great as it opens up room for a wide range of accessories.

As BlackBerry’s first mid-range handset to run the BlackBerry 10 platform, we were excited to see what the browser could offer. We knew the phone uses OS version 10.2.1 and supports around 90 percent of android apps, but first thing’s first; we had to actually be able to use the phone. Not to say that we aren’t tech savvy at TMN Towers, but with no navigation button, it took us a little while to figure out how to get back to the home screen from an open application (tip – you swipe upwards from the BlackBerry logo at the bottom). Once familiar though, a pretty cool feature about this was being able to swipe upwards to wake up the phone, making it very accessible.

Back to the BlackBerry 10 browser – it’s everything you would expect in a smartphone, fast, easy to navigate and offers great WIFI reception. The one limitation for us was only being allowed four active frames at a time, not including the BlackBerry Hub and headless apps; not a problem, you just have to remember that the first frame closes automatically when you open up a fifth.

The BlackBerry Hub was a particular favourite for Team TMN, as having all of your notifications, messages and updates available on one ‘app’ was hugely convenient – we loved being able to view a tagged photo on Facebook and answer an email in one go!

A notable feature about the phone is that it sports a slightly unexpected 1.5GB RAM, which no other phone in this mid-range sector can claim to match, and hosts a decent 8GB of internal memory. The long battery life of up to 15 hours was also a bonus, as for one thing, it allowed us to spend more time with the 5MP camera – while the capability was slightly disappointing, it did offer the Geo Tagging Facility, always desired by social sharing addicts and with an extra long battery life, we were able to spend hours discovering hidden depths of the phone without the oh-so-familiar worry that it was going to die on us at any moment.

The verdict: The bar has definitely been raised for budget phones with the BlackBerry Z3. It offers everything we’ve come to expect from a smartphone, and while there wasn’t anything particularly outstanding that stood out to Team TMN, it’s important to compare like for like in the budget stakes – at AED 899, the features are impressive and the price is definitely the icing on the cake!

 

 

 

Task Spotting app

/0 Comments/in /by

Team TMN caught up with Nadia Mankani, Director of Marketing & Communications at Task Spotting, to discuss the launch of the Task Spotting app and its aim to revolutionise market research in the form of crowdsourcing…

Tell us a bit about the Task Spotting app…
Task Spotting is the first app in the Middle East that leverages the concept of crowdsourcing to help businesses gather valuable market insights. Our network of app users are financially incentivised to complete simple ‘missions’, ranging from retail audits to mystery shopping on their smartphones, at the places they visit everyday such as malls, restaurants and retailers.

The information submitted allows businesses to see what’s actually happening on the ground, and for the first time, to experience their product or service through the eyes and ears of their customers. Businesses can reach out to thousands of consumers on their phones, ask them for the market intelligence they require, and receive it back in real time. Customers on the other hand, get rewarded in cash for providing the information, so it’s a win-win situation for both!

How did the concept for Task Spotting come about?
Task Spotting is the brainchild of one of our founders, Karim Aly. He had experienced first-hand the challenges of getting quick, reliable data and felt this was a widespread problem with many companies across the region. He came up with the idea of combining crowdsourcing with a smartphone app to help businesses get real-time visibility and market insights, solving a real business problem.

Has this concept been successful in other regions around the world?
There are a couple of US-based companies that are leveraging crowdsourcing in an attempt to help businesses capture information and they have been a source of inspiration for us. However, we have yet to identify any player that is offering Task Spotting’s breadth of data, level of accuracy, or robust analytics.

From a marketing perspective, why would businesses want to get involved with Task Spotting?
Task Spotting enables businesses to gain valuable information, such as competitive and product intelligence, market and customer understanding at any stage of the customer lifecycle, which creates serious competitive advantages from a marketing perspective. If this information is gathered from the outset, a marketing strategy can be based on genuine insight and reliable knowledge of market trends and competitive information, the benefits of which are endless. Companies can better target their products, choose their channels wisely, and allocate their marketing budgets effectively.

Our dashboard is also a marketer’s dream, with some very rich analytical tools built in, including the ability to filter and segment data across multiple dimensions such as gender, age, location, responses etc, as well as trending capabilities; all of which offer a very deep level of customer understanding which can feed into the marketing strategy.

What kind of campaigns does Task Spotting offer for businesses?
The most common applications of the app are mystery shopping, retail execution audits and competitive intelligence surveys. However, the potential applications vary greatly, as essentially it is a platform that connects businesses in need of information with a crowd that is willing and able to provide it, so businesses can use the platform to their benefit depending on what information they are looking for and where their main points exist.

What does the average campaign cost?
Every campaign is different but the pricing model is linear and very simple. It is based on the number of the tasks involved in each mission, and the number of responses that the business requires.  Spotters (app users) are paid between AED 10- 75 per mission, so the more complex the mission, the greater the incentive will have to be for Spotters to be willing to provide the information. Having said that, Task Spotting is a far more financially viable method of gathering market intelligence as compared to traditional market research.

Why is Task Spotting more effective than traditional data research methods?
First of all, most traditional market research houses offer syndicated data released on a scheduled basis. Due to the lag in data collection and use, the results are retrospective and often much less relevant, especially in fast-paced environments such as retail. Task Spotting delivers verified, real-time data from actual customers at precise locations, so that businesses are able to make decisions in days rather than weeks or months.  Basically, we allow businesses to spend less time trying to find problems and more time fixing them.

How do you ensure that the data collected by the app is accurate?
All information collected through Task Spotting is geo tagged and time-stamped to ensure accuracy and reliability. We have also built in dozens of verification mechanisms to ensure that the data is genuine. As the information is gathered through smartphones, businesses can also augment their data with rich media such as photos, videos and audio to complement text-based responses and offer a deeper level of insight.

How can businesses ensure that a Task Spotting campaign is a reputable source of data when implementing it into the marketing strategy?
Businesses don’t need to go through any additional verification processes, as they are able to see on their Task Spotting dashboard when and where each of the missions was completed, so they know that a customer was actually in store at a certain time when they took a picture of a promotional display. In addition, the app only allows location-based missions to be started and completed while users are at the exact location, so they cannot complete a customer service audit while they are at home – it would have to be at the restaurant, where the experience is fresh in their minds and the information provided is accurate.

How can businesses get involved with Task Spotting?
A company needs to simply request an account which they can do through our website – www.taskspotting.com – or they can contact us directly. We help them activate their account and they can immediately start creating missions through their cloud dashboard. All missions need to go through an approval process, but this is usually very quick so most missions will go live in a matter of hours.

You’ve recently launched in the UAE. Does Task Spotting have any plans for expansion in the MENA region? 
Sure we do, this is just the start of our journey! Having said that, we’re currently in the process of learning and fine-tuning through feedback that we receive from our clients and Spotters before we embark on our ambitious expansion plans.

 

Is signing a start-up client good business sense?

/0 Comments/in /by

With the SME market flourishing in the UAE and a sharp increase in start-ups over the last 18 months, we ask, in the PR world, does signing a start-up client make good business sense?

“YES” says Nicola Gregson, Managing Director, Ketchum Raad Middle East

NicolaGregsonIt is often the start-up companies who need to work smart and do their communications differently… these are the great companies to work with, as they allow us to push boundaries

If you look at this question from a purely financial sense, then many large agencies may not be able to take on start-up businesses as clients  – but that is looking at short-term gain, as opposed to a long-term partnership.

We work with clients both big and small, those long established and those just entering the market. Often with start-ups, the business heads behind these companies are people we already know, or they value PR enough to work with agencies who can partner with them to get it right, rather than those who think “PR=Press Release.”

It is often the start-up companies who need to work smart and do their communications differently, as well as be bold to break into the market, or who have a product or service that will change or bring something genuinely new to the market. These are great companies to work with, as they allow us to push boundaries, bring in crazy – but deliverable – ideas and think beyond traditional media; looking more at non-traditional media and working with influencers and stakeholders for that company.

On another note, we have an obligation to contribute to the development of the region that we live and work in, and learn from those around us. By investing time and resources in working with start-ups – that likely don’t have the big budgets – it allows us to engage in two-way knowledge sharing, and enables our teams to work on some exciting and fun projects that will impact the way people do business. It’s mutually beneficial – we get as much from the deal as our partners benefit by working with us.

Looking at it financially, we can afford to be flexible in our rates if we see a long-term relationship and potential business model that excites us. When does a start-up stop being a start-up? If they get the business model right and we get the communications element right, businesses can grow rapidly.

Regardless of size of client, if the client/agency respect and dynamic is right, both parties benefit. In terms of business and on-going trust, there is value in having an agency that really is a communications partner and brand guardian.

 

“NO” says Ketaki Banga, Account Director, BPG | Cohn & Wolfe

KetakiBangaThe question is – at what stage of a start-up does it make sense for a multi-national agency like ours to get involved… we are a profit organisation and wouldn’t be able to justify coming in at the very early stages of a start-up

I’m a firm believer in looking at things from a realistic perspective. While it might be easy to list the reasons for why it may not make sense for a PR agency to have start-up clients – this may not be the entire point.

The reasons could be – first and foremost, that you are too expensive for them at this stage; they are less likely to sign long-term retainers and, if they do, the retainer may outlive the business (three out of four start-ups fail, and that is a modest estimate). You also run the risk of building the brand, and if they are extremely successful, may look for multi-nationals as they outgrow you.

Taking on an established brand has its advantages. It’s a big name to showcase, the budgets are higher, and the opportunities and expectations for results are usually higher too. Winning a big brand when you are being pitted against other successful agencies is also a major vote of confidence in any agency. But most importantly, you just have a larger canvas to do things, rather than a constant struggle to turn recommendations into realities that can sometimes be governed by budgetary constraints.

But I wouldn’t say that larger brands are less time consuming. The difference is that they have experience and understand the investments required. That’s not to say you don’t have to work efficiently to provide the most bang for their buck. But with bigger brands we are able to focus on strategic things like evolving customer perceptions, crisis management, integrated marketing strategies and public affairs consultancy, rather than the most basic form of PR, which is trying to fit the most activity into the least budget.

Admittedly, we do not take on the PR for a start-up client as often as established brands. But we practice a consultancy approach based on the hours spent on a business, regardless of their size, and we have a track record of building regional brands (both semi-government and private sector). It is in our business interest to diversify our revenue stream to sustain growth.

The question is – at what stage of a start-up does it make sense for a multi-national agency like ours to get involved, and to what extent? We are a profit organisation and wouldn’t be able to justify coming in at the very early stages of a start-up. In general we believe that larger PR firms need to come in at the stage of sustaining the start-up and taking it to the next level, through strategic value-adding in a way that will make us grow as partners.

But saying that, there will also be times when we make a decision based on the innovation, ideas and philosophy of a business, if we believe it has the potential to be a game changing organisation. In this case, our support could help them to succeed and prosper in the long- term – benefitting both the SME and our reputation as a creative PR agency.

 

 

 

 

 

The tender touch

/0 Comments/in /by

Rob Nicholas, Managing Director of NPI, offers his thoughts on project tenders in the media space…

In a business world increasingly dominated by procurement managers, words such as ‘partnership’ and ‘value’ are being replaced by words like ‘supplier’ and ‘cost’

Let’s face it, we all want value. But, at the same time, we also want to be valued. And there is a not-so-subtle difference, especially in the sphere of knowledge-based projects.

Recently, we wished to partner with a digital marketing consultancy, so we met with a few. From those meetings we were able to separate the professionals from the pretenders and find the most suitable company. Our final selection wasn’t the cheapest, but we valued them the most.

The fact is that we adopted this approach naturally. It is within our culture to partner with the best people and the best companies. That is how we achieve. But is it a common approach?

In a business world increasingly dominated by procurement managers, words such as ‘partnership’ and ‘value’ are being replaced by words like ‘supplier’ and ‘cost’. I can understand it when we are talking about material supply – stationary, bricks, mortar – where costs can be compared on a like-for-like basis and service is barely a factor, but not when it comes to the demonstration of knowledge, expertise and creativity.

Let’s compare the creation of successful media to building, as this is an industry where tendering is part and parcel of awarding every job. Except – hang on for a moment – we have missed an important step. The build can only come after the design.

IM Pei didn’t design the Louvre based on submitting the lowest cost and 20 different options to the client upfront. There was recognition that he and his company had the skills, experience and knowhow to spend time understanding the client’s objectives, collaboratively establish a vision, design a plan and turn the project into reality.

The successful development of media also requires an architectural plan. It must be very clear who it is being designed for, or in our case, who the audience is (the client and/or readers and advertisers), to ensure that it will be attractive to them when completed. Then a team of professionals needs to build from that vision.

All too often we are invited to participate in a tender where the architecture is defined. The client is simply seeking a supplier to build. However, in many cases it is apparent that the strategy will not serve the client’s stated objectives or appeal to its desired audiences. To proceed on this basis would mean having to revisit strategy further down the line when it is often too late; like building an apartment block but then deciding it should be an office tower after residents have already settled in.

What’s more, many of these tenders require self-financing, requiring the media house to assume P&L responsibility. The rationale is that a client’s name/brand is considered enticing enough to attract support. This is the equity they bring to the table, along with additional requirements which may serve their objectives, but can also stifle potential returns from advertising audiences and add to the cost of delivery.

At NPI, we don’t subscribe to this view. Our brand, consultancy and expertise has a value and is most effective when it is put in place to shape a project from inception through to completion. That way, all stakeholders can be confident in the approach, understand the full scope of responsibilities and then commit to its successful delivery.

If a client doesn’t recognise the value of strategic input and is not prepared to invest, a partnership will always be impossible to achieve. Without a partnership, there will never be true success, leaving all parties frustrated.

Pitching should be about presenting your credentials and demonstrating why a client should work with you. Track record, accomplishments and insight into the potential project should be sufficient to achieve this, presented face to face where parties can get to know each other.

In the past, we have participated in tenders and were compelled to rewrite the architecture, even if it wasn’t part of the brief, then quote on its delivery. We felt that it would show our value and, in many instances, we were right. However, in others we were deemed too expensive or our presence was merely to assist negotiation with current incumbents.

So, although materials and labour can be compared on a like-for-like for basis, knowledge-based projects need a partner who can help shape the questions and suggest the solutions rather than answer a prescription designed to set a level playing field.

Successful development of media requires consultation, and quality will always have a price. It’s the value that counts.

 

Rob Nicholas is Managing Director of NPI. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn

 

Editor, Georgina Enzer

/0 Comments/in /by

Name: Georgina Enzer
Age: 33
From: UK and Zimbabwe
Current Job Title: Editor, FinanceME

 When did you first arrive in the UAE?
I moved here in 2008.

Where did you work prior?
Previously I was Editor of Oil & Gas magazine here in Dubai, and prior to this I worked for GEO English, an English-language TV channel in Karachi, Pakistan.

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
Having grown up and worked primarily in media for developing countries in Africa, the media industry here seemed far more organised and advanced in terms of quality of magazines and quality of coverage.

How has your opinion changed?
While the Middle East region is streaks ahead of countries like Zimbabwe and Pakistan in terms of quality of coverage, I believe there should be a stronger emphasis on hiring journalists with a degree in media, and companies should also be willing to train journalists in areas such as media law, particularly pertaining to UAE laws.

Tell us about your role…
I am the Editor for FinanceME, a business finance publication published by CPI Finance. I am in charge of all editorial content and am basically in charge of ensuring I produce a good quality magazine.

What challenges do you face?
Finance is a new sector for me, having recently transferred from an oil & gas title, so it is going to be a very fast learning curve to get up to speed on what I need to know.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing the printed magazine and finding no mistakes in the copy! It’s also great to be able to learn something completely new every day.

What do you think of the quality of media publications in the region?
In the magazine sector I think there are a lot of great titles, but I think the newspapers here let the side down.

How do you find PRs in the region?
Over the years I have met a handful of really great PRs who you can pick up the phone to at 9am with an emergency page to fill, and they will get something back to you the same day.

What’s your pet PR peeve?
Sending me a press release, calling five minutes later to ask if I have read it and why I haven’t responded, followed by another call a few hours later to ask if I’ve read the release and why it hasn’t been published. If I am not busy I will reply to you, if it is appropriate it will be published. At least give me a day or two!

 What advice can you offer PRs seeking coverage your magazine?
Do your research before you contact me, so you know what our target audience is and whether your client will work in the publication.

Work calls via landline, mobile or both?
Landline.

Describe yourself in five words…
Innovative, driven, passionate, excitable, adventurer.

What’s your most overused saying?
No worries.

Five things you can’t live without?
My son, my parents and my cat – I can live without everything else!

If you weren’t a journalist, what would you be?
A private safari guide in Africa.

 

 

 

Effies Global Index rank FP7/DXB no.1 MENA agency

/0 Comments/in /by

The Effie Effectiveness Index has ranked FP7/DXB as the most effective MENA agency for 2014. Launched in 2011, the Effie Index identifies and ranks the marketing communications industry’s most effective agencies, advertisers and brands by analysing finalist and winning data from 40 worldwide Effie Award competitions.

In addition to this, FP7/DXB ranked as the 4th agency globally, as well as the number one agency in the McCann worldwide group. The Effie Index features the most effective – marketers, brands, agency holding groups, agency networks, agency offices and independent agencies. These ranking are filtered by region, country and product category.

New online beauty magazine to launch

/0 Comments/in /by

A new online beauty magazine, Hello Pretty, is due to launch this month. The platform – www.hello-pretty.com – which goes live on August 20, 2014, will be updated daily, featuring expert tips, makeovers, beauty DIYs, shoots, tutorials and the latest beauty gossip. The online magazine is to be edited and run by founder Aseya Nasib, who brings nearly ten years of experience in the beauty industry, as well as make up and beauty experience in online and print media in the region with magazines such as VIVA, Cosmopolitan Middle East, Velvet and Good Housekeeping.

“There is so much growth in the Middle Eastern beauty industry, with some of the biggest international brands creating products specifically for the market,” says Aseya. “Now is the perfect time to create an expert guide to beauty in the region and being online gives us the opportunity to reach a much wider audience than print.”

Arab Woman Awards Qatar 2014 judges revealed

/0 Comments/in /by

For the third consecutive year, Arab Woman Awards will pay tribute to the high achieving women of Qatar. Launched by ITP Publishing Group in 2009, the Arab Woman Awards recognises Arab women’s achievements in different fields of business, arts, medicine and charity. The 2014 Awards will by hosted by Al Jazeera Anchor, Fairouz Ziani, and will take place on October 20, 2014, at the Intercontinental Doha – The City.

This year’s judges board members will be chaired by Bothaina Al Ansari, HR Director for Ooredoo and Board Member of the Qatar Businesswomen Association, and include Dr. Elman Al Ansari, Director of National Development at Sidra Medical and Research Centre; Mishael Al Ansari, Marketing and Communication Director at Anti-Doping Lab Qatar; Aisha Al Bedded, Creative Director for DarzDesigns; Amal al Athem, Visual Arts Expert at Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage and Nadine El Chaer, Chief Editor of Ahlan! Arabia.

The winners of Arab Woman Awards Qatar 2014 will be announced from a shortlist selected by ITP Publishing Group, based on the nominees’ integrity, expertise in their particular field and as respected members of society. The judges board will follow a strict criteria which includes the nominees’ achievements in the past twelve months, as well as the impact of their work to Qatar.

Duha Abbas joins MBC

/0 Comments/in /by

Duha Abbas has been appointed as Associate Continuity Producer for MBC. Duha joins the team from Ahlan! Arabia, where she held the position of Features Writer for the past year, working on health, beauty, travel and society. In her new role, Duha will prepare menus and graphics for a number of channels on MBC, with her primary focus on creative writing and creating unique promos.

“I’m excited about joining MBC, as it was the opportunity I was looking for to expand my expertise having studied and practised video and TV production,” says Duha. “With the chance to do what you enjoy everyday alongside other talented people, who wouldn’t be happy?”