Andy MacGregor joins Taxi Media Middle East

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Taxi Media Middle East, the media platform that installs and operates interactive touch screens in taxi fleets, has appointed Andy MacGregor as Account Director. Andy joins the team from Reed Exhibitions where he was Sales Director, bringing extensive media experience of over seven years in the UAE and nearly 20 years across the UK and Asia.

“To me it was an opportunity not to be missed, as I genuinely feel it offers clients an opportunity that is usually lacking in our local media market, fully accountable ROI,” says Andy. “It was an easy decision to say yes to come on board.”

Brett Pearson, Managing Director of Taxi Media Middle East adds, “It will put Taxi Media in a stronger position to have someone of Andy’s experience and contacts. His local experience with Abu Dhabi clients, Government departments and the travel industry especially suit the system for advertising, so we look forward to helping these sectors promote themselves.”

Olivia Phillips joins Emirates Woman Group

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Olivia Phillips has joined Emirates Woman Group as Fashion Features Editor. Olivia joins the team at Motivate Publishing from the UK, where she was Senior Fashion Assistant for Stylist magazine. In her new position, Olivia will edit all beauty and fashion pages across the Emirates Woman Group, as well as writing fashion features and news, developing feature ideas, conducting designer interviews, compiling shopping pages and contributing to the website.

“I am thrilled to be on board at Emirates Woman and really look forward to investing in the magazine and website, pushing them forward and creating some really unique content,” says Olivia. “I’ve joined a fantastic team and am incredibly excited to see what the future will bring for us!”

Email marketing strategies – where we’re going wrong

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With emailing now a vital tool used in most marketing strategies, Josh Tetteh Lartey, Digital Director at Ruleof3 offers an expert opinion on how these strategies can be improved…

We are guilty of thinking that good email campaigns are easy to execute… like most things in life, if you want to get great results it involves a bit of effort

 Love them or hate them, emails are now a vital part of many businesses marketing strategy. I bet you have read more Groupon offers, brunch deals or airline ticket offers than you have print adverts before your skinny latte this morning?

Done correctly, they can yield fantastic results, filling rooms, selling tickets and in this region – even selling building projects.

The important part of the above statement is, as you’ve guessed, ‘done correctly’. In this part of the world, we are guilty of thinking that good email campaigns are easy to execute, as many companies boast of huge databases. Like most things in life, if you want to get great results it involves a bit of effort – pushing the send button is the easy part. So, ready for a few home truths?

  • Emails are not supposed to look like print adverts – they don’t work that way.
  • Attaching a jpeg to a big list does not tick your digital marketing KPI
  • Not tracking your emails is the definition of madness
  • Expecting people to get all of the information from the mailer is futile

Today emails are read on all sorts of gadgets. This is why it’s important that they are built correctly, and why testing is an essential part of that process – trust me, the effort put in here will increase your clicks through and ultimately your success.

Here are three basic rules to help create a successful e-marketing campaign:

1. Keep it short and link to your content
Make your subject line snappy and to the point. While it seems obvious that the best approach would be to have the subject jump off the screen and “GRAB THE READER’S ATTENTION!”, unfortunately this is not the case at all. Most people get so much junk mail in their inbox, anything that even hints of spam gets thrown away immediately.

What do work are subject lines that are pretty straightforward. They’re not very ‘salesy’ or ‘pushy’ at all and are short and simple.

However, where more ‘creative’ subject lines do perform well is where the database is one people have signed up too, as a certain level of expectation can be relied on and personality of a brand shown.

Secondly, an email newsletter shouldn’t be thought of in the traditional offline manner anymore. Your digital newsletter should have small snippets of a story or information with a clear click through that links to content held on a website, preferably you own. If the reader is genuinely interested in the content they will click through to read more about it.

2. Have focus 
Sending out regular communications to your readers is great, if you keep things focused. Avoid regurgitating the same news or offers and confusing messages relating to other subjects.

Always be relevant to your reader. Know why they have signed up and keep the information you are sending them on topic for their preference. Target, segment your lists and monitor analytic reports to improve the content you are delivering. You need to keep your list healthy and full of captivated readers.

3. Don’t send JPGs or PDF attachments
Your email should look good, but one giant graphic is not cool. If done by a competent designer, marketing emails can look impressive and impactful. They are visually consistent, easy to forward and above all cheaper and easier to produce, because they don’t require very much, if any, HTML coding skills. The negative of this approach is often overlooked. Sending large images increases bandwidth, speed and readability. You should always cater to the lowest common denominator and as a default single image emails are commonly deemed by mail gateways and ISPs as spam. In a default setup, email clients hide images.

With a properly coded HTML email, the reader is able to read the content of the email without relying on the supporting images to make an informed decision on whether to continue reading your email.

Finally, spamming and not being able to unsubscribe from emails just damages your companies online equity, and although emails may be thought of as the poor brother or sister to print, radio, TV, etc., underestimate them at your peril as you could be doing more harm than good.

Emails as a marketing strategy are great – they are just not as easy to get right as you think.

 

Josh Tetteh Lartey is Digital Director at Ruleof3. Contact him at josh@ruleof3.ae 

Not your average SUV

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It’s no secret that living in Dubai comes with aspirations, and having a flash car, whatever your preference, is definitely part of the dream. So when Team TMN were offered the chance to briefly live life in the fast lane, how could we refuse?

What: 2015 Cadillac Escalade

Where: A range of Middle East showrooms

When: Arrived across the Middle East mid-July 2014

The promise: “A sophisticated luxury SUV designed to establish new benchmarks for hand-tailored craftsmanship and technology.”

Did it deliver? Jaws dropped a little as Team TMN spotted the fourth generation Cadillac Escalade pulling up in our office car park. Although it may boast an entirely new design, it exuded the same dominant presence we have come to associate with the iconic Cadillac brand – the height of sophistication with the power to match. We were immediately drawn by the sleek exterior detail, evident from the vertically stacked ‘jewellery’ lighting with full LED – to create a new take on the Cadillac’s signature vertical light – to the LED-illuminated door handles and illuminating wreath-and-crest insignia.

The automatic step down appeared from nowhere as the doors opened, allowing us to step on board with the same feeling one might have on entering a luxury private jet. The interior, crafted with wood finishing and accented suede created an air of extravagance, and we melted into the sculpted soft-leather seats. Including three rows of seating, it’s a sizable car by any standards, but without a hint of minivan quality.

Opulence and technology were clearly integral to creating the epitome of elegance and driving ease. Unsurprisingly, the seats presented us with far more than just somewhere to park ourselves. Reclining options in the first two rows, as well as heating and cooling in the front seats and a heating option in the second row, offered choices we never knew we wanted. But the stand out feature for us was the patented Safety Alert Seat – offering directional vibrations that alert the driver about potential crash threats – a definite bonus if you regularly navigate the Sheikh Zayed Road.

Certainly one of the most intuitive and tech savvy vehicles Team TMN have driven, the centre screen has voice recognition (which we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to master) and the same tap and swipe capabilities of any smart phone, with a high-res dashboard which presents all of the driver information digitally. An amazing aspect of this was how it reflects the information onto your windshield, allowing access without having to take your eyes off the road. The Escalade also contains new safety features including a Driver Awareness package, as well as the standard CUE (Cadillac’s system for connectivity and control), so not only do you feel safe, the Escalade makes you feel as though you’re driving in partner with the car.

A standard among most SUV’s these days; the Cadillac Escalade also came with an in-built rear entertainment system. But, as to be expected, the system offered was top of the range, with a 9-inch roof-mounted screen, Blue-Ray DVD system and even different power outlets to ensure you never fall off the digital radar.

While it might feel like you’re in a private jet, it certainly didn’t drive like one. With a 4WD drivetrain, a new 6.2L V8 engine and 420 horsepower, the Escalade had every aspect you could want in a luxury vehicle – boasting the power of a muscle car, yet with the driving ease of a coupe. While we honestly could find no fault in the drive, we had to remind ourselves that the Escalade is a deceptively heavy car, and though it may drive like a sports model, the brakes are still that of an SUV. Driving around was more of an experience than anything, as with 623 Nm of torque (which in layman terms – the greater the torque, the more enhanced the feeling of power on demand) and Bose having been brought in with its Active Noise Cancellation technology to add peace without compromising on the power, we were more than happy to cruise the city from dawn to dusk.

The verdict: The 2015 Cadillac Escalade achieves the perfect balance of boldness and elegance, and Team TMN could not think of a more fitting car to stay safe while battling through Dubai’s notorious traffic zones. One word of warning – try not to fall too much in love unless you have a minimum of AED 302,000 to play with. It’s easy to get hooked after just one drive!

 

Is social media replacing TV news?

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With the shock announcement of Dubai One shutting down TV production, we ask – has online reporting and social media removed the need for TV news in the digital age?

“YES” says Nick Rego, Senior Editor, AskMen Middle East

NickRegoThis is a digital age – with people spending more and more time outside and on the move, there’s often no time to sit down and watch a full-length TV broadcast

While we can always applaud the efforts and standards that go into reporting TV news, the fact of the matter is that we are moving quickly to a purely digital age. People consume media on so many different platforms and devices – when was the last time you sat down to really watch the 7pm news? We get updates and headlines from social media at a rate that’s much faster than anything a TV station may be able to pull together.

What we’ve also seen from social media is more ‘guerilla reporting’ from people who are at the site. Citizens have in many cases risen up to provide up-to-date coverage of events; long before a TV crew has been able to reach (or even be allowed to approach) a particular site. Because you have someone reporting who actually lives there and is experiencing events first-hand, you feel more connected to them, and want to know as much detail as possible. TV news tend to filter out what they deem unnecessary for a broadcast, and often look for ‘shock’ coverage that will get more people to tune in to a broadcast. Anyone else covering an event using social media just wants to get the news out there to the masses.

Where online reporting and social media also have an added advantage is that there is no hidden agenda behind the coverage. As mentioned before, some TV coverage is often gleamed over and edited to only show one side of a story of conflict. The openness of social media platforms means that anyone can comment on a tweet or post and air out their side of a story. It isn’t a one-way conversation as with watching the news on TV – here you can interact and have your say in what is going on halfway across the world.

The important thing to observe is that this is a digital age – with people spending more and more time outside and on the move, there’s often no time to sit down and watch a full-length TV broadcast. If a TV station still wants to provide TV news to its audience, then their best bet is to just have their channel broadcasting online. Truthfully speaking, we might not see players such as CNN doing only a digital broadcast anytime soon, but eventually we’ll come to a point where getting news updates will be as simple as unlocking our smartphone.

 

“No” says Matthew Priest, Editor-in-chief, EDGAR magazine and EDGARdaily.com

MattPriestInstant access to endless reams of information is the mastery of the digital age, but… to state that the rise of online reporting and social media is the death of TV news is both premature and ill advised

I am, by all accounts, a technophile. I’ll happily admit that the first thing I do in the morning is browse the news headlines on my phone, and then over breakfast have a quick scroll through my Twitter and Facebook accounts on my tablet for anything that I’ve missed. Instant access to endless reams of information is the mastery of the digital age, but having established that, to state that the rise of online reporting and social media is the death of TV news is both premature and ill advised.

With the speed and accessibility of the internet, online culture has developed around ease of access and skim reading – in fact, I’m willing to bet that most of you have just skim read that last sentence. If a page takes too long to load, people will likely look elsewhere. The same tends to happen if a news story is more than 300 words long: too long, not interested. It is too often the case that people – myself included – will only read the news headlines before moving on to another page. The world’s biggest issues condensed to fewer than 30 words.

Despite the fact that TV news bulletins may not be as instantly accessible, they do offer a valuable alternative – a clearly ordered round-up of the day’s top stories, explained and accompanied by interviews and analysis from experts. Thanks to the size of the news teams, large budgets and access to official information and high-level contacts, channels such as BBC News, CNN and Al Jazeera have the ability to report stories in a more in-depth manner, with greater levels of investigation and insight. It is also notable that because of the infrastructure of TV news channels, they are generally better equipped to report on bigger events such as flooding or earthquakes with direct access to press conferences and official words from press offices, companies and spokespeople – which can be both informative and comforting.

While it can be argued that social media has made news real-time by giving everyone with a smartphone the potential to break a story, it has also facilitated the potential for a shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later approach to news reporting, rather than waiting to gather all the facts and accurately piecing together the story.

It is also important to note that, by its very essence, social media streams are personally biased. The stories that appear on someone’s feed come from sources they selected, and therefore are naturally skewed by personal bias with regards to ethical beliefs and geographical location. It is unlikely that a foxhunting enthusiast in Nepal will be following the @savethefoxesUK twitter account, or vice versa.

There is no doubt that the rise of social media and online reportage has revolutionised the news industry – much like the advent of 24-hour news channels did before – however, it is my opinion it has risen to accompany TV news reporting and not to replace it.

Smart Living City Exhibition Dubai 2014

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With the inaugural Smart Living City Exhibition Dubai just around the corner, Team TMN caught up with Masood Al Awar, CEO of TASWEEK Real Estate Development and Marketing, and organiser of the exhibition, to discuss what we can expect… 

This will be the first Smart Living City (SLC) Exhibition in Dubai. When will it take place and where will it be held?
The Smart Living City Dubai Expo will be held from September 15-162014 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai.

What is the concept behind the Smart Living City Exhibition?
Smart Living City was created as a forum and platform for the latest technologies and innovations related to smart cities and smart human capital.

What do you hope achieve from this exhibition?
We aim to showcase the major initiatives transforming Dubai into one of the smartest cities in the world. We want it to be a proactive stage for the integration of technology into all public services and key sectors, including real estate development, infrastructure, transport, and communications. The exhibition is intended to generate heightened awareness on the potential of ‘smart’ technologies providing the most advanced living and business experiences possible.

The SLC Exhibition also being held in San Francisco and Singapore from 2014-15. How does Dubai stand out as an ideal location for this exhibition?
The UAE was recently ranked first among Middle Eastern countries for overall performance in the 2014 Global Innovation Index – a report published by Cornell University, Insead, and the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Dubai.

How will attending the SLC Dubai Exhibition benefit media professionals?
The SLC Exhibition will provide media professionals with insights into regional and global trends in ‘smart’ technology, the latest and best tools and techniques and Dubai’s own unique vision of a ‘smart’ society. It will also offer opportunities to interact with and hear experiences from leading experts and decision makers in the field. 

Who will be participating in the panels and discussions, and what sort of workshops will be on offer?
Representatives from various technology leaders such as Microsoft, Siemens, and Cisco will conduct workshops. Attendees can look forward speeches from Dr. Mitchell Joachim, Associate Professor at NYU and Co-Founder of Terreform ONE, an architectural design group that incorporates ecological and synthetic biological concepts into urban environment, and Dr. Ryan Chin, Managing Director of the City Science Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, an interdisciplinary research laboratory that explores the convergence of technology, multimedia, sciences, art and design.

There will also be three competitions held for startups to pitch their ideas on how to address challenges in creating a smart city and implement innovations.

Which panels and workshops will be of particular interest to those working in the media industry?
The panels and workshops focusing on how Dubai plans to develop new urban systems for a post-oil, connected world in the areas of sustainable mobility, resilient energy systems, urban food production, transformable live/work space and Big Data urban analytics will be highly interesting for media professionals. Workshops including experts and influencers from Stanford, MIT, NYU, NovoEd and leading public and private companies from Dubai also offer various media opportunities.

How can members of the media industry attend the exhibition?
Media members can attend the exhibition by registering online at www.smartlivingcity.com, or on the spot during the event.

Are there any future plans for Smart Living City in Dubai?
Moving forward, the vision is to turn the exhibition into a live forum consolidating international experiences that integrate knowledge across global cities. It will be a high-profile event that will share the best ‘smart’ solutions for a changing world.

 

Head of Marketing and Communications, Paul Mampilli

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Name: Paul Mampilli
Age: 45
From: India
Current job title: Head of Marketing and Communications, Noor Bank

When did you arrive in the UAE?
I left Singapore for Dubai in January 2009.

Where did you work prior to joining Noor Bank?
I was previously General Manager (MEA) at Resultrix – A Publicis Company, and prior to that was Head of Marketing, PR & Communications (MEA) for Mastercard Worldwide. I’ve also worked with Zenith, Visa, BBDO and TBWA.

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
When I first moved here, I compared the region to South East Asia (SEA) and the rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC), and because of this I felt this region had a lot of catching up to do.

Have these impressions changed much?
The industry has transformed a lot in the last two years. I experience a lot of sophistication coming into the industry and this is primarily being driven by the digital space. A lot of talent has moved into this market and that has also resulted in local talent being up-scaled.

Tell us about your new position as Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications…
Noor Bank has rebranded itself and is on an exciting path to grow itself. The senior management and employees within the organisation are very switched on and this makes it an immensely satisfying place to work. Given we are a fairly young bank, there is a lot of appetite to try out new things which you would not find in larger organisations. I am looking forward to bring several digital practices to the fore as part of our efforts.

What challenges do you face?
Ensuring that the philosophy of the brand “Noor gets it done” is consistently delivered through every single consumer activity and touch point of Noor Bank.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Every time I am able to impact a change in the way we plan and implement our philosophy across the bank in the way it reaches its consumers.

What’s the most exciting thing to happen so far?
The planning and engagement of digital marketing practices.

What do you think of the quality of media publications in the region?
I think they are fairly good compared to Asia, but need more than the regular sales push.  As the Middle East is a highly connected region, more efforts to bring in sophistication on the digital front would do well.

What sets you apart from other marketing professionals?
I took the decision to dive into the digital agency space two years ago to learn about what makes it tick. Now back on the client’s side, it would be fair to say that I would probably be one of the few professionals who bring with them an in-depth knowledge of digital marketing, advertising, media and marketing practices.

Work calls via landline, mobile or both?
Both.

What’s your most overused saying?
Plan and persevere to succeed.

Five things you can’t live without?
Aside from my family, my iPhone 5s, iPad Air, Mac Book Pro, Nexus 5 and Garmin Fenix 2 devices.

If you weren’t in marketing and communications, what would you be?
A running coach. I coach around 40 kids and adults as a hobby and it’s my way of giving back to society. Running is a passion.