Signé magazine set to go monthly

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Signé magazine – owned by Ad Maiora Media – is increasing its frequency from six to 10 issues per year starting from January 2015. Signé will now be available in stores on the 1st of every month, with the exception of July and August. Signé was first launched in September 2013 with an emphasis on style, design and researched editorial content, and the new monthly editions will give readers the opportunity to keep up with the evolving world of men’s luxury lifestyle.

“After an amazing first year, it’s a real pleasure for us to answer the market’s call to see Signé more often!” says Daniel Giacometti, Managing Director, Ad Maiora Media. “With 42,000 more copies a year, the other major change for 2015 is that we will be using a wood-free recycled paper in our publication to greatly reduce our footprint on the environment.”

Google revamps DoubleClick

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Google has undergone a complete revamp of its DoubleClick Verification to help marketers protect their brands, budgets and give advertisers more control over where their ads appear online. Originally launched by Google in 2012, DoubleClick Verification integrated into the DoubleClick Digital Marketing platform as a natural extension of campaign workflow, protecting brands and giving advertisers more confidence with their digital investment.

In Google’s official blog post, a number of features have been added and updated to DoubleClick Verification, including –

  • Ad blocking: There are several features Google has been working on surrounding ad blocking. Advertisers can now add to the pre-built set of exclusion lists and create custom categories known as Custom classifiers. This goes beyond just giving insight into where your ads appear, but allows you to specify where you do or do not want them to be served.
  • Spam filtering: Google has revealed updated spam filtering and fraud protection, made possible in part by its acquisition of fraud monitoring and analysis firm spider.io earlier this year. Google has updated spam filtering with pre- and post-bid filtering capabilities, which aids in avoiding the purchase of fraudulent impressions and automatically purging fraudulent impressions from reporting and billing.
  • Targeting content with Digital Content Labels: As with movie ratings, Google is implementing a digital ratings classification according to the brand safety of the content across all Google advertising products; this includes DoubleClick, YouTube, GDN and AdMob. Advertisers can target inventory in DoubleClick Bid Manager with labels that range from ‘DL-G’ – content suitable for general audiences, to ‘DL-MA’ – content suitable for mature audiences.

The update of DoubleClick Verification has been implemented at a time in which the success of digital marketing is based heavily on messages reaching an audience as intended, and ensuring that advertisers’ strategies are executed in the way that they are planned and paid for.

BR Comms wins at SME Stars of Business Awards

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Dubai-based PR, marketing and design consultancy, BR Communications, has been named the ‘Best New Business in 2014’ during the SME Stars of Business Awards held at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The annual event, organised by CPI Media Group, recognises the most outstanding SMEs in the GCC region through 22 categories. Currently in the UAE, the number of SMEs is estimated to be around 327,000, with total revenue of USD234 billion.

“We are truly honoured to be recognised for this category,” says Bahaa Fatairy, Managing Director, BR Communications. “Since launching our business in December 2013, we have been striving to make a mark in the region’s highly competitive communications and media industry. The award definitely serves as motivation for us to continue doing our best in delivering value-added service to our clients. SMEs are undoubtedly the backbone of any nation’s economy, and platforms such as the SME Stars of Business Awards are ideal in celebrating the achievements of these businesses.”

Facebook enhances its options for mobile app ads

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Facebook has added new buying, creative and targeting options to its mobile app ads. From this week, advertisers will be able to buy Facebook mobile app ads with highly predictable reach and frequency, allowing advertisers to boost awareness whilst controlling how often someone sees an ad.

According to the official blog post from the social media platform, with the increasing value of video at every stage of the buying cycle, video mobile app ads will now be played automatically in Facebook’s news feed, with advertisers given the option to purchase mobile app ads with video creative through Power Editor. Finally, the blog post confirms that device targeting on Facebook has been extended to include Amazon Fire tablets.

Maddi Glendinning joins Harper’s Bazaar Arabia

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Maddi Glendinning has joined the team at Harper’s Bazaar Arabia as Features Writer. Having been with ITP Publishing since the beginning of this year, Maddi was most recently Lifestyle Editor/Sub Editor at Grazia Middle East, Grazia Bahrain and Grazia Luxury. In her new position, she will cover content across fashion and beauty for the Middle Eastern edition of the luxury lifestyle magazine.

BMW Group welcomes Sales and Marketing Director

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As of January 2015, Ralf Bissinger will succeed Alexander Eftimov as Sales and Marketing Director for BMW Group in the Middle East. Ralf brings considerable expertise to the Middle East, with more than 25 years of experience with BMW Group. Since 2010, he has been Sales and Marketing Director for BMW Group Thailand and was previously Sales and Marketing Director for BMW Group India. Prior to that, he held a number of senior marketing positions including Marketing General Manager for BMW Asia, Singapore and Importer Region, Marketing General Manager for BMW Group M in Munich, Germany, and Region Sales Manager for the America Region for BMW M, also in Munich. Ralf also held the position of Product and Market Planning Manager for BMW Australia.

“Ralf is an experienced executive with a broad international background,” says Johannes Seibert, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East. “He has extensive knowledge of the BMW Group brands and marketing expertise, and will play a crucial part in achieving our goal to strengthen our number one position in the Middle East premium automotive segment even further in 2015 and beyond. I look forward to welcoming Ralf as a member of our management team.”

AOL secures acquisition of Vidible

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AOL has acquired Vidible, an independent cross-screen video management and exchange platform for digital media. Headquartered in Bellevue, with additional offices in New York City and San Francisco, Vidible allows content creators to expand the distribution reach and monetisation options of their video content, while publishers are given the option to source and manage content, creating new advertising-based revenue streams.

In AOL’s official announcement, the acquisition will allow the company to expand its video stack with new video content management tools; increase the availability and management of premium video to publishers and content owners via a self-serve platform; add a video content exchange that will plug into AOL’s monetisation platforms; and add a team of highly experienced operators, product and technical leaders.

“AOL is focused on transforming the digital media environment by creating an open marketplace for video,” says Dermot McCormack, President, AOL Video and Studios. “We are thrilled to welcome the Vidible team to AOL as we accelerate our mission of providing our partners with the platform and tools they need to better create, curate, syndicate and monetise their content across the globe.”

Tim Mahlman, President and Co-Founder of Vidible adds, “We’re excited to be joining AOL, a company that’s on the forefront of video. The combination of AOL Video and Vidible accelerates our vision of making content management and syndication available to video content creators and publishers everywhere.”

Last issue of Good Housekeeping ME to hit stands

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The publication of Good Housekeeping Middle East is officially being brought to a close after the December issue. Launched December 1, 2011, Good Housekeeping Middle East has brought the latest tried and tested advice on fashion, beauty, food and home from across the region. Backed by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and Good Housekeeping Seal, the publication has had a monthly circulation of 15,000 copies distributed throughout the UAE and GCC under Editor-in-Chief Lena ter Laare.

 

 

Celia-Jane Ukwenya joins Harper’s Bazaar Arabia

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Celia-Jane Ukwenya has taken on the role of Acting Fashion and Beauty Director at Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. With extensive experience across the fashion industry, Celia-Jane previously held the positions of Fashion and Beauty Editor at L’Officiel Middle East as well as Contributing Fashion and Beauty Editor for Velvet magazine. Most recently, Celia-Jane has contributed on a freelance basis for Elle, Marie Claire, Condé Nast Traveller, Velvet, Time Out Dubai and Emirates Woman.

Boasting an expansive stylist résumé across the UAE, she has worked as a fashion stylist on shoots for Grazia, L’Officiel and Harper’s Bazaar, to name but a few. In addition to this, Celia-Jane has styled on fashion shows such as Harper’s Bazaar World of Fashion, advertising campaigns for Emirates Airlines, Harvey Nichols, The Address Hotels and Level ShoeDistrict, and TV commercials for Saadiyat and Maggi. Celia-Jane temporarily takes over the role of Fashion and Beauty Director from Sally Matthews, who had been in the position since 2007.

HOT Media to publish Atlantis magazine

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HOT Media is set to publish the official magazine of Atlantis, The Palm. With the debut issue scheduled for the first quarter of 2015, the luxury-focused magazine will be the exclusive in-room publication of the hotel and its forthcoming residences. The magazine will be published quarterly and have an initial print run of 20,000 copies, with Chinese and Russian language editions planned for later in 2015.

“Atlantis, The Palm is a truly unique resort hotel and known throughout the world,” says Victoria Thatcher, Managing Director, HOT Media. “It’s an exciting opportunity for us to create a beautiful publication that expertly reflects the hotel’s iconic standing and mass luxury offering.”