For immediate release for immediate release

Increased Consultative Marketing Needed to Connect with Digital Natives

Experts to discuss targeted and digital marketing at Total Marketing Summit, targeting regions expansive social media users Dubai November 2nd, 2011: According to recent statistics, the MENA region is home to approximately a 10th of the worlds Facebook users. Currently, the region has over 56 Million Facebook users, representing a market penetration of 16 percenti and total number of Twitter users in the Middle East is estimated to be about 6.5 million peopleii. These figures show how marketers cannot ignore digital natives that increasingly turn to social media in their daily lives. In this digital age with an increased reliance on technology, marketers need to be consultative in their approach to consumers, according to a top marketer. We need to find a way to be consultative marketers and evolve to become digital natives. We have to adapt our marketing approach in a consultative way, or we will be forced to, said Jeremy Foster, Head of Marketing, Government and Industry Relations, Ericsson UAE and key speaker at the forthcoming IIR Middle East Total Marketing. Foster further states: The successful future for marketing is connecting to people in the moment that theyre in a natural cycle. A natural cycle, for example, is being hungry at lunch time. If you understand the context of cycles, the consumer will feel in control. The summit to be held from 20-23 November 2011, at The Address hotel, Dubai Mall will address the complete marketing strategies needed to meet the growing needs of the increasingly-integrated marketing responsibilities faced by industry executives. Hasan Fadlallah, Founder and Managing Director of BrandLounge, Branding and Marketing Strategists elaborates saying: The role of digital marketing cannot be neglected anymore nor can it be looked at as a complimentary tool. Digital marketing is now the focal point where marketers and brand agencies turn to at the start of any

brand activation and engagement program. Our presence as gold sponsors for the Total Marketing summit comes as a natural step due to our belief in the program, content and structure of the topics and the need to redraw the branding and marketing roadmap in times of severe competition and change. Speakers from across the Middle East, Europe and Asia will be converging at the renowned event, to discuss the future of marketing, the latest consumer and research trends, as well as provide practical solutions for marketers in the industry by identifying key trends. A series of case studies will be presented and numerous networking opportunities will be available at the event. Foster concludes saying: Consumers have changed. Marketers need to learn how to control consumers, by adding context in their natural cycles and by using consultative marketing. -ENDSAbout Total Marketing Summit Total Marketing 2011 will focus on collaborative affiliations of the whole marketing team, who are working together to meet the needs of more savvy and demanding consumers. The event will discuss and debate consumption trends and deliver a more experiential approach. The event is supported by BrandLounge branding & marketing strategists as the Gold Sponsor and Silver Sponsor Siegel+Gale. For more information visit: http://www.iirme.com/totalmarketing/home For media requests, please contact:

Phone +971 (4) 4472501 Email team@tcf-me.com P.O. Box 29764 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Fax +971 (4) 447 2505

Presentation on Facebook usage in Middle East and North Africa by Abbas Alidina from Logicks.com
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Excerpts taken from the Arab Social Media issue released by Dubai School of Government