In Eccentric Marketing, marketing strategist and entrepreneur Said A. Baaghil outlines the framework for a forward-thinking new consumer model aimed at transforming the way products and services are marketed in the Middle East. Baaghil illustrates how modern-day CEOs of Middle Eastern corporations must radically alter their traditional marketing programs in order to survive the new global economy. Using real-world examples, Eccentric Marketing analyzes the marketing failures and successes of companies operating in the Middle East and makes a convincing argument about their vital need to implement consumer-based marketing. Baaghil also demonstrates how many common character faults of Middle Eastern CEOs can not only damage a brand, but ultimately lead to its complete demise. Eccentric Marketing details the current market reality for small- to medium-sized companies in the Middle East and explains why most of these companies fail when promoting their products in the Western world. Drawing from actual business cases in Saudi Arabia, Baaghil proves that companies must learn how to instill their brand permanently in the consumer consciousness in order to survive and thrive. Baaghil's visionary concepts for building and integrating a powerful brand make Eccentric Marketing the must-have marketing guide for leading-edge companies operating in the Middle East.

This edited volume investigates place, product, and personal branding in the Middle East and North Africa, including some studies from adjacent regions and the wider Islamicate world. Going beyond simply presenting logos and slogans, it critically analyses processes of strategic communication and image building under general conditions of globalisation, neoliberalisation, and postmodernisation and, in a regional perspective, of lasting authoritarian rule and increased endeavours for "worlding." In particular, it looks at the multiple actors involved in branding activities, their interests and motives, and investigates tools, channels, and forms of branding. A major interest exists in the entanglements of different spatial scales and in the (in)consistencies of communication measures. Attention is paid to reconfigurations of certain images over time and to the positioning of objects of branding in time and space. Historical case studies supplement the focus on contemporary branding efforts. While branding in the Western world and many emerging economies has been meticulously analysed, this edited volume fills an important gap in the research on MENA countries.

This book discusses the effectiveness of Western organizations’ social media strategies in the Middle East. Social media has changed the rules of doing business, but the exact impacts vary across regions. In the context of Middle Eastern societies, social media is seen as a way for individuals and communities to communicate with each other and is generally not viewed as a means for brands to interact with individuals. Examining how the use of social media in the Middle East is shaped by the region’s culture, authors discuss the factors that businesses need to consider when creating digital marketing strategies targeted there. Including case studies of Middle Eastern companies, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of the rise of social media in the MENA region and the often-neglected role of culture in research in this area. It will provide researchers and practitioners with a deeper understanding of conducting business in the Middle East through the effective and efficient use of social media.

16.5 Within Western Countries -- 16.6 Between the Two Groups -- 16.7 Future Market Scenarios in the Middle East -- References -- The Editor -- The Authors -- Author Index -- Subject Index

Revolutions continue to proliferate throughout the developing world, especially in the Middle East. But did you know that marketing plays a role in the unrest? Brand revolution doesnt automatically lead to the overthrow of a dictator, but the way we market goods and services can play an important role in the fight against tyranny. In fact, without a shift in the commercial world, broader revolutions would have much smaller chances of success. Join marketing expert Said Aghil Baaghil, who explores a new mindset that is taking hold in the Middle East and beyond. Participants in the revolution and outside observers alike will discover how a new generation of leaders can lead regional brands to a more global platform. He also provides methods for conducting business in order to make your brand thriveno matter where your business is located; promoting organizational change; and cultivating employees that can succeed in a globalized world. He takes a wide view, examining ways in which entire nations are branding themselves to promote tourism and create stronger economies. Shift your strategic focus with ease and achieve your financial and organizational goals with Brand Revolution.