The whole world is in a transitional period, as we move from the real to the virtual in marketing terms; and Dubai is no different. Promoting Dubai: Traditional Vs digital marketing, well, it is not an either or situation, it is both. Obviously, digital is the future of marketing, with everybody searching online, on their devices and phones. Search makes digital king because of SEO and social media. Some folks never leave the Facebook universe; they perpetually inhabit that frat inspired platform that has taken over vast chunks of the world.
Social media is a great channel to promote travel and tourism in. Facebook, as mentioned, but also Pinterest and Instagram, because they are so visually inspiring; and the whole holiday snaps thing has always been inextricably linked to the tourist realm. Taking photos of what you see, and who you meet, whilst travelling is such a natural part of the whole gig. Sending them instantly out to your network of family and friends is now de rigour for the traveller or tourist. Twitter, and its clones in different countries, is another platform doing the same thing here. Promoting Dubai through social media is a very big and important aspect of its success in the digital sphere.
Promoting Dubai: Traditional Vs Digital Marketing
Traditional marketing through gifts and souvenirs, T-shirts and clothing, calendars and the like still have a part to play in the whole business of promoting Dubai. These old-fashioned promotional products still have an impact in the marketplace. The snow globe with the world’s tallest tower in Dubai inside is still a powerful tool in marketing terms. The merchandising which displays iconic images of this wondrous city in the desert, with all its feats of engineering proudly jutting up on the skyline, makes a valuable contribution to the marketing of Dubai.
Human being still like things that they can touch and interact with their senses. Digital is everywhere now, but it still does not make as much impact, as the real. That is changing, as I said, we are in a transitional period. Promoting Dubai: Traditional Vs digital marketing continues to be a blend of both, during this transitional period. Will the world be a poorer place when digital takes over completely? Or, will life be purer when marketing and advertising exit products, leaving them alone to stand unlabelled? If all advertising shifted to the digital spectrum would it re-purify our real world? I wonder.