H2O New Media, the UAE based social media agency, recently released a bit more details about its TigerFish Network, previously covered here.
The TigerFish Network, is promoted as the first Middle East based social media advertising network, which will allow advertisers to target their online marketing strategy based on user profiles and user defined preferences. This advertising network will be offered to H2O New Media customers and publishers, giving them an opportunity to generate revenues from their online publications and social media websites.
The TigerFish Network will be implemented across all social communities owned and operated by H2O New Media and those of its customers.
H2O New Media hopes TigerFish will enable it to strongly compete with companies like Google and Yahoo, hoping that by being a local online advertising network that crosses different social media channels, they can provide a higher rate of return for publishers in the region, offering them targeted regional advertising based on users profiles.
“In 2009, the focus for TigerFish Network will be to expand our advertising sales team and recruit local publishers into the network. Our aim is to work with existing social media platforms in the UAE and into migrating them from Google on to TigerFish Network. We foresee significant workload in this transition however our relationships with media and PR agencies in this market is expected to boost the launch of this platform. We will compete directly with Google for a share of the UAE’s online advertising market as we are leaders of social media development and we provide a holistic and consultative service to clients and users” said Mr. Steve Vaile, CEO and Founder, H2O New Media.
The TigerFish Network is scheduled to open business by mid January 2009. The product is currently implemented on a number of social media platforms with a reach of over 300,000 unique users per month across a mix of platforms.
Glad to see such ambitious company in our region, but compete with Google and Yahoo!! starting with H2O properties… is this for real!!
It seems to be a pissing contest between H2O and Niagara Falls… we know who wins in the end, don’t we?
Glad to see such ambitious company in our region, but compete with Google and Yahoo!! starting with H2O properties… is this for real!!
It seems to be a pissing contest between H2O and Niagara Falls… we know who wins in the end, don’t we?
Marwan, just saw this post.. Well, seems that either you have added the spice on the real deal or the Company has a fetish for Artificially Inflated Reality. While I have seen my share of exceptional talent and big ideas, I really don’t see the reason for hyping this startup to the extent you have – its a me-too copy cat at best, very limited regional coverage with no web properties which have any mentionable traffic – I can only call this false bravado, probably preceding a fund raising round. I am disappointed with SUpA to have allowed this blatant PR to make it an accomplice, since now I question SUpA objectivity as a medium or is it that its just another PR medium ?? Please be reasonable with your coverage for this will only hasten the demise of the covered startup with unreasonable expectations and, in turn, the faith of your audience.
Marwan, just saw this post.. Well, seems that either you have added the spice on the real deal or the Company has a fetish for Artificially Inflated Reality. While I have seen my share of exceptional talent and big ideas, I really don’t see the reason for hyping this startup to the extent you have – its a me-too copy cat at best, very limited regional coverage with no web properties which have any mentionable traffic – I can only call this false bravado, probably preceding a fund raising round. I am disappointed with SUpA to have allowed this blatant PR to make it an accomplice, since now I question SUpA objectivity as a medium or is it that its just another PR medium ?? Please be reasonable with your coverage for this will only hasten the demise of the covered startup with unreasonable expectations and, in turn, the faith of your audience.
@Basel: I too think they’re aiming a bit high with this. I mean they do say you should aim for the stars and all, but I think building up such hype puts a big burden on them, raises expectations, and opens them up for scrutiny . I think they should just focus on what they’re doing, without the need to compare or compete; if they’re good, it will show, and they’ll take their place in the market.
@James: Well, I can assure you that I haven’t added any spice of my own on this, and I’m not hyping up anyone, all I’m saying is what the startup is actually talking about, they are the ones hoping to be able to compete with Google and Yahoo, I never said I thought they would be able to, I’d be more than glad to see a startup from the Arab world do that of course, and I wish the guys at H2O New Media all the luck, but I don’t necessarily think that’s in the cards yet.
Anyway, I’ll be taking your concern into consideration for the future, and will be clarifying my position on things in the posts. Thank you for sharing that thought with me.
@Basel: I too think they’re aiming a bit high with this. I mean they do say you should aim for the stars and all, but I think building up such hype puts a big burden on them, raises expectations, and opens them up for scrutiny . I think they should just focus on what they’re doing, without the need to compare or compete; if they’re good, it will show, and they’ll take their place in the market.
@James: Well, I can assure you that I haven’t added any spice of my own on this, and I’m not hyping up anyone, all I’m saying is what the startup is actually talking about, they are the ones hoping to be able to compete with Google and Yahoo, I never said I thought they would be able to, I’d be more than glad to see a startup from the Arab world do that of course, and I wish the guys at H2O New Media all the luck, but I don’t necessarily think that’s in the cards yet.
Anyway, I’ll be taking your concern into consideration for the future, and will be clarifying my position on things in the posts. Thank you for sharing that thought with me.
Marwan, point taken. It was a bit over the top for them to put forward such claims. Anyway, just a curious question – Are they in the process or planning for rising a capital round ?? That would explain.
Marwan, point taken. It was a bit over the top for them to put forward such claims. Anyway, just a curious question – Are they in the process or planning for rising a capital round ?? That would explain.
@James: I really don’t know, I’ll try to get in touch with them and see if they have any plans to raise funding soon.
It could be just their way to grab attention and build hype for their product.
@James: I really don’t know, I’ll try to get in touch with them and see if they have any plans to raise funding soon.
It could be just their way to grab attention and build hype for their product.
Hello Guys –
Thanks for your comments. Let me be quite clear we 100% will be up against Yahoo moving forwards and Google, there is no reason why we can not compete with these companies on a regional level. Whilst we do shout about the odd thing there is one heck of a lot going on under the covers that we do not shout about. So they are big – great they are also slow to execute, slow to market and slow to pick up new ideas – I think this is called the Gorilla Game if you understand tech start ups.
Watch the space this month for more press, James understand your comments – really we have a lot on the way, its really not high traffic sites that we are after – if we wanted that we could just buy traffic – traffic is not really a measure of value these days. As for your comment “a me too copy cat at best” quite astonished by this – you are obviously an accomplished journalist yet make this comment having never even spoken to the company. Just lets see what happens! 😉
Cheers gents thanks for the coverage
Steve Vaile
CEO – H2O New Media
Hello Guys –
Thanks for your comments. Let me be quite clear we 100% will be up against Yahoo moving forwards and Google, there is no reason why we can not compete with these companies on a regional level. Whilst we do shout about the odd thing there is one heck of a lot going on under the covers that we do not shout about. So they are big – great they are also slow to execute, slow to market and slow to pick up new ideas – I think this is called the Gorilla Game if you understand tech start ups.
Watch the space this month for more press, James understand your comments – really we have a lot on the way, its really not high traffic sites that we are after – if we wanted that we could just buy traffic – traffic is not really a measure of value these days. As for your comment “a me too copy cat at best” quite astonished by this – you are obviously an accomplished journalist yet make this comment having never even spoken to the company. Just lets see what happens! 😉
Cheers gents thanks for the coverage
Steve Vaile
CEO – H2O New Media