Google's “Engage for Agencies" programme, first launched in January, has attracted digital marketing agencies that work with SMEs to better equip their clients to “master the art of online marketing". The forum, expected to be held in the next three months, is aimed at informing marketing agencies of the details of the programme and the benefits that they can enjoy. The programme's first agency event was held in Dubai in partnership with Potential.com. “The purpose behind establishing the programme is to develop and train digital marketing agencies with tools they need to help equip small- and medium-sized enterprises," said Tarek Abdalla who is leading the programme. “The marketing agencies that join the programme will get to enjoy access to Google's latest products, marketing tools such as sales pitch techniques, applications and trainings," said Abdalla. He added that access to the programme will also help partners to utilise the full potential of Google Adwords search advertising tool for promoting client products and services. “The good thing about the programme is that any agency that is interested in it will be able to join it for free," he said. The programme's online marketing tools enable SMEs to control their spending, regularly track ROI and target the right consumers at the right place and time. “With the prevalence of the internet in the MENA region and more than 90 million Arabic speakers online to date, online marketing ability is becoming an increasingly vital capability to master," said the global corporation in a statement. Google stated that online marketing has become “an essential and necessary tool" for SMEs and other commercial entities to expand their reach and market themselves to prospective customers while working on a limited budget. “SMEs form the core of a healthy economy in any country in the world. These hundreds of millions of entrepreneurs are the backbone of a growing economy and sign of economic vitality," the company stated. The event has so far attracted more than 100 business executives and entrepreneurs who showed interest in learning more about succeeding online.
