Interactive marketing gets a leg up

Hong Kong - The Hong Kong Association of Interactive Marketing got off to a strong start last night with PCCW chairman Richard Li giving his blessing to the interactive marketing body.

The launch drew a strong crowd and an unusually large media contingent, largely due to the speculation surrounding the PCCW takeover, but Li said the new body will provide a common platform for interactive marketers looking to share knowledge.

"At the moment most marketers talk in a different language and are seemingly from different planets. Interactive marketing is not something of the future, but is something of today. Innovation and marketing remain at the core of business success," Li said.

Francis Fong, HKAIM chairman and managing director of Synergy said freedom of speech online, spam control and merging creativity and technology will form the initial focus of new group.

"Next generation online marketing tools, including email, IM and buzz marketing, have acquired a significant role in commercial communications once enjoyed only by such traditional marketing media as television, newspapers and magazines," Fong said.

"Players of both marketing and IT industries see a huge potential in interactive marketing and are keen to contribute to its vibrant growth."