Manal Shaikh


Manal has a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Economy from Exeter University, UK and a background in project management. As a senior account executive, she acts as liaison between clients and the media, coordinating interviews, overseeing the development and dispatch of original content, conducting key messaging workshops and handling events. Her clients include EPIC Green Solutions, Notions Group and Technogym Emirates. While completing her studies, Manal interned at McKinsey & Co. Management Consultants UAE in Research & Development, where she worked closely with consultants and other analysts on projects relating to the education, media, banking and, in particular, healthcare industries in the Middle East. She began her professional career in 2007 working as a project manager for a textile and corporate uniform manufacturer, where her role comprised of sales and business development activities, from initial sales pitches to ensuring the delivery of end products, as well as overseeing in-house marketing projects.

Manal takes care to execute every project with great attention to detail, in line with client objectives, and uses her flair for networking to great advantage in her current role.

Manal grew up in the UAE and speaks English and Urdu fluently.

Twitter: The Ultimate Popularity Contest

How to, Public Relations, Social Media No Responses »
May 022012

It’s been over three months since I proclaimed that I was going to try to be more ‘active’ on social media – namely Twitter – and while I’ve finally gotten round to filling in my bio (with a little bit of coaxing) and started tweeting more frequently, I’ve only really picked up about 20 more followers.

Now, I’ve never been particularly bothered about how many ‘friends’ I have on Facebook, so I shouldn’t really let this bother me, right? Well, Twitter’s all about having a voice and I’d like to think that although I’ve started off using the platform for recreational purposes until I get to grips with it, eventually, I’d like to be able to use it to influence people. So what am I doing wrong?
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Posted by Manal Shaikh at 11:25 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Facebook Timeline: If You Can’t Beat Them…

Public Relations, Social Media 1 Response »
Apr 162012

In my last post, I briefly touched upon the pros and cons of the new Facebook Timeline. While my sentiments may have initially leaned towards the negative, I figure that if this layout is indeed here to stay then we’re just going to have to find a way to co-exist that’s mutually beneficial to everyone.

Nancy Messieh’s article on The Next Web suggests tips on how businesses can effectively adapt their content for Facebook Timeline to meet business objectives. Based on case-studies of six major brands including Pizza Hut, Manchester United, Gap, Coldplay, American Express and Coca-Cola, Nancy provides an analysis of what works and what doesn’t.
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Posted by Manal Shaikh at 11:07 AM Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Facebook Timeline: Making the Switch

Public Relations, Social Media, Uncategorized 1 Response »
Apr 082012

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I’m a traditionalist. I simply don’t like change and particularly when it’s not out of choice. So as the time for all Facebook users to make the change from the traditional profile layout to the shiny new ‘Timeline’ looms on the horizon, it’s understandable that this isn’t something that I’m entirely in favour of.

A short excerpt from Roberto Baldwin’s article on Gadget Lab, describes the new format as:
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Posted by Manal Shaikh at 10:31 AM Tagged with: , , , ,

A Social Media Faux Pas

How to, Public Relations, Social Media No Responses »
Mar 252012

Everyone – individuals and businesses alike – seems to be jumping on to the social media bandwagon recently. Understandable, I suppose, given the increasing importance placed on establishing an online presence in order to keep up with current events, establish open lines of communication and even making sure your complaints are heard.

However, it seems there is a certain etiquette to using social media as a marketing tool, something that became evident to me after attending the inaugural Digital Media Forum 2012 in Dubai.
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Posted by Manal Shaikh at 10:34 AM Tagged with: , ,

PR Mentors – A Little Guidance Can Go a Long Way

Public Relations No Responses »
Mar 132012

Most of us, when faced with a problem, look to our immediate supervisors or colleagues for advice – but have you ever thought about exploring beyond your inner circle and seeking guidance from other industry peers? This could be anyone from a senior member of a different PR agency or even someone who works in the same sector as one of your clients. After all, the concept of knowledge-sharing does lie at the core of our business – and if nothing else, it’s always helpful to get a fresh perspective on your ideas.
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Posted by Manal Shaikh at 10:08 AM Tagged with: , , ,

Giving Readers What They Want…When They Want It

How to, Press Releases, Public Relations No Responses »
Feb 222012

A few weeks ago I had written a blog post about how keeping up with technological evolution, particularly in terms of social media, is essential in order for PR agencies to survive in the modern age. Interestingly enough, I recently came across a comment by Anthony De Rosa from Reuters, which suggests that this is indeed the case for newswires too!

The reason why this was a particularly intriguing read was that one would assume that newswires – who we as readers and both print and online publications rely on for ‘real-time news’ – would be just as effective as Twitter, for example, in communicating up-to-the-minute announcements. Continue reading »

Posted by Manal Shaikh at 11:05 AM Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Social Media Heavyweights

How to, Public Relations, Social Media 1 Response »
Feb 012012

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to become more social media savvy. While this may be second nature for the majority of the online community, for a traditionalist like me, it’s a mammoth task.

Until now, I’ve felt a bit too exposed by social media – take Twitter for example, I have a tendency to painstakingly think and re-think a tweet a hundred times before I post it. More often than not, I’ll write out my update…and then, just as my cursor hovers over that ‘Tweet’ button, that final step in the 10-second journey which feels more like several hours, I’ll buckle under the pressure and log off instead. I’m always a bit intimidated by these people you see with millions of followers, who have a constant stream of updates that are not only informative but also highly insightful – surely no one would be interested in what I have to say when they have all this instead? Continue reading »

Posted by Manal Shaikh at 11:48 AM Tagged with: , , , ,

“Will Tweet for Money” – Is Twitter just another advertising medium?

Social Media No Responses »
Jan 182012

Any opportunity to influence a concentrated target audience and marketing pros will take it without batting an eyelash.  It’s happened with Facebook, and it was only a matter of time before it happened with Twitter.  And why not, when it’s so easy to identify and directly communicate with people you know will be interested in your product.  Interestingly, it hasn’t appeared in the form of those annoying pop-up or sidebar ads you see on most channels – instead, people – namely celebrities – are being paid to tweet about products and events!

Case in point –Kim Kardashian! The reality TV star has reportedly been paid up to $10,000 per tweet to make her followers aware of certain products.  With over 11 million followers behind her, it’s not surprising that companies are willing to pay big bucks for that kind of exposure.  But how ethical is it? Continue reading »

Posted by Manal Shaikh at 10:17 AM Tagged with: , , ,

What Women Want – PR Campaigns for the Fairer Sex

How to, Product Launches, Public Relations, Uncategorized No Responses »
Dec 282011

Every PR campaign is tailored to attract a certain target audience – but women (namely teenage girls and mothers), more so than others, have to be approached in a very specific manner. I recently came across an interview conducted with Maureen Lippe, CEO of Lippe Taylor, which delved into the secrets of creating Public Relations campaigns for women.

The brains behind the Jenny Craig campaign that used actress Kirsty Alley’s transformation as a selling point for its diet plan, Lippe knows exactly what it takes to attract and hold the attention of women from any age group. She explains that rather than doing the same routine PR practices, clients such as Jenny Craig require a different perspective – something that will “cut through the clutter” in order to really reach editors of lifestyle and beauty magazines. The key is to maintain authenticity and transparency, something that is often lost in a desperate attempt to get a story published, and like anything else in this day and age, the best way to achieve this is through greater online engagement with target audiences.
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Posted by Manal Shaikh at 2:24 PM

Think Before You Blog

Blogging No Responses »
Dec 082011

Sure, blogging is a great platform to share your knowledge and expertise about a hobby, interest or even the industry you work in.  It’s also a fantastic way to drive traffic to your website, while maintaining your credibility.  But there are several factors to consider before you dive straight into it.

@arkarthick advises you to maintain a balance between keeping the tone of your blog professional but fresh and interesting.  At the end of the day, your blog will be a reflection of you – and you would be surprised by how many people actually judge you on it – so make sure you portray an image you want others to see.  You should also choose a theme for your blog that you are particularly interested in or passionate about – selecting topics that you will get bored of will only lead to inconsistency on your blog.  The key to maintaining and growing your readership is in the continuity of your posts. Continue reading »

Posted by Manal Shaikh at 12:45 PM Tagged with: ,
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