Three quarters of residents across the Middle East and North Africa region welcome a region-wide online classifieds site, according to the latest online poll series conducted by the Middle East’s number one job site Bayt.com. The results of the poll also show that respondents around the region are open to buying goods and services online.
When asked which goods or services they use the Internet to shop for,16% of respondents said they shop for cars,15% said they shop for electronics,10% for holidays,8% for clothing,5% for real estate,2% for furniture, and another8% said it was a combination of all of these things.
The polls went on to ask the region’s respondents why they visit websites with classified advertisements. A fifth of those polled said that they find it a very enjoyable marketplace experience, and17% said it was because they can buy or sell products or services quickly, easily and effectively. Also popular was the fact that online classifieds offer great value and deals, with13% of the region’s respondents stating this as the reason they visit classified sites online. Another12% said they could reach a broader audience of buyers/sellers through online classifieds, and11% said there is no substitute for online classifieds for buyers and sellers.
The ‘Use of classifieds in the Middle East’ April online poll series conducted by Bayt.com, sought to understand from residents across the region what they use classifieds or the Internet shopping for, the reasons why they visit classifieds sites online, and what they most like about online classifieds.
Participants in the poll were asked what their favourite thing about using online classifieds sites is. The amount and diversity of goods and services on offer was one of the most attractive features of online classifieds, with17% of those polled agreeing, and13% said they were most drawn in by the transparency of the costs. Of those polled,9% said that the thing they like most is that using the sites are good fun,7% agreed it was the convenience and confidentiality of the shopping experience,6% said their favourite thing was shopping for goods and services from overseas and just1% said their favourite thing about using online classifieds sites was that they could find unbeatable bargains. Interestingly,29% of those polled agreed that it was a combination of all of these factors.
The respondents were then asked what they plan to shop for next online. More than a quarter (26%) said that they plan to shop online for a car,10% said they plan to shop for electronics, another10% for clothes,7% for real estate,6% for a holiday and2% for furniture. Interestingly, another26% said they weren’t planning to shop for anything online.
“As the number one job site in the Middle East, Bayt.com understands that more and more people today are looking to the internet to add value to- their everyday lives,” said Rabea Ataya, CEO, Bayt.com. “The results of the poll suggest that an online classifieds service is a popular tool in the region that adds value to life, because of everything from the diversity and choice online classifieds offer, to the fact that buying or selling goods is quick, easy and effective.”
Bayt.com, which has very recently launched zeDeal Classifieds https://www.zedeal.com, brings a convenient and easy-to-use lifestyle platform to the largest and fastest-growing professional community in the region. With zeDeal Classifieds, the Bayt.com community – which already includes well over four million registered professionals from across the MENA region – can enjoy a leading lifestyle service by selling or buying goods online in a high-traffic marketplace, while they benefit from Bayt.com’s wealth of recruitment and career resources.
“Using and browsing through traditional classifieds can often be a highly time-consuming activity, so in launching zeDeal Classifieds, we wanted to provide an easy-to-view and use, uncluttered space where the region’s professionals and other visitors can easily and efficiently buy and sell goods and even services online,” said Ataya.
In addition to accessing zeDeal directly, users can also access zeDeal Classifieds from the Bayt.com site by clicking on the Classifieds tab, which will take them to the dedicated zeDeal Classifieds pages. On the Classifieds homepage, the keyword search option allows users to quickly find what they’re looking for, or browse for products via seven specific product categories, including property for rent, items for sale and services. Each of the product categories is then sub-divided into more specific categories with the number of items or services available, giving users a quick overview of exactly what’s available. Sellers can very easily and for free advertise their goods and services and reach a large, diverse and very robust pan-regional community of active buyers.
“What we have seen from the results of the poll series is that online classifieds are popular for a variety of different reasons and the region’s respondents are receptive to a region-wide classifieds service. This poll sheds light on the region’s opinions on this innovative service, and we are pleased to be offering such a popular lifestyle service to our existing professional community,” concluded Ataya.
Data for the ‘Use of classifieds in the Middle East’ poll series was collected online between March24 and April28,2010, with a total of5,808 respondents from across the Middle East. This and other Middle East research, as well as information on Bayt.com’s classifieds, are available online on https://www.bayt.com.