IBZ Group Blog

Throughout history the Middle East (ME) has been a major player in world affairs. The Middle East is also the historical origin of three of the world’s major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Combined with the many mystery and myths that surround it and the latest events that consistently keep it in the news, the Middle East is has become an intriguing subject of interest to people around the world.

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I hate to admit this, but I’m beginning to think I’m in over my head. Spurred on by the overwhelming “roar of the crowd,” I not long ago jumped feet first into an exploration of social media. I threw my skepticism to the wind and am now the proud holder of accounts on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Delicious, Eons, Plaxo….remember I said I have accounts, that doesn’t mean I have any idea what to do with some these. I watched ................ Read More

I have the unenviable title of {{{LANDLORD}}} – and this is my story! Rest assured, I am not part of a large property ownership conglomerate or management corporation. My wife and I invested in a few rental properties as our “retirement fund.”  We repair, clean and invest a good deal of time and money into each property . We always try to apply the Golden Rule with our tenants…Do unto…and ................ Read More

At virtually every turn recently, I am asked to recommend ways clients can utilize social media marketing as a means of message delivery.  Until recently, I read and heard a great deal about this new phenomenon, but resisted the siren call of such sites as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, et al, for fear of a replay of the severe addiction I succumbed to about 15 years ago when a ................ Read More

With the contemporary emphasis on the Middle East, Arabic Translation, transcription and editing have become big business. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the translations produced are at best inaccurate, and in many cases incomprehensible, misleading, and/or just downright wrong. This can lead to loss of communication, loss of time, and for companies trying to do business in the Middle East, it can lead to great financial losses and misunderstandings.

To start with, Arabic is not a single language. There are 23 ................ Read More

Marketing Communications in the U.S. is no longer a one-size-fits-all proposition. Effective message delivery to all residents of the United States requires that we examine the unique consumer behaviors of the country’s communities of color.

The designation “community of color” may be applied to a wide spectrum of minority and ethnic groups. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, approximately 30 percent of the U.S. population currently belongs to a racial or ethnic ................ Read More

I’ve been a “MarCom” professional for more years than I care to admit. And to this day, when asked what I do for a living, MarCom elicits a quizzical look, or a hmmmm, or simply the next question in the series, “what’s that.”

Say you are a crisis manager, teacher or even a publicist, and the questions end there – the name pretty much communicates the job description. Not so with a ................ Read More

In a previous article I discussed the things to look for in contracting accurate Arabic translation/transcription/editing.  With the burgeoning role of the Middle East in the world market, knowledge or access to Arabic is becoming a necessity for global industry and government operations. (www.ArabicEditor.com/articles.htm)

Obviously, we all want the best product at the best price. Unfortunately, price shopping when seeking Arabic translation can lead to unprofessional ................ Read More

Shopping online offers many positives: convenience – you shop in the comfort of your own home at any time of the day or night you choose; selection- thousands of stores at your fingertips; security- contrary to what many believe, online transactions with secure sites can be the more secure than handing your credit card to a sales associate, or walking through a mall and subjecting yourself to possible theft; and perhaps ................ Read More