GulfNews.com draws 1.1 million readers

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on September 4, 2007 at 12:16 PM

Sean Burns, online manager of Gulfnews.com, offers a few ideas as to how the website attracts 1.1 million visitors per month, by stepping up continuous news and encouraging readers to interact.

With 1.1 million unique visitors and 12 million page views per month, Gulnews.com is one of the largest news portals in the region.

Whereas “in the past, Gulfnews.com was a mirror of the print edition, with an online archive,” said Burns, the website now offers more differentiation, notably through breaking news and reader interaction.

National, international and business news is constantly updated and posted directly on the website. Users can comment on stories and are also prompted to comment on specific topics. The comments are then used both in the print and online edition, further increasing the appeal to readers.

Among the other popular features: the Gulf News daily poll and a picture-sharing service on its tabloid’s website, XPRESS4me.com.

The newspaper also set up a specific hotline and SMS number for readers who want to submit newsworthy content.

GulfNews.com is just starting to explore web-only content, starting with picture galleries, and has launched a few staffer blogs. Its print and online editorial teams are still separate, but the company is orienting itself towards an integrated approach.

Source: See the full Q&A on the Arab Press Network