The most effective Saudi brands recognize that customers don't separate in terms of channels. My banking client experienced a seventy-six percent growth in prospects after we connected their previously separate channels.
Last month, a entrepreneur asked me why his articles weren't producing any inquiries. After reviewing his content marketing strategy, I discovered he was making the same blunders I see countless Saudi businesses make.
A café group in Riyadh experienced a forty-two percent increase in foot traffic by implementing location-based handheld campaigns that targeted consumers within a 2-kilometer distance of their locations.
I smile when clients tell me they're using the "latest" digital marketing techniques but haven't changed their tactics since 2022. The digital landscape has evolved dramatically in just the past 12 months.
Recently, my colleague Hessa obtained quotes ranging from 22,000 to 58,000 SAR for virtually the same corporate website. The variation? The pricier quotes included unique design elements rather than pre-designed solutions.
Recently, a cosmetics company spent 300,000 SAR in traditional advertising with disappointing outcomes. After moving just 25% of that spending to creator partnerships, they experienced a seven hundred twelve percent increase in revenue.
Last quarter, a shop network invested over 200,000 SAR in traditional marketing with disappointing results. After moving just 30% of that spending to mobile marketing, they experienced a three hundred twenty-eight percent growth in foot traffic.
I visited a web design studio in Jeddah last quarter where they presented me the distinction between their pre-designed and bespoke projects. The visual impact was immediately apparent – the unique sites felt distinctly more professional and memorable.
As opposed to concentrating solely on finding the cheapest quote, think about the likely outcomes that a superior website will generate for your business. A well-designed site is an advantage that will keep generating returns for years to come.
Two quarters into our launch, our sales were dismal. It wasn't until I happened to a comprehensive analysis about our market sector that I realized how oblivious I'd been to the business environment around us.
Advising a restaurant chain, we developed a approach where influencers genuinely incorporated products into their regular routines rather than producing clear promotions. This approach generated engagement rates two hundred eighteen percent higher than traditional promotional content.
I still think about the astonishment on my brother-in-law's face when he received a quote for 75,000 SAR for his company website. "It's just a website!" he protested. Not long after, he ended up with a bargain 3,000 SAR site that looked terrible and didn't attract a single lead.
A friend who runs a restaurant in Riyadh originally was shocked at the extra 12,000 SAR for an appointment system, but later told me it became profitable within 90 days by decreasing staff time spent on phone reservations.
I suggest classifying competitors as:
- Main competitors (offering very similar offerings)
- Secondary competitors (with some similarity)
- Potential threats (new companies with game-changing models)
I invest at least two hours each regularly examining our competitors':
- Digital organization and user experience
- Content strategy and publishing frequency
- Social media activity
- User feedback and assessments
- ThreeSixty SEO Specialists approach and rankings
During a recent business networking in Riyadh, I surveyed 17 entrepreneurs about their website creation experiences. The cost variation was surprising – from 2,500 SAR for a basic site to over 150,000 SAR for complex e-commerce platforms.
When I started my e-commerce business three years ago, I was sure that our distinctive products would sell themselves. I dismissed competitive research as unnecessary – a decision that almost ruined my entire business.
I use a basic spreadsheet to track our competitors' pricing adjustments weekly. This has already allowed us to:
- Identify periodic promotion cycles
- Detect package deal approaches
- Comprehend their pricing psychology
My cousin Khalid initially selected the cheapest proposal for his corporate website, only to realize later that it omitted content writing – causing an extra 8,000 SAR expense for expert content creation.
A skincare retailer transitioned from multiple single engagements to sustained relationships with fewer influencers, resulting in a 164% growth in conversion rates and a 43% decrease in marketing expenses.
Initiate by mapping ALL your competitors – not just the well-known ones. In our research, we discovered that our most significant rival wasn't the famous business we were monitoring, but a emerging company with an novel strategy.
Last year, I witnessed as three similar businesses invested heavily into expanding their operations on a particular social media platform. Their efforts flopped as the channel proved to be a bad match for our market.