Let me tell you, I've been through the frustrating experience of hiring the unsuitable marketing agency TWICE before finally finding one that provided results. Trust me, it's a error you don't want to make when building your brand in Saudi Arabia's competitive market.
Last year, my small business was barely surviving to reach new customers. Our digital storefront was completely hidden in Google search results. That's when I chose to explore expert SEO services in Jeddah.
For a high-end retailer, we discovered that Snapchat and Instagram dramatically exceeded Meta for connection and sales, resulting in a intentional reallocation of effort that improved total results by over one hundred fifty percent.
Using extensive testing for a meal service client, we identified that promotions delivered between 9-11 PM dramatically exceeded those presented during typical optimal periods, generating 163% higher purchases.
Successful approaches included:
- Curating items aligned with Saudi preferences
- Modifying merchandise details to emphasize features significant for Saudi customers
- Special assortments for cultural events
- Size adaptations for regional norms
For a retail client, we identified that their audio query discovery was limited because they had optimized mainly for English voice searches. After adding customized native audio query enhancement, their findability increased by 217%.
With comprehensive research Ui/Ux For Middle Eastern Markets a shopping business, we discovered that content published between 9-11 PM dramatically exceeded those released during typical prime times, generating 143% greater response.
Critical changes included:
- Clear delivery estimates for diverse locations of the Kingdom
- Multiple delivery options including same-day fulfillment in major cities
- Complete visibility with Arabic notifications
- Flexible rescheduling for deliveries
- Transparent reporting systems - My biggest frustration with my previous agency was the confusion around results. Now we get weekly reports that actually make sense, showing exactly what's performing and what isn't.
Assisting a hospital, we restructured their content to incorporate complete questions that users would naturally speak, such as "Where can I find a dermatologist in Riyadh?" This approach increased their spoken question discovery by over seventy percent.
Recently, a hospitality client found that their online presence was virtually invisible from spoken searches. After applying the techniques I'm about to reveal, they're now being found in nearly half of appropriate spoken questions.
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Regional understanding - This is CRITICAL and often ignored. Saudi consumers respond to completely different approaches than Western audiences. The best digital marketing agency will understand nuances like the importance of Ramadan campaigns, regional preferences across different website design pricing Saudi cities, and how to connect effectively with the Saudi demographic you're targeting.
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Documented local success stories - Not just basic case studies, but real results with Saudi businesses in your exact sector. When I met with our current agency, they showed me exactly how they helped a company similar to ours boost their Riyadh customer base by 215% in 8 months.
After my costly education in what DOESN'T work, I've learned that finding the top marketing partner isn't about who has the fanciest office or the most polished presentation. It's about results, dialogue, and grasping the unique Saudi market.
The journey to finding the premier digital firm in KSA isn't easy, but getting it right will dramatically improve your business results. Just make sure you benefit from my mistakes rather than making your own!
During a marketing workshop in Al Khobar last month, I was surprised when a business owner told me he was paying 5000 SAR monthly to his "digital expert" who turned out to be a college student running campaigns from his bedroom! No judgment on entrepreneurial students, but industry qualifications and training matter enormously in this field.
- Team members with professional digital marketing credentials
- Dedicated departments (not one person doing everything)
- Proper workflow processes
- Experience with Saudi rules and legal requirements
I'm running a small business meetup in Riyadh next month where we'll be talking about more about finding and working with marketing partners. If you're finding it difficult with this too, drop me a message - always happy to share insights over some good Saudi coffee!
Last year, I was sitting in this elegant office in Riyadh (you know, one of those places with the glass walls and pretentious modern art), agreeing as an agency assured me the world. Six months and fifty thousand SAR later, our traffic had increased by a whopping... wait for it... 3%. Not exactly the result I was anticipating! <20><><ED><A0><BE><ED>♂️
When evaluating online marketing options, don't be afraid to ask difficult questions. I've learned to directly ask: "Can I speak to your least satisfied client?" The responses to this question tell you THE COMPLETE STORY about an agency's integrity.