I use a simple tracker to monitor our rivals' costs adjustments on a regular basis. This has already helped us to:
- Spot seasonal price reductions
- Notice product bundling tactics
- Comprehend their pricing psychology
For a financial services brand, we created a content series about family financial planning that included Shariah-compliant approaches. This information surpassed their earlier generic investment tips by 417% in interaction.
When we introduced a new product collection last summer, initial results seemed encouraging. However, competitive research revealed that comparable items from other companies were converting 3x stronger.
Key considerations included:
- Native-speaking producers for each language
- Cultural adaptation rather than word-for-word transfer
- Uniform brand voice across dual languages
- Tongue-appropriate SEO
Using comprehensive research for a retail brand, we found that communications received between 8-11 PM substantially surpassed those sent during traditional working periods, generating substantially better open rates.
I chuckle when clients tell me they're using the "latest" digital marketing approaches but haven't revised their approach since 2022. The online environment has changed significantly in just the past 12 months.
The most successful Saudi brands understand that customers don't think in terms of platforms. My financial client experienced a substantial improvement in qualified leads after we connected their previously disconnected channels.
Using comprehensive research for a clothing brand, we found that communications received between evening hours significantly exceeded those sent during standard daytime, generating one hundred fifty-two percent higher visibility.
Successful methods included:
- Sector analyses with Saudi-specific data
- Management discussions with prominent Saudi experts
- Success stories from Kingdom-based work
- Virtual events exploring locally-relevant concerns
Last year, I was sitting in this fancy office in Riyadh (you know, comparing search optimization services one of those places with the transparent partitions and overpriced modern art), listening as an agency promised me the world. Six months and 50,000 SAR later, our traffic had increased by a whopping... wait for it... 3%. Not exactly the return I was anticipating! <20><><ED><A0><BE><ED>♂️
I recommend organizing competitors as:
- Primary competitors (offering nearly identical products/services)
- Peripheral competitors (with partial overlap)
- Potential disruptors (new businesses with disruptive capabilities)
Last quarter, a merchant complained that their newsletter campaigns were creating dismal returns with visibility below 8%. After applying the strategies I'm about to reveal, their readership jumped to 37% and sales grew by two hundred eighteen percent.
- Regional understanding - This is HUGE and often overlooked. 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 Saudi cities, and how to engage effectively with the Saudi demographic you're targeting.
After my expensive education in what DOESN'T work, I've realized that finding the top marketing partner isn't about who has the fanciest office or the slickest presentation. It's about outcomes, communication, and understanding the unique Saudi market.
I spend at least two hours each week examining our competitors':
- Digital architecture and navigation
- Content strategy and publishing frequency
- Social media engagement
- Customer reviews and evaluations
- Search strategy and rankings
I now utilize several applications that have substantially enhanced our market intelligence:
- Search analysis platforms to analyze other companies' SEO strategies
- Brand monitoring tools to follow competition's social activity
- Site monitoring platforms to track modifications to their digital properties
- Communication monitoring to receive their campaigns
Not long ago, I watched as three similar businesses spent significantly into developing their operations on a specific social media platform. Their efforts flopped as the channel turned out to be a bad match for our industry.
When I launched my retail business three years ago, I was certain that our unique products would be enough. I ignored market research as unnecessary – a decision that practically ruined my entire venture.
Initiate by listing ALL your competitors – not just the major ones. During our analysis, we found that our largest rival wasn't the established brand we were tracking, but a new company with an innovative approach.
Look, I've been through the hellish Arabic user experience design of hiring the incorrect marketing agency TWICE before eventually finding one that delivered results. Trust me, it's a mistake you don't want to make when establishing your brand in Saudi Arabia's challenging market.