When evaluating digital marketing search Ranking Services jeddah, don't be afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. I've learned to directly ask: "Can I speak to your least satisfied client?" The responses to this question tell you ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW about an agency's honesty.
Using extensive testing for a meal service client, we found that advertisements shown between evening hours substantially outperformed those presented during standard prime times, generating 163% better sales.
- Local knowledge - This is CRITICAL and often disregarded. Saudi consumers respond to completely different approaches than Western audiences. The leading digital company 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.
Last month, a store owner contacted me after spending over 300,000 SAR on underperforming online marketing. After revamping their approach, we achieved a four hundred seventy-three percent improvement in advertising efficiency.
For a high-end retailer, we implemented a locally-relevant attribution framework that recognized the unique path to purchase in the Kingdom. This technique revealed that their social media investments were truly producing two hundred eighty-six percent more results than previously calculated.
Unexpected discoveries:
- Ephemeral platforms exceeding Instagram for particular merchandise
- Night advertising substantially surpassing afternoon campaigns
- Motion material producing higher ROI than fixed graphics
- Smartphone effectiveness surpassing desktop by substantial differences
Recently, a merchant complained that their newsletter initiatives were producing disappointing outcomes with visibility below 8%. After executing the strategies I'm about to discuss, their visibility jumped to 37% and purchases rose by over two hundred percent.
For a beauty company focusing on younger Saudi women, we reallocated 60% of their traditional advertising investment to Snapchat, resulting in a two hundred seventeen percent growth in sales performance.
A few months ago, a retail client contacted me after spending over 500,000 SAR on online advertising with limited outcomes. After redesigning their strategy, we achieved a 743% increase in return on investment.
- Verified local success stories - Not just general case studies, but genuine results with Saudi businesses in your exact sector. When I interviewed our current agency, they showed me exactly how they helped a company resembling ours grow their Riyadh customer base by 215% in eight months.
Key considerations:
- Protracted decision periods in Saudi purchase journeys
- Family influence aspects in conversion actions
- WhatsApp as a substantial but difficult-to-track influence channel
- Physical confirmation as the ultimate buying stage
Important modifications:
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Relationship length adjustments for Saudi clients
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Recommendation worth importance enhancements
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Seasonal spending habits recognition
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Status-driven acquisitions assessment
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Team members with professional digital marketing credentials
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Specialized departments (not one person doing everything)
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Proper project management systems
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Experience with Saudi compliance requirements and regulatory standards
For a fashion retailer, we executed a thorough channel effectiveness analysis that revealed their most effective channels were completely different from their global trends. This finding permitted a redistribution of investment that enhanced their complete ROI by 213%.
Effective approaches:
- Incorporating local payment methods like STC Pay
- Improving native descriptions
- Featuring Saudi assistance availability
- Adding credibility indicators tailored for Saudi consumers
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 university student running campaigns from his bedroom! No judgment on hardworking students, Git.Akarpov.ru but industry qualifications and expertise matter enormously in this field.
I'm running a small business meetup in Riyadh next month where we'll be discussing more about finding and working with marketing partners. If you're having trouble with this too, drop me a message - always happy to share war stories over some good Saudi coffee!
- Clear reporting systems - My biggest frustration with my previous agency was the lack of clarity around results. Now we get regular reports that actually make sense, showing exactly what's succeeding and what isn't.
After my expensive education in what DOESN'T work, I've discovered that finding the premier digital agency isn't about who has the most impressive office or the most polished presentation. It's about performance, interaction, and grasping the unique Saudi market.
A while back, I was sitting in this fancy office in Riyadh (you know, one of those places with the floor-to-ceiling windows and extravagant modern art), listening as an agency guaranteed me the world. Six months and fifty thousand SAR later, our traffic had increased by a disappointing... wait for it... 3%. Not exactly the outcome I was hoping for! <20><><ED><A0><BE><ED>♂️