A few weeks ago, a business owner questioned me why his blog posts weren't creating any leads. After examining his publishing plan, I identified he was making the same blunders I see numerous Saudi businesses commit.

Last month, I was advising a major e-commerce platform that had poured over 200,000 SAR on a impressive website that was performing terribly. The issue? They had simply translated their English site without considering the fundamental UX differences needed for Arabic users.

When evaluating digital agency offerings, don't be afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. I've learned to directly ask: "Can I speak to your most challenging client?" The responses to this question tell you THE COMPLETE STORY about an agency's honesty.

For a high-end retailer, we developed a value division methodology that identified multiple special traditional categories within their target market. This approach enhanced their campaign effectiveness by one hundred seventy-eight percent.

Let me tell you, I've been through the frustrating experience of hiring the wrong marketing agency TWICE before finally finding one that provided results. Trust me, it's a blunder you don't want to make when establishing your brand in Saudi Arabia's demanding market.

During my previous project for a financial services company in Riyadh, we observed that users were frequently tapping the wrong navigation options. Our behavior analysis demonstrated that their eyes naturally flowed from right to left, but the important navigation components were located with a left-to-right importance.

For a manufacturing company, we implemented a evolution strategy that prioritized workforce integration. This strategy lowered resistance by seventy-six percent and hastened acceptance by over one hundred eighty percent.

After considerable time of implementing universal population divisions, their enhanced locally-relevant segmentation approach produced a 241% growth in campaign effectiveness and a substantial reduction in customer acquisition costs.

During a marketing workshop in Khobar last month, I was shocked when a business owner told me he was paying 5K SAR monthly to his "digital expert" who turned out to be a young amateur running campaigns from his bedroom! No judgment on hustling students, but formal training and expertise matter enormously in this field.

Valuable approaches featured:

• City-specific classifications beyond basic regions
• District-based concentration
• City vs. countryside variations
• International resident zones

• Tourist areas vs. local neighborhoods

• Relocated product photos to the left side, with product information and call-to-action buttons on the right

• Adjusted the product gallery to progress from right to left

• Incorporated a custom Arabic typeface that preserved legibility at various scales

For a shopping business, we created a blended methodology that integrated digital innovation with established significance of personal interaction. This strategy improved customer satisfaction by over one hundred sixty percent while achieving process enhancements.

A while back, I was sitting in this elegant office in Riyadh (you know, one of those places with the transparent partitions and overpriced modern art), nodding along 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 return I was hoping for! ������‍♂️

1. Local knowledge - This is HUGE and often disregarded. Saudi consumers react 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 communicate effectively with the Saudi demographic you're targeting.

As someone who has designed over 30 Arabic websites in the last half-decade, I can assure you that applying Western UX standards to Arabic interfaces simply doesn't work. The distinctive elements of Arabic text and Saudi user preferences require a completely different approach.

• Explicitly mark which language should be used in each form element
• Dynamically change keyboard language based on field type
• Position field labels to the right of their connected inputs
• Verify that error notifications appear in the same language as the required input

Key elements:

• Keeping high-touch connections for Jeddah search Engine optimization bond-creation
• Computerizing administrative processes for efficiency
• Creating natural flows between automated and traditional interactions
• Honoring age-based choices

1. Clear reporting systems - My biggest frustration with my previous agency was the lack of clarity around results. Now we get consistent reports that actually make sense, showing exactly what's performing and what isn't.

• Select fonts specially created for Arabic screen reading (like Boutros) rather than classic print fonts
• Expand line leading by 150-175% for better readability
• Implement right-oriented text (never centered for primary copy)
• Stay away from compressed Arabic fonts that compromise the distinctive letter shapes