Their strategy included:
- Snapchat: Youthful identity aspects
- Professional networks: Credential-focused content
- Instagram: Lifestyle-oriented brand storytelling
- Conversation platforms: Perspective sharing
For a global fashion brand, we established a locally-targeted online identity approach that included tasteful traditional elements. This technique increased their brand affinity by one hundred sixty-seven percent in only half a year.
A wellness organization achieved a one hundred seventy-eight percent growth in identity awareness after applying a channel-tailored identity approach that recognized the distinctive features of each online channel in the Saudi context.
Not long ago, I observed as three competitors spent significantly into expanding their operations on a particular social media platform. Their initiatives flopped as the channel appeared to be a bad match for our market.
A friend who runs a restaurant in Riyadh at first hesitated at the additional 12,000 SAR for an online reservation system, but afterward mentioned me it paid for itself within three months by cutting employee hours spent on phone reservations.
Recently, a store owner mentioned that their newsletter initiatives were generating poor returns with open rates below 8%. After executing the strategies I'm about to share, their visibility improved to 37% and sales grew by two hundred eighteen percent.
When I launched my retail business three years ago, I was sure that our special products would stand out naturally. I dismissed competitive research as unnecessary – a choice that almost cost my entire company.
I suggest classifying competitors as:
- Main competitors (offering equivalent solutions)
- Indirect competitors (with some similarity)
- Emerging challengers (new companies with disruptive potential)
Using comprehensive research for a cuisine platform company, we discovered that advertisements shown between night time dramatically outperformed those shown during standard optimal periods, achieving 163% better purchases.
I remember the surprise on my brother-in-law's face when he got a quote for seventy-five thousand SAR for his company website. "It's just a webpage!" he exclaimed. Shortly after, he ended up with a cheap 3,000 SAR site that looked terrible and didn't attract a single lead.
With comprehensive research for a apparel company, we discovered that communications received between evening hours substantially outperformed those sent during standard business hours, achieving substantially greater open rates.
Working with a premium company, we found that their Arabic branding was substantially inferior than their English branding. After achieving harmony between the language versions, they achieved a substantial improvement in brand perception among Saudi consumers.
I use a basic document to record our competitors' costs adjustments every week. This has already allowed us to:
- Identify periodic promotion cycles
- Notice product bundling strategies
- Comprehend their cost structure
I invest at least 120 minutes each week examining our competitors':
- Website organization and navigation
- Blog posts and content calendar
- Online platforms engagement
- Client testimonials and assessments
- Keyword tactics and rankings
My family member Mohammed at first chose the most affordable offer for his business website, only to find out later that it excluded content writing – adding an unforeseen 8,000 SAR expense for quality copywriting.
For a software company, we adjusted their international design elements to more closely match Saudi design expectations while preserving identity cohesion. This strategy increased their design resonance by over one hundred twenty percent.
At a business networking in Riyadh, I asked 17 company managers about their website creation experiences. The cost variation was remarkable – from 2,500 SAR for a basic site to over 150,000 SAR for complex e-commerce platforms.
Rather than fixating solely on getting the most affordable price, think about the potential return that a superior website will deliver for your business. A properly developed site is an advantage that will persist in delivering value for years to come.
Start by listing ALL your competitors – not just the well-known ones. Throughout our research, we found that our biggest competitor wasn't the established brand we were watching, Gitlab.Solr.com.cn but a new business with an innovative strategy.
I presently utilize several resources that have significantly improved our competitive research:
- Search analysis platforms to monitor competitors' search rankings
- Mention tracking tools to track competition's trusted digital agency in KSA footprint
- Site monitoring platforms to track modifications to their online presence
- Communication monitoring to receive their campaigns
Recently, my colleague Sara received quotes varying between 22,000 to 58,000 SAR for essentially the same business website. The difference? The pricier quotes included custom design elements rather than pre-designed solutions.