Remember the G.I Joe action figures from your childhood? Here is a little trivia about them. In 1982, Hasbro got together with Marvel to introduce their comic book series “G.I. Joe – A Real American Hero!” as a key marketing strategy. Their main approach was to develop a detailed backstory for their action figures.
This was the content marketing strategy that worked for Hasbro in 1982 when content strategy was not even a thing. In two months of releasing the first comic book, about 20% of the target audience had two or more G.I. Joe toys.
So, you see, Content marketing is one of the best investments that you can make for your business. This strategy can help your business in UAE to build strong relationships with your target audience by consistently delivering high-quality, relevant content that educates and, ultimately, sells.
Regrettably, a lot of businesses drop the ball here.
Today in this blog we will dive into 4 top mistakes UAE businesses are making and how to overcome them. Let us delve into each one of them one by one:
- Ignoring the Data
Many content marketing teams tend to adopt a trial-and-error method when it comes to deciding the content writing topics for the month. A group ideate and add topics to the content calendar and start publishing. Some topics hit the mark however many don’t give the result you want.
The common mistake that these teams make is not referring to customer data to find what customers are interested in reading about.
Solution: To create effective content, start by analysing customer and competitor data. Here’s how:
- Customer Data: Examine demographics, behaviour, preferences, and feedback.
- Competitor Data: Review content themes, engagement rates, keyword usage, and social media presence of the competitors who are ranking well on result pages.
- Community Insights: Visit forums such as Quora and Reddit for industry-related topics popular among the audience in UAE.
- Editorial Calendar: Add these topics to your content plan after thorough analysis and expert consultation.
- Ignoring Local Culture and Preference
Ignoring local culture and preferences when marketing in the UAE is a recipe for disaster. For instance, overlooking the holy month of Ramadan might offend local feelings. At the same time, not recognizing the fact that the region is male-dominated and disregarding this fact could hinder the effective targeting of products and services.
Also, it’s important to understand that the UAE’s diverse population, influenced by Islamic traditions and varying economic statuses, requires careful localization efforts.
Solution: To navigate this, businesses ought to conduct thorough cultural research and consult with a local digital marketing agency to customize marketing strategies. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Islamic Traditions: Respect and incorporate practices such as Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr into marketing campaigns.
- Gender Roles: Acknowledge the male-dominated decision-making process and adapt marketing strategies accordingly.
- Language: Consider using Arabic in addition to English to reach a wider audience effectively.
- Local Customs: Understand local etiquettes, greetings, and social norms to build rapport with consumers.
- Underestimating the Power of SEO
In UAE as more customers turn to search engines such as Google daily to search for the best product and services to satisfy their needs, optimizing your website with SEO is essential for its online visibility. In fact, in 2022,73% of total sales were done online in UAE.
This means that ignoring SEO in UAE’s online market is of utmost importance. Poor SEO could lead could mean that your customers are not able to find you and go to your competitors instead, missing out on learning about your offerings.
Solution: To ensure your site thrives, prioritize SEO to attract and retain visitors who are actively searching for products or services like yours online. Here are four best practices that will help you with proper SEO:
- Invest in SEO Training: Equip your team with the latest SEO techniques and best practices.
- Hire SEO Experts: Consider outsourcing SEO tasks to a professional digital marketing company that understands local search trends.
- Use Relevant Keywords: Research and incorporate keywords that resonate with UAE-based search queries. You can also hire a professional content writing service that understands these concepts.
- Optimize Content: Ensure your content is well-structured, mobile-friendly, and optimized for search engine algorithms.
- Selecting the Correct Content Distribution Channel
Creating the right content plan and crafting top-notch content is just half the battle. You also need to select the best distribution channel in UAE to make sure your audience understands your product or service well.
Here is a list of the best distribution channels that can help you with a high level of penetration with a diverse population:
- Influencer marketing
- Email marketing
- Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram
- Paid distribution channels such as Google Ads can help you target specific demographics and increase visibility
Solution: Identify your audience’s preferences and behaviours, then match your content to the channels they use most. Monitor performance and adjust strategies to ensure your content reaches and resonates with the right people.
- Identify Audience Preferences: Conduct research to better understand the demographics, interests, and online behavioural patterns of the target audience in the UAE.
- Match Content to Channels: Select the best distribution channel that aligns well with the platform where your audience spends the most time.
- Monitor Performance: Keep track of the performance of the content you share on various channels using analytical tools such as Google Analytics.
- Modify Content Strategy: Be agile and flexible in updating your content distribution strategy based on performance data.
Conclusion
Businesses in UAE often make critical content marketing mistakes like ignoring data, local culture, SEO, and selecting the correct distribution channels. By addressing these issues with proper audience analysis, cultural sensitivity, SEO optimization, and strategic content distribution, companies can enhance their marketing effectiveness.
Collaborating with top digital marketing agencies in the United Arab Emirates can provide invaluable expertise and support, ensuring a successful and culturally aligned content strategy.
Want to know how we can help you power up your brand story with a top-notch content strategy? Talk to us!