Are you planning to start a business in the UAE? Launching a new business requires more than just an out-of-the-box idea and a solid product or service. Entrepreneurs need to come up with novel and effective marketing strategies to thrive in the UAE. These marketing strategies should resonate with their target audience and reflect the current trends in the region where they are starting the business. Having a clear picture of the local market is one of the key factors that can help you become a successful entrepreneur.
How do you promote business in the UAE?
For any business setup in the UAE, planning and implementing marketing strategies is a painstaking process. However, if done in the right way, it can give the desired results. The following are some of the important marketing strategies that new businesses can adopt to establish a strong presence and achieve long-term success in the UAE.
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Understand the local market
Before implementing any marketing strategy, it is imperative to have an in-depth understanding of the local market in the UAE. Businessmen should conduct market research to identify target demographics, preferences, and buying behaviors. Understanding the unique cultural and linguistic aspects of the UAE will help in customizing marketing strategies to address the target audience.
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Set your budget
Creating a budget for the marketing strategies will give better clarity on what they can and cannot afford and thereby also help in choosing the appropriate marketing channels. To begin with, it is wiser to choose cost-effective options and see the results, and then proceed to the next.
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Building a strong online identity
The impact of the digital revolution is so huge that if a business isn’t online, it doesn’t exist! So, building an online presence is no longer an option; it’s inevitable for any business. A company must have a visually appealing, user-friendly, and optimized website. Informative and engaging content can drive more traffic to the website and also showcase the company’s expertise in the specific niche. At the same time, the website must be optimized for mobile devices as most consumers are spending a major part of their time on mobiles.
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Choose your marketing channels
There are several marketing channels and choosing the best depends on the needs and nature of the specific business. In this digital era, businesses have access to a wide range of marketing channels including offline and digital, in order to promote their products/services. For the newbies in the field, it mainly works on a test-and-learn approach.
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Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is revolutionizing the way businesses communicate with their audience. There are different digital marketing tactics including social media marketing, content marketing, influencer marketing, and search engine optimization.
Social media marketing
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn offer businesses a vast audience to promote their products/services. As per statistics, Facebook is the most widely used platform in the UAE. While creating a marketing campaign, customizing the content for the Facebook audience will be a great idea to improve the reach. Also, influencer marketing is yet another aspect that has gained immense popularity in the region recently. Collaborating with local influencers with a high number of followers will increase brand visibility.
Content marketing
Creating and sharing valuable content including blogs, videos, infographics, and eBooks is a great way of engaging with the target audience. To ensure the production of quality content, it is recommended to maintain a content calendar.
Search engine optimization
Optimizing a website’s content and structure can improve its visibility in search engine results and thereby drive more traffic. By providing fresh and unique content with suitable keywords, businesses can attract organic traffic.
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Offline marketing
Though online marketing is the new norm, businesses must not underestimate the power of offline marketing channels in amplifying brand value. The ideal marketing plan should be a combination of digital and offline marketing campaigns. Offline advertising includes print advertising, television/radio advertising, outdoor advertising, and event marketing. Considering the increasing number of events happening in the UAE, it is a great opportunity to increase brand visibility. Sponsoring events, conferences or seminars can be included in the list of marketing efforts to increase the reach.
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Define your target audience
Marketing a product or service without identifying the target audience will never give the expected results. Before starting the marketing, it is crucial to understand the target audience. Define their demographics, interests, buying patterns, and pain points. This information will guide the marketing decisions and ensure that the content effectively connects with the audience.
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Conduct a competitor analysis
Before the ball starts rolling, it’s essential to know the competitors and their strategies. Identifying the direct and indirect competitors in the UAE is the first step. Then, analyze their marketing tactics, target audience, pricing strategies, and unique selling propositions (USPs). This analysis will serve as a foundation for building marketing campaigns that stand out in the competitive landscape and help attract customers. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors and capitalize on the opportunities that they have overlooked.
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Localize your marketing efforts
Localization is the key while setting up a business in the UAE. Adapt your marketing messages, content, and visuals to resonate with the local culture and customs. Consider translating your website and marketing materials into Arabic, the official language of the UAE, to reach a wider audience. Utilize local influencers and celebrities who have a strong following in the UAE to endorse the brand, as they can help build credibility and trust among the target market.
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Understand the current trends
Following the current trends and adopting them in marketing strategies is the need of the day. Stay updated with industry news, consumer behavior shifts, and emerging technologies.
The success of your business mainly relies on the marketing strategies that you deploy and it requires a great deal of time and effort. A credible business setup consultant in Dubai can simplify the process and make it easier for you.
