• Designed a number display format that handled both Arabic and English numerals
• Redesigned graphs to read from right to left
• Implemented graphical cues that aligned with Saudi cultural connections

Last year, I observed as three rival companies spent significantly into developing their presence on a certain social media platform. Their attempts failed spectacularly as the platform appeared to be a bad match for our sector.

Key considerations:

• Protracted evaluation stages in Saudi purchase journeys
• Collective input factors in buying choices
• WhatsApp as a substantial but difficult-to-track impact medium
• Face-to-face verification as the last buying stage

Last week, a eatery manager in Riyadh expressed frustration that his business wasn't showing up in Google results despite being highly rated by customers. This is a frequent challenge I observe with local businesses across the Kingdom.

For a healthcare center in Jeddah, we increased their local visibility by ninety-four percent by verifying their establishment data was perfectly identical in both Arabic and English throughout all listings.

As someone who has created over 30 Arabic websites in the past five years, I can tell you that applying Western UX principles to Arabic interfaces falls short. The special features of Arabic script and Saudi user expectations require a totally unique approach.

• Clearly indicate which language should be used in each form element
• Intelligently adjust keyboard layout based on field requirements
• Position field labels to the right of their connected inputs
• Verify that validation messages appear in the same language as the expected input

I'm running a small business networking event in Riyadh next month where we'll be talking about more about finding and working with marketing partners. If you're finding it difficult with this too, drop me a message - always happy to share experiences over some good Saudi coffee!

When evaluating digital marketing services, don't be afraid to ask difficult 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.

• Team members with professional digital marketing credentials
• Focused departments (not one person doing everything)
• Proper organizational structures
• Experience with Saudi regulations and legal requirements

I dedicate at least a substantial amount of time each Monday reviewing our competitors':

• Digital architecture and navigation

• Content strategy and content calendar

• Online platforms engagement

• User feedback and assessments

• Search strategy and performance

• Realigning action buttons to the right side of forms and pages

• Rethinking content prioritization to progress from right to left

• Redesigning clickable components to follow the right-to-left reading pattern

During a marketing workshop in Eastern Province last month, I was astonished when a business owner told me he was paying five thousand SAR monthly to his "digital marketing Experts saudi expert" who turned out to be a college student running campaigns from his bedroom! No judgment on entrepreneurial students, but professional certification and training matter enormously in this field.

2. Local knowledge - This is ESSENTIAL and often overlooked. Saudi consumers respond 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 engage effectively with the Saudi demographic you're targeting.

I currently use several resources that have significantly upgraded our competitor analysis:

• Search analysis platforms to monitor competitors' keyword performance

• Mention tracking software to follow competitors' digital footprint

• Digital tracking tools to observe changes to their online presence

• Communication monitoring to obtain their campaigns

• Relocated product images to the left area, with product specifications and call-to-action buttons on the right

• Modified the product gallery to advance from right to left

• Added a custom Arabic text style that kept legibility at various sizes

Look, I've been through the hellish experience of hiring the unsuitable marketing agency TWICE before finally finding one that delivered results. Believe me, it's a mistake you don't want to make when establishing your brand in Saudi Arabia's demanding market.

The journey to finding the best digital marketing agency in Saudi Arabia isn't straightforward, but getting it right will revolutionize your business results. Just make sure you benefit from my mistakes rather than making your own!

• Redesigned the form flow to align with right-to-left user expectations
• Built a dual-language input mechanism with smart language toggling
• Enhanced mobile interactions for one-handed Arabic input

3. Clear reporting systems - My biggest frustration with my previous agency was the confusion around results. Now we get regular reports that actually make sense, showing exactly what's succeeding and what isn't.