Listen, I've been through the hellish experience of hiring the incorrect marketing agency TWICE before at last finding one that provided results. Take my word, it's a mistake you don't want to make when growing your brand in Saudi Arabia's competitive market.
As someone who has developed over 30 Arabic websites in the last half-decade, I can assure you that applying Western UX principles to Arabic interfaces simply doesn't work. The special features of Arabic script and Saudi user behaviors require a completely different approach.
For a banking client, we created a flexible layout approach that automatically modified controls, text presentation, and layout based on the chosen language, resulting in a significant improvement in visitor interaction.
- Realigning action buttons to the right-hand portion of forms and interfaces
- Restructuring information hierarchy to progress from right to left
- Redesigning user controls to follow the right-to-left viewing pattern
After years of underwhelming results in the Kingdom, their revamped strategy created a three sixty agency services hundred twenty-four percent improvement in conversion rates and a one hundred eighty-seven percent growth in average order value.
After partnering with three different international agencies that couldn't generate results, my organization finally engaged a local Riyadh-based marketing firm. The difference in results was remarkable.
Recently, my friend's web-based business was hardly visible in search results regardless of providing exceptional products. After implementing the methods I'm about to share, his organic traffic grew by 164% in just two months.
Effective strategies included:
-
Curating products appropriate to Saudi tastes
-
Modifying item information to emphasize aspects significant for Saudi shoppers
-
Seasonal collections for Ramadan
-
Dimension modifications for Saudi expectations
-
Explicitly specify which language should be used in each entry box
-
Automatically change keyboard layout based on field requirements
-
Locate form text to the right of their associated inputs
-
Ensure that error notifications appear in the same language as the expected input
-
Select fonts purposely developed for Arabic on-screen viewing (like Boutros) rather than traditional print fonts
-
Increase line spacing by 150-175% for enhanced readability
-
Implement right-aligned text (never centered for primary copy)
-
Stay away from compressed Arabic typefaces that reduce the characteristic letter structures
Recently, I was advising a major e-commerce company that had invested over 200,000 SAR on a impressive website that was performing terribly. The reason? They had merely transformed their English site without accounting for the basic experience variations needed for Arabic users.
Last year, I was sitting in this luxurious office in Riyadh (you know, one of those places with the floor-to-ceiling windows and overpriced modern art), agreeing as an agency guaranteed me the world. Six months and fifty thousand SAR later, our traffic had increased by a disappointing... wait for it... 3%. Not exactly the result I was expecting! <20><><ED><A0><BE><ED>♂️
I'm running a small business meetup in Riyadh next month where we'll be discussing more about finding and working with marketing partners. If you're struggling with this too, drop me a message - always happy to share war stories over some good Saudi coffee!
Critical changes included:
- Transparent shipping times for various areas of the Kingdom
- Various shipping choices including same-day fulfillment in urban centers
- Detailed tracking with Arabic notifications
- Adjustable timing for deliveries
After my costly education in what DOESN'T work, I've learned that finding the premier Digital Advertising Agency Riyadh agency isn't about who has the fanciest office or the slickest presentation. It's about outcomes, dialogue, and understanding the unique Saudi market.
- Relocated product visuals to the left area, with product details and call-to-action buttons on the right
- Changed the photo slider to advance from right to left
- Incorporated a custom Arabic text style that preserved clarity at various sizes
- Cultural expertise - This is HUGE and often disregarded. Saudi consumers respond to completely different approaches than Western audiences. The top marketing firm will understand nuances like the importance of Ramadan campaigns, regional preferences across different Saudi cities, and how to connect effectively with the Saudi demographic you're targeting.
If you're building or revamping a website for the Saudi market, I strongly recommend working with specialists who truly understand the subtleties of Arabic user experience rather than just translating Western layouts.
- Verified local success stories - Not just general case studies, but actual results with Saudi businesses in your particular sector. When I met with our current agency, they showed me exactly how they helped a company similar to ours boost their Riyadh customer base by two hundred fifteen percent in less than a year.