Digital marketing guide for entrepreneurs in UAE

Young entrepreneurs often have innovative ideas, but they lack the awareness and the financial asset they need to introduce the ideas to the world. The success of any good product/service is dependent on the way it is packaged and presented to the world. Only through effective marketing can you influence your target audience and sway their opinion towards your products.

With the digital world ever growing and the internet transcending in all aspects of our life, online marketing has become the dominant and most effective tool that shapes the marketing strategies for many firms, small and big. Hence, it is important for start-ups to develop their online marketing strategies early on to generate a customer base that is adequate for sustaining the business.

Here is a guide for entrepreneurs in the UAE to help them utilize online resources and explore the available online marketing opportunities:

1. Use influencers

Conventionally, start-ups used to suffer while hiring high-end celebrities to be the face of their product due to their exorbitant charges. However, social media has given birth to many young men and women who write or show about their life and interests on forums such as Instagram and YouTube. These influencers have a significant number of followers who value their word. By using them to talk about your product, you can generate traffic towards your own product.

The good thing about these influencers is that there are so many out there! They charge according to the number of their followers, and thus you will always find one that fits your budget.

2. Hire a “Search Engine Optimization” agency

Online marketing does not stop at writing a blog and maintaining it. It is important to distinguish yourself from the other bloggers out there. This can only be done with the assistance of an SEO agency, which can manage to divert traffic towards your blog by bringing your website up to the top results of various search engines.

3. Create a digital team

It is important to work efficiently even if you have to minimize your financial costs. Oftentimes entrepreneurs try to multitask in an attempt to cut spending. Social media sites require your time, attention and planning. It is important to hunt down people who can manage your marketing needs through their content writing, photography and graphic-design skills. You can search for young college students in local UAE universities who are willing to do these tasks for you on a relatively lower pay scale.

4. Advertise on social media sites

Most social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, etc. offer daily and weekly advertisement packages on low rates. You can tailor the target audience’s demographics and the time for your advertisement according to your budget and requirement.

For example, if you are a clothing brand, every time you launch a new collection, make sure to boost the most attractive posts on various social media sites.

5. Create a mailing list

Updating customers or potential customers on the upcoming products and events through emailers is very essential. Since emails are the most frequently used means of communication whether it be casual or formal, hence it is hard to miss. Consistently popping up in customer’s inbox with a captivating subject line like “The deals you need this Christmas” would not only intrigue them about you but it would also compel them to want to know more about you.

If you want your business to grow without spending heavily, it is crucial to use these tips to devise an online marketing strategy.

6. Engage your online audience

Online giveaways, events and twitter polls not only help you gain more followers and understand your audience but they also help make your brand relevant amongst the masses. By interacting with your target audience, you will be able to build greater brand loyalty and the reputation of a fun and friendly brand.

“In today’s information age of marketing and web 2.0, a company’s website is the key to their entire business” – Marcus Sheridan, Marketing Speaker

Creating a blog or a Facebook page should not be the end of your online marketing campaign. The virtual world is oozing with opportunities for entrepreneurs in the UAE to avail. By using these guidelines, you can shift away from mediocre low-budgeted advertising and also market your product without it costing you an arm and a leg.

Zain Devraj
Digital Marketing Manager
at
Search Interactive

Search Interactive is an SEO agency operating in the UAE on
developing SEO strategy for over sixty clients.
For more details, you can visit them here:
searchi.ae