When targeting audiences who speak Arabic, you'll need to speak the same language as them. Working with an Arabic social media agency in Dubai can provide you with all of your social media marketing needs, from content creation to channel management. Here's how to get started on your campaign - Yalla (let's go).
A collection of recent studies show that social media usage in Arab countries is higher than global averages. Most people have smartphones, use the internet daily and social media, specifically for almost three hours per day. This applies to the youth markets too. However, the usage of social media varies widely from country to country. There are indications that social media usage continues to grow, and is becoming the source of news for many youths.
The GCC and MENA regions are home to most Arabic speaking countries, and the changes between them are a result of government restrictions, internet connections and differing cultures. It is for this reason that marketers need to have a deep understanding of their target market to reach them effectively.
According to a report titled "Social media in the Middle East: 2019 in review," there are various interesting stats to take note of. Egypt, for instance, uses Facebook heavily, while Qatar does not. Parents turn to YouTube for parenting advice and kids content. Millennials also report watching YouTube daily. Snapchat is one of the leading social media platforms, with Saudi Arabia being the fifth largest market for the app in the world.
However, Arabic is still becoming the chosen language since there has been a gap in the market for Arabic content online. Arabic users represent significant portions of social media users; however, which is why businesses are turning to digital social media agencies to reach these markets better. According to a report by Professor Damian Radcliffe of the University of Oregon in conjunction with PhD student Hadil Abuhmaid, "Women's presence on Social Media is alarmingly low; it currently stands at one woman for every two men. The lack of participation in digital platforms from females will make it increasingly difficult to reach a balanced audience."
Dubai is one of the world's most connected cities in terms of social media, and geographically speaking, it is a point of entry into many other Arabic speaking nations. Social media platforms continue to become increasingly business-friendly, with social media shopping expected to become available in Dubai soon. These are some of the most critical social media facts, according to HubSpot:
While HubSpot's data is valid and provides some clear insights, it's important to also understand that Arabic Social Media isn't simply a case of translating English content into Arabic and posting the new content on the same platforms.
Arabic social media audiences behave very differently with social media platforms than other cultures. In some respects, the Arabic audience is highly innovative and adoption of new platforms is often at a much faster pace in the Middle East / GCC regions than in other parts of the world. Snapchat were the first to recognise this and placed high priority in the Saudi Arabian market due to the platform achieving incredibly high penetration and adoption rates from Saudi nationals.
In addition, the way that the Arabic audience interacts, engages and makes purchases online from social media platforms is also noteworthy and must be taken into consideration. For example, businesses that understand this and allow audiences to transition a social media enquiry into chat-based platforms such as Whatsapp have seen enormous success in the form of increased conversions and of course, revenue.
It's insights like these that help businesses and working with a Arabic Social Media agency in Dubai can be the difference between success and failure from marketing using social channels.
Working with an agency means you'll get the expertise of marketing and the Arabic language. The content produced and shared needs to be appropriate and match the dialect of your audience. Furthermore, agencies can manage your Arabic communities by engaging with them, which is key in social media marketing.
The goals of social media marketing in Arabic can be summarized as follows:
Arabic Social Media agencies in Dubai often offer their services as a package deal. This includes services to meet your needs and can be renewed on an ongoing basis. Social media packages consist of the following:
Effective marketing to Arabic speaking audiences requires social media marketing. By working with an agency who knows the markets, your brand can create and share relevant and engaging Arabic content. This will boost your overall marketing and business revenue.
Nexa is a leading social media agency based in Dubai, providing social media services to several B2B and B2C clients. We tailor our packages to each client's needs, with services offered in Arabic to reach wider audiences. Book a session with us to create your business's Arabic social media.