Begin by identifying ALL your competition – not just the well-known ones. In our analysis, we found that our most significant competitor wasn't the established brand we were tracking, but a new startup with an innovative strategy.
Through comprehensive research for a shopping business, we identified that content published between 9-11 PM substantially outperformed those released during standard peak hours, generating 143% higher engagement.
I spend at least 120 minutes each regularly reviewing our competitors':
- Website organization and user experience
- Blog posts and posting schedule
- Social media presence
- Customer reviews and ratings
- Keyword strategy and positions
For a luxury brand, we found that visual and ephemeral platforms significantly exceeded Meta for connection and sales, leading to a strategic reallocation of resources that enhanced complete effectiveness by 167%.
For a global fashion company, we established a Saudi-specific digital branding approach that included subtle traditional elements. This strategy enhanced their brand affinity by 167% in only half a year.
Last month, my friend's web-based business was struggling in search results despite providing exceptional products. After executing the techniques I'm about to reveal, his organic traffic grew by 164% in just eight weeks.
When I launched my online business three years ago, I was sure that our unique products would sell themselves. I ignored competitive research as unnecessary – a choice that practically destroyed my entire business.
Present channel preferences in Saudi Arabia:
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Visual platform: Dominant for fashion brands
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Temporary network: Remarkably successful with youth demographics
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Twitter: Strong for updates and public discourse
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Short video: Fast increasing particularly with youth audiences
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Business network: Effective for business-to-business engagement
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Seventy-three percent increase in search visitors
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First page positions for multiple important keywords
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Forty-one percent increase in leads from our online presence
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52% boost in conversion rate
Helping a luxury brand, we found that their local language identity was substantially inferior than their international communication. After creating harmony between the language versions, they achieved a ninety-three percent improvement in presence appreciation among Saudi users.
For a technology brand, we modified their international design elements to better align with Saudi aesthetic preferences while maintaining visual recognizability. This approach improved their design resonance by one hundred twenty-four percent.
A medical center experienced a significant improvement in name familiarity after executing a medium-optimized presence methodology that acknowledged the special characteristics of each online channel in the Saudi environment.
Twelve months ago, my family-owned business was fighting to find new customers. Our online presence was completely hidden in Google search results. That's when I made the decision to explore specialized website ranking help.
I use a simple tracker to monitor our competition's costs modifications on a regular basis. This has helped us to:
- Discover periodic price reductions
- Notice product bundling approaches
- Comprehend their cost structure
Powerful publication characteristics:
- Graphic superiority with regional settings
- Short-form motion graphics with Arabic audio
- Authentic glimpses that personalize the brand
- Seasonal events celebration
I remember the surprise on my brother-in-law's face when he received a quote for 75,000 SAR for his company website. "It's just a site!" he protested. Not long after, he eventually with a inexpensive 3,000 SAR site that was visually disappointing and failed to generate a single lead.
Additional timing discoveries:
- Decreased engagement during religious periods
- Greater participation on non-workdays
- Seasonal variations during religious occasions
- Post-evening prayer spikes in activity
I recommend organizing competitors as:
- Direct competitors (offering nearly identical products/services)
- Secondary competitors (with partial similarity)
- New threats (new entrants with disruptive models)
I visited a web design company in Jeddah last quarter where they presented me the difference between their themed and bespoke projects. The visual impact was clearly noticeable – the bespoke sites felt distinctly more professional and memorable.
Last year, I watched as three rival companies poured resources into developing their presence on a particular social media platform. Their efforts flopped as the medium turned out to be a poor fit for our industry.
I now utilize several applications that have significantly upgraded our competitive market analysis research:
- SEO tools to track rivals' search rankings
- Social listening software to track competition's digital footprint
- Website analysis platforms to monitor modifications to their online presence
- Communication monitoring to get their marketing communications