I presently use several applications that have substantially upgraded our competitive research:
- Search analysis platforms to track competitors' search rankings
- Social listening software to monitor competitors' digital footprint
- Site monitoring platforms to track changes to their digital properties
- Email capture to receive their campaigns
Recently, a apparel company approached me after wasting over 150,000 SAR on social media advertising with limited outcomes. After revamping their approach, we produced a dramatic increase in advertising efficiency.
- Local knowledge - This is HUGE and often ignored. Saudi consumers react 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 engage effectively with the Saudi demographic you're targeting.
Their strategy included:
- Ephemeral platforms: Energetic brand personality
- Professional networks: Credential-focused content
- Visual platforms: Lifestyle-oriented presence development
- Conversation platforms: Perspective sharing
For a multinational apparel company, we created a positioning methodology that genuinely aligned with traditional family values while maintaining their international appeal. This technique increased their brand relevance by one hundred seventy-three percent.
When I established my retail business three years ago, I was certain that our special products would sell themselves. I dismissed competitive research as unnecessary – a mistake that nearly ruined my entire venture.
- Documented local success stories - Not just basic case studies, but actual results with Saudi businesses in your particular sector. When I interviewed our current ThreeSixty Agency Riyadh, they showed me exactly how they helped a company resembling ours increase their Riyadh customer base by more than double in eight months.
Initiate by mapping ALL your competitors – not just the well-known ones. During our analysis, we found that our most significant competitor wasn't the established business we were watching, but a new startup with an innovative model.
When evaluating digital marketing services, don't be afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. I've learned to directly ask: "Can I speak to your unhappiest client?" The responses to this question tell you THE COMPLETE STORY about an agency's integrity.
A beverage company in Riyadh experienced a forty-two percent improvement in store visits by creating geotargeted smartphone promotions that targeted consumers within a 2-kilometer range of their stores.
Important support aspects to assess for positioning:
- Connection foundation of service
- Requirement for speed
- Physical contact tendency
- Complete issue solving requirement
- Status recognition during assistance offering
Important advancement aspects to evaluate for placement:
- Practical benefits concentration over newness
- Communal approval of digital embracing
- Traditional practice enhancement rather than substitution
- Simplicity of incorporation into current habits
- Household advantages framing
A digital brand revolutionized their sales figures by implementing a repositioning methodology that combined advancement with established practices. This strategy improved their company attraction by over one hundred forty percent.
For a global fashion company, we developed a regionally-focused digital branding methodology that included elegant traditional elements. This technique improved their brand affinity by over one hundred fifty percent in a short period.
Important status aspects to evaluate for placement:
- Subtle signaling vs. evident showing
- Collective validation of position
- Achievement orientation alongside heritage appreciation
- Generosity exhibition as status expression
- Religious alignment of high-end acquisition
I dedicate at least a substantial amount of time each week analyzing our competitors':
- Website structure and user experience
- Blog posts and publishing frequency
- Social media activity
- Client testimonials and assessments
- SEO strategy and performance
Last year, I observed as three competitors invested heavily into growing their presence on a specific social media platform. Their initiatives flopped as the medium appeared to be a poor fit for our industry competitor review.
For a technology brand, we adjusted their international design elements to further resonate with Saudi aesthetic preferences while keeping visual recognizability. This approach improved their visual connection by over one hundred twenty percent.
A medical center achieved a one hundred seventy-eight percent growth in name familiarity after implementing a channel-tailored branding strategy that recognized the special features of each digital platform in the Saudi environment.
- Team members with recognized industry qualifications
- Focused departments (not one person doing everything)
- Proper organizational structures
- Experience with Saudi rules and regulatory standards