The massiveness and cultural diversity of the Mena region pose great opportunities for brands who want to set up their business here. However, in the pursuit of doing so, selling your products or services with the mere idea of selling is not enough. You have to have something more than that.
The first and foremost thing you need to do is localize your brand. Now the question is, how do you do that? Read on as we uncover various segments of Mena brand localization and empower you with strategies that will help you navigate the complex Mena market effectively.
What does localizing your brand mean?
It is the process of customizing content that resonates with people of a particular region or country. In other words, it is a way of reaching out to people by speaking their language, incorporating their culture in your marketing communication, and presenting yourself as one of them.
Mena market localization – How?
Actually, it is easier than it may sound. By taking care of the important aspects of the region and building thoughtful cultural marketing strategies, businesses can streamline their marketing efforts and foster a deeper connection with the locals.
Local language
Even though Arabic is the dominant language in Mena, it is important to tailor your content to create a sense of inclusivity among your target audience. For example, creating content in English may do well in the UAE but not in Egypt. Tweaking your content a bit and creating a campaign using Egyptian Arabic will help you connect better with your audience.
Religion and cultural norms
Since Islam is the supreme power that decides various aspects of life in the Mena region, having content in place that doesn’t hurt the religious sentiments of the people is one of the crucial ways to survive in the Mena region. By being mindful of various elements like modesty in advertisements and halal standards, you can effectively market yourself risk-free.
Digital preferences
While global platforms like Facebook and Instagram are popular in the Mena region, identifying other local platforms that people use is a great way to stand out from others and have dominance in such platforms.
Build a strong Arabic SEO strategy
People from the Mena region are different when it comes to searching for answers to their queries. In order to optimize your marketing piece, you need to incorporate relevant keywords specific to the search pattern of the region, which may require understanding local slang or idioms.
Localized brand tone of voice
It’s not always what you say but how you say it. Developing a tone of voice that immediately connects with your local target audience is a win for a brand and perhaps one of the most underrated Mena digital strategies that brands ignore.
The Mena market is exponentially growing, and there is no time better than now to step in and set foot in a marketplace that welcomes all. If localizing your brand seems tough to you, remember you can always take the help of local digital marketing agencies that know the market from head to toe. No need to worry; Finding Mena has made it easy to find the right agency for you. Just visit the Finding Mena platform, search for the marketing services you are looking for, and ta-da! You will get a list of qualified agencies you can connect directly with.
