DashWord Helps You Connect to the Middle East
People around the world are more connected to each other than ever before. Modern transport and communications technologies have put markets around the planet tantalizingly within reach. Your company cherishes the richness and diversity of the world’s many cultures, yet you realize how difficult it can be to connect with people in a new market. Without a deep understanding of the region’s cultural values and practices – for example, shoes are insulting in some countries – you risk alienating potential customers and wounding your business prospects. If you want to build meaningful relationships with clients in the Middle East, you need a cultural consultancy to help you to understand the needs and values of people in that region.
Speak to Local Values
Consider the story of Rolls Royce’s famous automobile, the Silver Shadow. They originally planned to call the car the Silver Mist, until they were informed that in German, “mist” means “manure.” They changed the name of the car before bringing it to market, saving their company a great deal of embarrassment and financial loss. When you want to expand into Middle Eastern markets, you need a similarly proactive evaluation of your product design and marketing collateral. An effective Arabic cultural consultancy will identify words, images, or any piece of content that might be inappropriate or offensive to people in the Gulf region, ensuring that your company can build productive relationships in the Middle East from day one.
Necessary Knowledge of Local Markets
A cultural consultancy can work with you at any stage of your design or marketing process, but it is most valuable before you enter the Middle Eastern market. The consultancy will help you to understand cultural practices and market features, including regional consumer needs and trends; it can advise you on effective business strategies and consumer values; and it can assist you in building an fully integrated business infrastructure in the Gulf region. To succeed in each of these areas, you need to understand the unique local cultures of the Middle East, and this is where your cultural consultancy thrives.
Cultural Consulting Client: An International Hospitality Chain
The client sent us a series of photos that they were considering for their Saudi Arabia website. The images featured some elements, which would be seen as inappropriate and offensive by many Middle Eastern residents, particularly as the client was trying to sell to family vacationers. We advised them to select different photos and helped them to successfully launch their website.
Cultural Consulting Client: A Major Cloud Applications Firm
The client had a series of slogans and customer stories that they wanted to use in their Arabic marketing collateral. We verified that all of the materials were acceptable for Arabic audiences, and we further helped them to understand what features resonated most with cultural values in the Gulf region.
DashWord Understands Middle Eastern Business
DashWord is based in Dubai, a thriving business hub in the UAE, and we understand how business is conducted around the Gulf region. We have the local knowledge to help you create culturally sensitive marketing collateral, to develop products and services that cater to particular local needs, and to effectively engage with your Middle Eastern business partners and clients. We have the tools and knowledge to make sure your company develops long-lasting and meaningful business ties in the Gulf region.
