Did you know that Dubai investors on average fund only 10% of business proposals they hear?

So, if you are a budding entrepreneur in Dubai or UAE, stats are stacked against you. But, instead of deterring you, this should motivate you all the more to work harder on your business pitch. Your business pitch determines, more than anything else, whether you’ll get the desired funding or not.

In other words, your pitch matters. So how can you deliver a great business pitch?

Well, keep in mind the following tips:
 

• Keep it short

Timing is paramount. Shorter pitches get better results. A great idea means not much if you can’t distill it into a few moments of absolute power. For your pitch to make an impact, it needs to be compact.
Here are some timing pointers:

• Take 60 seconds less than what you said you’ll take
• If prospective investors say, “You will only get “N” number of minutes to make a case”, you should finish your pitch at least a few minutes earlier
• Maintain a nice pace. Make sure you don’t rush toward the end
• Don’t stay on a single slide for long (anything beyond 3 minutes is too long).

 

• Tell your story

Facts are great, but nothing catches listeners’ attention better than a good story.
Detailed numbers, valuations and endless spreadsheets, although necessary, don’t excite anyone. If investors want data, they can get it from your term sheet or financial plan.
What they may want to know is the story behind your dream. Tell that right and you will capture and hold their attention.

• Focus on core components

If you don’t show respect for investors’ time, they will never back your project.
Therefore, don’t waste their—and your own—time by highlighting things that aren’t really necessary. Use every second of your pitch time to talk about the core components.

• Explain your product clearly

Even better, let them handle your prototype if possible.
However, don’t go on and on about your product. Honestly, investors are not so much interested in your product as in knowing how much your product is going to make.
So get to the good part—the money and how you are going to generate it —quickly.

• Explain your product’s uniqueness

Is your product just the same as hundred others?
If yes, forget about pitching right now and work on finding a truly unique product or service.
Investors don’t want to waste their time on a venture without any unique features.

• Tell them about your go to market strategy

No product sells by itself. It is you, or your marketing team, who will sell the product.
Investors want to know your marketing strategy. And they will be all ears only if your marketing strategy is sound and airtight.

• Explain the revenue model

There’re only two things investors really want to know:

• How will you make them rich?
• How soon the money will start coming in?

Talk about your revenue model and show them how you plan to put it into practice.

• Practice, practice, practice

Pitching is an acquired skill. The more you practice, the better.

• Be wildly passionate

One can fake knowledge or even skill but not passion. You need to show investors you’re wildly passionate about what you want to do.

•  Anticipate questions, and prepare for them in advance

When an investor throws a question or two at you, that’s a good sign. It shows he or she is interested in what you’re saying.
However, you may lose their attention if you flounder with your answers. Therefore anticipate questions and prepare for them in advance.
Want help with business pitching in Dubai and UAE?
​
Get in touch with our experts. They can help you with everything, from creating a killer investor deck to business coaching and business plan writing.

Launching a business is easier than running it.

Perhaps that’s why nearly 50% startups in Dubai and UAE shut down after a few years.
If you don’t want that to happen to you, you must learn—and learn quickly—to manage stress better.
Stress pulls you down, mentally and physically. If you don’t learn to manage the stress of running a business, it can seriously minimize your chances of success.
Here are 5 tips to help you deal with unavoidable stresses that will surely come your way—sometimes in a heap—if you want to be a successful entrepreneur in a competitive marketplace such as Dubai and UAE.

• Maintain a Stress Notebook

This is a biggie. You can’t manage a problem which you’ve not identified. Every day spend 5-10 minutes (yes, that’s all it takes!) to note down the stress-triggers. After a couple of weeks, review the jotted down information and prepare a strategy to combat these triggers.

• Focus on What You Can Control

You can’t control how things will pan out, but how you respond to situations is completely up to you. Until you realize this precept, you’ll always struggle to cope up with demanding situations, both at work and in personal life.
When you feel something is overwhelming you, learn how to step away and review the situation anew. Ask yourself, “If worse comes to worse, what can happen in this situation?”
Such simple questions will help you realize that, contrary to your initial fears, the problem in front of you is not so bad after all. And that you can deal with it. You are stronger than you think.

• Learn to Manage Your Time Better

Stress hits us when we feel overwhelmed. You can manage things in a much better way if you learn to manage your time better. Start your working day by creating a “to-do” list. This will help you focus your attention and time on important things, which in turn will make you more productive.

• Learn to Say ‘No’

Before you commit to a project, ask yourself, “Can I manage it? Do I have the time, resources or skills to complete it as per the client’s expectations?” If the answer is no, decline the offer.
Many startup businessmen struggle at saying ‘no’ to projects they are in great position to fulfill, only to repent later. It’s much better to decline a project upfront than accept it and do a below-par job on it. That will neither help the client nor you.

• Learn to Delegate

You can’t do everything, even if you work 20 hours a day, 7 days a week (which anyway is unhealthy and leads only to a quick burnout). Therefore, stop even trying.
Focus on the things you are really good at and leave the rest for others. For instance, if you are launching an online business and you’re a marketing expert but not a great writer, you can hire someone to write the content for you.
​
Similarly, if you want to entice investors in Dubai and UAE but are not so confident about your business-plan writing skills or pitching skills, you can ask our experts to help you a lending hand. Among other things, they can help you with startup business planning, startup marketing plan creation, and financial modelling for startups. 

​Why do some Dubai startup businessmen make it big while others fail to make an impression?

Well, there’s no secret here. It all boils down to simple skills, which anyone can—and should—learn.
Successful people don’t do different things; they just do things differently.

Here are six key habits for business success. Embrace them wholeheartedly to become a more successful businessman.

1. Always focus on your goal

Business environment in Dubai and UAE is not for the fainthearted. While there’s great opportunity for growth, the competition is definitely cutthroat.  
Obstacles and failures will come your way for sure. Sometimes they may even come in a heap. If you are someone who takes a failure to the heart, perhaps you need to buckle up.
Instead of letting challenges bog you down, take them as opportunities to grow and learn.

1. Learn when to say ‘no’

If you think your skills set is not suited to a particular project, it’s much better to decline the offer than accept it. Taking on a project you’re not very comfortable with is likely to produce below-par quality, which will make the client unhappy and spoil your reputation. Similarly, if you already have your hands full, don’t take on any additional work. 
Prepare a list of things that are extremely crucial for your business that you need to do yourself. The rest you can delegate to others. Freeing yourself from everyday busywork will help you focus on things that are most important for your business.

1. Prepare a to-do list daily

You can’t become successful if you don’t perfect the art of staying organized. Every morning prepare a to-do list, that is, write down the things you need to do that day. Before you wind up your working day, check whether you’ve achieved all that you wanted to achieve for that day.

1. Be open to criticism

Criticism, sometimes justified sometimes unjustified, will come your way. Learn not to react to negative criticism while evaluate and act on constructive criticism. Request those whose opinions you greatly value to give you feedback. Receive the feedback gracefully and act upon it.

1. Heed your ‘gut’ feelings

Learn to trust your instincts. Because gut feelings come from your subconscious mind, there is much merit in trusting them. In case your mind and gut feeling don’t agree on a particular thing, you may want to go with the latter to be on the safe side. When you are up against a difficult decision, gather as much information as you can and then trust your instincts to guide you best.

1. Take calculated risks

No businessman ever became successful without taking any risks. In a place like Dubai or UAE, where there’s stiff competition in every business niche, you can’t make a mark just by playing safe.
You got to take calculated risks. If a particular risk doesn’t pan out well, learn from your experience and move on. Don’t let it deter you from taking risks in the future.

Apart from cultivating these habits, what else do you need to become a successful entrepreneur in Dubai or UAE? You need to have a sound business plan and you need to perfect the art of pitching to woo investors.

Get in touch with our experts. They can help you create a great business plan, develop a great pitch to attract investors and help you raise the required capital 

Have you ever wondered how you can be more productive?

You’re not alone.

Most budding entrepreneurs in Dubai and UAE know that increased business productivity is one of the keys to success. After all, business environment in this part of the world is super-competitive, and there are just no rewards for “also-rans”.

However, many startup businessmen focus on things that aren’t most important.
End result: They end up being more confused than productive.

If you don’t want that, focus on these 3 tips. They have produced great results for many high achievers and I’m sure they will work well for you. Here we go:

• Create a time management plan that suits your goal

If you know your why, how will follow automatically.
That is, everything typically falls in place when you know, truly know, your why.
So, take a moment to reflect upon your goal. Is it something you truly want? Something you really believe in? If yes, creating a plan to get there will become a whole lot easier.

Managing the time well is not the same thing as being super-efficient. You can manage the time well by doing things that are not-so-important, but as you know that wouldn’t take you anywhere.
Therefore get super clear on your goal and priorities. Then chart out your “winning formula”by spending most of your time on the activities that generate the highest business value.

• Tap into your core strength

Forget what you learned in the kindergarten—that you must work on your weaknesses.
That was a good advice back then when you were just a kid and it was important for you to be not utterly incompetent in certain things, but not today when you’re trying to establish yourself as a successful entrepreneur.

Even if you work relentlessly on your weaknesses, they would pan out to be average at best. Being average, as you know already, is not how you can earn big money, especially not in a super-competitive market as Dubai or UAE.

If you want to make a strong impression, you got to focus on your core strengths. Tap into them to shine, to stand out from the crowd.
In case you’re not good at something, you can always outsource it or hire other people to do it. Structure your business in such a way that you don’t have to spend much time on areas which are not your strength.

Knowing your strengths and focusing on them can help you take on challenges better and effectively mitigate your weak points.

For example if your real strength lies in product development and not in making a business plan or pitch, let our experts help you. We help Dubai and UAE entrepreneurs with a host of things, from financial modeling to business strategy, business plans to marketing strategy.

• Finally, follow what works for you

There’s no dearth of productive tips from people who claim to know it all.
However, the problem is that these tips are designed by others. Just because they worked for them doesn’t mean these tips will work for you as well.

Don’t get me wrong. Structures and routines aren’t bad. If anything, they can help you stay focused on things that really matter.
But you must pick the principles that work in your life.
Blindly following best ideas of other people usually doesn’t work, because every person is different.

If you are serious about taking your productivity to the next level, then why not try our business coaching services? We promise to help you make a big difference in your business performance.

​Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur in Dubai?

You’re not alone.

This is the question that many budding businessmen ask themselves and others.
While Dubai is regarded as one of the best places to set up a business, thanks to its business-friendly environment, strategic location, and minimum taxation policy, the competition here is cut throat.  
Research shows that almost 9 out of 10 startup fold within first or two years. This in and of itself is a testament of how challenging it is to become a successful businessman.

But there’s great news too...

Every year many successful businesses are launched here. And this year could belong to you.
One way to ensure your success in Dubai is by following the formula of successful entrepreneurs.

Here are some key lessons you can learn from successful entrepreneurs in Dubai:

1. Money is great—but it’s not everything

Believe it or not, it’s not always about money. Or let’s put it like this: money is not the main thing.
Find it hard to believe?
The most important thing is to chase your dream, to do what you believe in. If you do that, and do it with all your heart, success will follow you.
On the other hand, if you chase some fast money making opportunities, in the short run you might make some money, but in the long run you are likely to end up frustrated. 
Why?
Because your engagement with what you’re doing will not be 100 percent.
If you want to become a successful businessman in Dubai, ask yourself these two questions almost every day:

• Am I doing what I believe is the most important thing for me?
• Am I passionate about what I’m doing?

Unless you feel like you’re not working on something that’s important to you and about which you’re completely passionate, you’re not likely to feel great about how you’re spending your time.

1. Don’t mind the haters

What’s most important that you believe in what you’re doing. Remember that. And also remember that what others think about your business idea just doesn’t matter.
There’ll be many people who’ll tell you that your business idea has no future or you’re not ready to start your own business. Don’t let these haters deter you from chasing your dream.
In such a competitive business market, you must have a very thick skin to find true success. To get the kind of results you want, you must persevere despite of all criticisms thrown at you.  

1. Always continue moving ahead

Many people are just too happy to throw in the towel after they’ve tasted some success, enough for them to live luxuriously for the rest of their lives.
Do you want to become a one-product wonder? Or do you want to leave behind a lasting legacy?
If the latter is your goal, you must remain at the top of your game always. Even after you’ve become successful, don’t delay chasing new opportunities even a wee bit.
Your focus should be always on exploring new ways to make more impact and take your brand further and further.

1. Mindset makes all the difference

As they say, it’s mind over matter. Nothing could be more true in business.
Of course a great business idea helps, but it is not the main thing that leads to you success. The chief proponent is your mindest, your never say die attitude, your ability to focus solely on your goal in spite of all challenges, and your unwavering belief in your abilities and the potential of your business idea.

Want to know more about how to set up a successful business in Dubai?

Get in touch with our experts. They can help you with everything you need, from creating a sound business plan to developing a great pitch to woo investors, helping with capital raising to providing entrepreneur coaching. 

You have a great business idea but are hesitant about sharing it with the world because you’re unsure if this is the right time to start your business in Dubai.

Hmm, your indecision is understandable.

The market can be a cruel place and deny you a second shot at living up your dream if you fail once. That’s why it is important for you to make the first chance count. And for that, you must get the timing of your business launch spot on.

Genuine as your worries are, they are actually unfounded. Because this is the right time to launch your business in Dubai.

There is tremendous potential in the market at present and one of the main reasons for that is World Expo 2020 to be held in Dubai.

Investors and successful businessmen from across the globe are now showing interest in Dubai, which is fantastic news for startups like you. It means finding an investor in the present market is likely to be relatively easier.

Apart from the much-awaited World Expo 2020 and the interest it has generated, there are several other reasons why you shouldn’t delay the launch of your first business in Dubai for even a moment.

Let’s look at some of these reasons:

• The cost of doing business is low

According to a report, the Strategic Affairs of Council and Dubai Chamber have looked at lower the cost of doing business here. According to the report, the authorities are going to closely examine the concerns raised by existing businesses about high costs of doing business in Dubai and come up with apt solutions. Through this study, Dubai wants to convince investors and businessmen alike that the business environment here offers unique advantages like cost-effective measures and condensed legislative procedures.

• VAT

Dubai is an extremely business friendly city. If you do business here, you wouldn’t have to worry about many types of taxes like corporate, personal, and others.
That said, VAT (Value Added Tax) was introduced here on 1st January, 2018. However, VAT will prove to be a great thing for businesses. While it appears to be an extra expense, it is going to be reimbursed in the supply chain. Another thing to note is that VAT’s implementation will boost the welfare systems in UAE and Dubai, and this in turn will provide better scope to startups.

• Full Ownership to SME’s

Dubai SME is seriously thinking about offering complete ownership—100 percent ownership, that is—to all SME companies. This is a very big move. A fresh regulation was declared publicly for “Incubators & Business Accelerators”. This is open for all innovative entrepreneurs. Businessmen in Dubai can submit an application to obtain an incubator business license. The concerned authority will scrutinize the feasibility, and if it their finding is favorable, the businessmen will not need a sponsor.

• Open Trade System

Dubai is a great place to start your business because is part of the Open Trade System. This basically means that startups here enjoy the security to enter into international markets and enjoy stable and dependable trade relationships. Dubai participates extensively with business leaders across the globe, including North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.  

• Repatriation

Taxation is almost non-existent in UAE. Precisely for this reason, majority of expats prefer not to move their money out of Dubai. However, if you need to move your money to another country, you can do this comfortably because the exchange rate with the USD is stable.

• Willing Investors

Dubai is growing with every passing day, and so are the needs of its residents. In other words, there’s a lot of room for new businesses here. That’s why, if your business idea has strong potential, finding an investor today is likely to prove relatively easier. Of course, you will need more than just a business idea to impress your investors. Along with it, you would require a detailed and clear business plan. You must also have excellent pitching skills.

If you need help to launch your business in Dubai and UAE, like preparing a smart business plan, you can count on our help.  

Think that a great product or service is enough to convince investors in Dubai to invest in your startup?
Think again!
Research shows that…

• 9 out of 10 startups fail in their very first year
• Most of them fail not because of a below-par product or service but rather because of lack of funds

So why do many businessmen in Dubai and UAE fail to get the required funding even when their business idea is very promising?
They fail because they’re unable to convince investors about the merit of their product or service. In other words, they pitch their product poorly.
If you want to avoid the fate of 90% of startups, you must learn the dos and don’ts of pitching your startup to investors in Dubai and UAE.

3 Dos of pitching your startup in Dubai and UAE:

1. Make the first 60 seconds count
If you can engage investors in the first minute, there’s a good chance they might hand you a cheque.
How can you do that?
To engage investors, you must describe the 3 Ps in the first 60 seconds of pitching.

• Product – Tell them your product (or service), as well as why it is needed. In addition, share the revenue model.
• People – Inform investors about the key minds behind your company and why they are the most suitable people to run the company.
• Passion – The last ‘P’ is just as important as the other two. Unfortunately, many businessmen fail to convey their passion to the investors. If you’re not passionate about your business idea, why on earth someone else will invest money in it?

2. Show them how great your product is
If your product is something that you can carry with you in the meeting room, do that. Let the investors see by their own eyes how great your product is. It is a simple strategy but it works like charm. You might not even need to give a presentation of your business if the investors happen to like your product.

3. Follow up with the investor It is very much possible that despite great pitching an investor might decide against funding your business. But that doesn’t mean you should stop following up with the investor. There’s always a chance that this investor might communicate your business idea to another investor, who might willingly write a cheque to you. It is also possible that the investor who turned you down initially might decide to back you later.

3 Don’ts of pitching your startup in Dubai and UAE:

1. Don’t come unprepared This goes without saying. If you don’t prepare your pitch, you are not likely to impress the investors. At the same time, don’t take it to the other extreme and appear like you’re reading from a script.
 
2. Don’t fear defending your business idea Many entrepreneurs in Dubai and UAE make the mistake of coming to the investor meeting with a lack of confidence. They are just not prepared to handle the expected conflict or contradictions which might happen between them and the investor.  
However, in truth the conflict and contradiction with the investor is an extremely good think for the entrepreneur. It shows that the investor is actually interested in your business idea and therefore it is necessary that you handle any contradicting views well. You should make the best out of this opportunity by listening to the conflicting views and defending your product or service.

3. Don’t pitch to wrong investors Be sure you’re pitching to the right people, who not only value your product but also your concept and passion to realize your dream.

Need further help with your pitching?

Well, if you want to learn more about how to pitch your startup to investors in Dubai and UAE, just get in touch with our experts. They will be more than happy to help you. 

Imagine you have to go on a trek without a guide or map.

You start well and cover many miles on the first, second, third, and fourth day.
The trek is tough but so are you.

However, doubt starts creeping into your mind thick and fast on the fifth morning.

Are you going in the right direction? How far is your goal from where you are? And where the hell exactly are you?

You feel lost and stranded. You are not even sure if the next step will take you toward your goal or away from it.

OK, so this scenario is a little scary.

Consider another scenario: You go to the same trek but with a guide. From the day one he shows you in which direction to go and tells how many miles you must cover. Every day you wake with knowledge about what you must do that day to get nearer to your goal.

This feels so much better, right?

The difference lies in the guidance.
In the first scenario, you had no idea about where you were heading to. Whereas in the second scenario, you were gently guided toward your destination.

When you think about starting a business in Dubai, the experience is the same. If you don’t have a guide (aka a detailed business checklist), you might feel lost and abandon the project.
However, don’t worry.

This post provides you with a comprehensive 3-step business checklist, which gives you step-by-step instruction on how to get your business up and running in Dubai and UAE.
So, let’s get started…

1. Finding a great business idea

Your business idea can turn a profit, but does it fit you? Is it suitable for the target market? And how about its feasibility in Dubai and UAE?

These are a few questions you need to ask yourself to ensure your business is viable and something that you can do in the long-run.

2. Conduct market research and test the business idea first

OK, so you’ve a great business idea which will turn a profit and is something at which you can excel.
But have you really checked that it’s something that will work.

For instance, let’s say you want to provide cloud computing solutions to businesses in Dubai and UAE. First of all, you will need to conduct market research and test the idea.

Ask yourself these questions to gather necessary information

• What “problem” your business aims to solve?
• How you will summarize the “solution” you’re providing?
  • How badly others need the solution you’re providing?
  • What will be your business’ relevancy in future? What steps you’ll need to take to ensure its feasibility in future?

• How do you define the target market?
  • Who’s your ideal customer?
  • How big is your market?
  • How much will it cost you to win a customer?
  • Will your business be limited to only certain geographical locations? If yes, which are these locations?
• How is your “solution” better than what’s being offered by competition?
  • Are you well aware of your industry as well as about future trends?
• Have you created a financial plan?
  • How much investment you’ll need to start?
  • When will you start making a profit?

• How do you plan to test your business idea?

• Have you identified potential customers?
• Have you prepared an interview brief to convince these customers to pay for your solution?

 
3. Prepare a business plan

Are you planning to seek funds from institutions such as banks? If yes, have you prepared a business plan for this purpose?

You don’t require a 30-page long business plan to setup a business. However, at the same time, you surely can’t walk up to your investors with a one-page plan and expect them to support you.

You’ll need a sufficiently comprehensive business plan which has:

• an executive summary
• a company overview
• the names of the products/services you’re offering
• details regarding your target market
• a marketing plan
• information regarding important metrics and milestones
• the names of people who’ll be a part of management
• a comprehensive financial plan

Does creating a business plan feels like a lot of hard work?
If so, let us help you. Creating powerful business plan for Dubai and UAE startups is our specialty.

​For more info about how to create accurate, powerful business plans for Dubai and UAE startups, get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to help you out!
 

If you’re starting a new business or have just launched a new business in Dubai or UAE, there’s one thing that you can’t afford to not do—and that’s create a great business plan.

A smartly-created business plan helps Dubai-based entrepreneurs work more smartly, stay more watchful for roadblocks, speed test new business ideas, and align expectations with investors and stakeholders.
In short, a smartly-crafted business plan is your roadmap. Without it, you are likely to get lost, sooner rather than later.

Thankfully, creating a business plan becomes an easier task if you make sure it has these 8 essential elements:

• Executive Summary

This is a snapshot of the business plan you’ve created. While you’re going to write it after everything else, it’s likely to prove the most crucial part of your business plan.
Why so?
Because most readers won’t read even a line further if they don’t like what’s written in this section.
As a Dubai-based startup company, you can create an impressive executive summary by focusing on not only your experiences and background but also those of your partners, if you have any. Doing so will help you show your business’ underpinnings to the readers.

• Company Description

In here comes the description about your company. List concisely but precisely what is exactly that your company’s into, as well as what separates it from competitors. Also list all your major customers, along with the markets you’re going to focus on in the near future. Don’t forget to mention any competitive advantage that your business enjoys. This could be its location or a new product that’s in the pipeline or something else.

• Market Analysis

Understanding your market is extremely important. You must know not only how much your customers spend but also when. This is particularly important in case your company is likely to generate more revenue at certain specific times of the year. Also research your competitors, as well as their profit margins and cash flows. You must also be aware of the latest technological developments that might prove to be a game-changer.

• Organization, Management

A detailed business plan must spell out details regarding ownership. This includes investors as well as the organizational chart. Tell the reader if your company is a corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship. In case it is the former, specify which type (Free Zone, LLC…etc.)

• Service/Product Line

Of course no business plan can be complete if it doesn’t include the all-important information regarding the product or service that the company is selling. So ensure you include this information in your business plan. Specify what is it that you sell and other useful information like how your product/service will help the customer and how soon he or she will be required to replace it. Answers to such questions can prove crucial from the point of view of business sustainability. Finally, include any copyrights or patents that you own.

• Sales and Marketing

You might have the brightest idea ever but nothing much will come out of it until you find a way to effectively communicate it to your prospective customers. Are you planning to advertise or offer promotional discounts? Or are you simply going to depend on word-of-mouth marketing? It is important that your marketing strategy and tools are tailor-made to your business market.

• Funding Request

The last two sections, this one and the next, are extremely important. Even if you’ve filled all the previous sections clearly and craftily, your business plan will fail to help you woo investors unless you clearly define your funding request and financial projections.
Mention the amount of money you need to launch your business, as well as information about how you’re going to generate returns (in case of investors) or repay the borrowed amount (in case of debt financing).
Whether you choose investors or debt financing, both would be interested in knowing how you plan to spend their money, as well as when you’ll be able to pay them back. 

• Financial Projections

Unless you’re launching a new business with your parent’s money, investors would like to see your financial projections. To convince investors that your financial projections are indeed realistic, show them your financial statements of the past few months.

For more info about how to create accurate, powerful business plans for Dubai and UAE startups, get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to help you out!

Have you ever wondered which marketing tool can help you grow your business fast and on budget?
You’re not alone. This is one question which many Dubai and UAE startups ask—and not without good reasons.
Startups in Dubai and UAE often have a limited marketing budget. This means they must do more with less. They must find an affordable and wide-reaching marketing tool which allows them to connect with more people, has an impressive conversion rate, and delivers great ROI.

But does such a marketing tool even exist?

The answer is yes—and its name is Email Marketing, the oldest and most powerful digital marketing tool.
Many other digital marketing tools have come and gone, but email marketing still remains the favorite channel of smart modern marketers.

Here are top 5 reasons why you can’t afford to not have email marketing in your digital marketing strategy.

• Email has a wider reach: It is estimated that there are about 2.19 million people on Facebook and 300 million on Twitter. These are impressive numbers and showcase the potential of social media from marketing point of view. However, impressive as these figures are, they look pale before data regarding email users. At present, there are about 3.8 million people with an email account. In other words, the number of people who use email is 1.5 times more than the number of people who use Twitter and Facebook combined. As you can see, it makes much sense to invest in email marketing because it has a wider reach.
  
• Email gets the message through: As a startup in Dubai if you ever have to choose between winning a new Facebook fan or an email subscriber, you should choose to add a new email subscriber every time. Research shows that 90 percent of email reaches the inbox of the intended recipient. In other words, when you send a promotional email to your subscribers, you can rest assured that the email will reach the inbox of at least 90 percent of the recipients. On the other hand, when you post an update on your Facebook account, only 2 percent of all your fans will see the post in their News Feed, owing to the limitations imposed by Facebook. This, in turn, has a huge impact on the kind of visibility your message will enjoy. Let’s say you have 20,000 Facebook fans and as many email subscribers. You want to share some promotional content with your existing and prospective consumers. If you’re going to put the promotional content as a Facebook post, the message will appear in the News feed of only 400 of your 20,000 Facebook fans. But if you send a promotional email, at least 18,000 subscribers will receive it. That is, your message enjoys a 45 times greater visibility when you use email instead of Facebook. 
  
• Email subscribers want to hear from you: This is another big advantage email marketing enjoys over social media marketing. People who add themselves to your email list want to receive promotional content from you. By subscribing themselves to your list, they give you the permission to send them information about new offers and other promotional messages. However, the same can’t be said about Facebook fans. Just check your News Feed on Facebook to understand this point. You are likely to see ads by many companies in whom you might not be interested. These ads are appearing on your News Feed probably because you did a search on Google or visited their site and not because you’ve asked these companies to send you promotional messages.
  
• Email has a more impressive conversion rate: Because your email subscribers are more interested in hearing from you than your fans on social media, they are more likely to do what you want them to do—become paying customers. The final goal of every marketing tool is to convert viewers into paying customers. No digital marketing tool does this better than email. Research shows an email campaign on average enjoys a click-through rate of approximately 3 percent while a tweet has an average click-through rate of about 0.5%. But this is not all. Data shows that 4.24 percent of email subscribers who click the link to your site purchase something. On the other hand, only 0.59 percent of visitors from social media become paying customers.
  
• Email delivers a more impressive ROI: On average, email delivers a staggering ROI of 3800%. That is, email marketing earns you $38 for every dollar spent. Other digital marketing tools don’t even come close to this.
  

As you can see from these facts and figures, email marketing is the most effective digital marketing tool, but you must use it smartly to get the desired results.

For more information about developing a result-oriented digital marketing plan for your Dubai and UAE based startup, get in touch with us now.