At some point, most companies hire outside digital marketing expertise to provide inbound marketing, SEO, PPC, and social media services. In Dubai, that experience comes in the form of an independent agency or talent. In a tough B2C and B2B environment, budgets are tight and generosity is limited, so how can potential customers face the cost of digital marketing in Dubai? Why hiring a digital marketing agency in Dubai is cheaper than you think! So far, establishing what the reasonable costs are to hire a digital marketing agency in Dubai has been murky and anything but transparent. Relying on instinct won’t get you very far, and public data on rates and fees for services remains elusive.

If you are considering leveraging outside expertise in digital marketing, getting a clear line of sight on the average costs requested for monthly retainers and hourly rates for digital marketing in Dubai can be challenging and time-consuming compilation. . Insights from the Digital Marketing Pricing Survey A recent survey by Credo, a company that matches prospects with marketing agencies or consultants, released the results of its latest survey on digital marketing pricing. The survey was distributed to 184 respondents in 19 countries and produced some interesting insights on current trends in the cost of digital marketing. Independent consultants set prices on a constant basis based on hourly or monthly base rates and project rates. Digital consultant fees around the world continue to be based on years of experience. Consultants with 1-3 years of experience charge around $ 88, while those with more than 10 years of experience charge an average of $ 189.

Agency prices appear throughout the map. Agencies with 2 to 5 employees and 6 to 10 employees actually charge more on average than agencies with 11 to 20 employees, according to the survey, SEO agencies seem unsure about the price of their services, as the prices are in storewide. The survey showed an hourly range of $ 145 to about $ 181. Agencies and consultants with a strong focus on strategy charge higher fees compared to those with a broader portfolio of services.

Implications for clients

With so much variation in rate schedules and competition from freelance consultants, the cost of hiring a digital marketing agency in Dubai can be cheaper than you might expect.

Accurately assess which digital marketing services you are looking for, overlap it with a monthly service fee from a pool of prospective agencies, and use it as a starting point in your negotiations. Most agencies are very clear about their cost base and the utilization rates they are targeting, and therefore understand how far they can comfortably negotiate. Agency versus Freelancer As you might expect, there are some key differences in pricing between freelancers and agencies:

Freelancers mostly serve clients through a combination of hourly rates and project-based rates.

The agency’s preference for monthly retention contracts is not surprising, after all, they generally have more overhead to cover.

The average monthly retention contract in the digital marketing industry starts at $ 1,000 and ranges up to $ 5,000.

The larger the agency, in general, the more services they offer under one umbrella. If you are looking for a combination of digital marketing services, hiring an agency will reduce the amount of coordination you need to do as a client. The larger the agency, the more tailored solutions it usually offers, and therefore the higher the average price per client required to cover that specialized talent and expertise. The best clients Small and medium-sized businesses often feel that they are at a disadvantage when dealing with an agency due to their lack of scale compared to larger clients. However, small and medium-sized businesses are often the best clients from an agency perspective.

The reality is that digital advertising as an industry in Dubai is still a comparatively immature market, and most agencies lack the corporate expertise and infrastructure to serve enterprise-scale clients.

Therefore, small and medium-sized businesses provide an agency with reliable revenue streams without the complexity and high service costs associated with large multinational clients. So, if you are a small or medium-sized business, don’t be embarrassed to negotiate with an agency. They need clients like you, another reason why the cost of hiring a digital marketing agency in Dubai may be lower than you might expect! High-demand agency services Despite the profusion of digital marketing services, SEO and PPC services are still the main sources of income for most agencies. The top five services sought after by customers are: SEO PPC management Social media Content marketing Analytics and UX

User experience (UX) analytics and design are gaining popularity as their importance in attracting prospects and retaining customers becomes apparent. This recognition is reflected in its growing presence within the portfolio of digital marketing services that clients seek in their agencies.

While this is good news for the industry as a whole, as it indicates a more disciplined and structured approach to digital advertising in the Middle East. It also points to a continuing lack of recognition by business owners and marketers of the need to implement adequate analytical capacity internally.

Similarly, ensuring an engaging user experience from the launch of a digital marketing initiative would go a long way toward supporting consumer acceptance of online marketing, especially as regional internet users have gained more experience. and they have higher expectations of online UX.

Identify growth opportunities for your business today! Our free 30-minute marketing assessment can help you save money and boost your business. Sign up now for a free 30 minute marketing evaluation!

Conclusion If you are in the process of hiring a marketing agency, the news is good. The cost of hiring a digital marketing agency in Dubai may be lower than you anticipate and there are different pricing structures and models available.

Many agencies use a combination of pricing models, such as monthly advance for standard services, milestone pricing for projects they perform frequently, or hourly pricing for new or more complex jobs. Discuss which pricing model works best for you with your prospective agency and you may be in for a pleasant surprise!