The e-commerce industry in the UAE is proliferating. By 2024, UAE e-commerce marketing is predicted to reach US $6,721 million in revenue. The expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024 to 2028 is forecasted at 8.7%, leading to an estimated market size of US $9,378.6 million by 2028, according to Ecommercedb.
What does this set of statistics tell us?
It indicates the growth and potential of the e-commerce industry in the UAE market in the upcoming years. This generates opportunities for businesses to capitalise on the growing demand for online shopping platforms and services.
Moreover, did you know that in 2022, 73% of the total sales in the UAE were done online, according to the Mordor Intelligence forecast. This surge is due to the growing number of Internet and social media users.
With the increasing number of Internet users and social media users daily, online sales in the UAE have skyrocketed in the past few years, and it is expected to continue to rise in the upcoming years.
Now, the real question is how can influencer marketing help e-commerce brands succeed in Dubai’s online market?
Influencer marketing for e-commerce brands plays a pivotal role. With the prevalent influence of social media platforms, particularly among Gen Z and millennials, influencer marketing basically offers a direct channel to connect with these demographics. According to a report, about 75% of people pay attention to social media influencers in the UAE. Hence, influencers have a massive impact on what people in the UAE want to buy.
Now, let’s look at a few strategies for e-commerce brands using influencer marketing effectively to boost their revenue.
Strategies for Influencer Marketing in E-commerce Industry
1.  Use of Dominating Short Videos
Videos offer a more immersive experience compared to static images. They can showcase products from different angles, providing a more detailed view of the product’s features, functionalities, and aesthetics.
Nowadays, marketers are heavily incorporating influencers’ videos into their e-commerce websites, featuring them on product pages alongside traditional product images. It’s one of the most effective influencer marketing strategies for E-commerce brands. This allows customers to see the product in action, gaining a more detailed understanding of its features and benefits.
2.  Integration of Macro and Micro-Influencers
One of the many things brands consider before selecting an influencer for their influencer marketing campaign for E-commerce brand is the influencer-audience relationship.
Why, you ask?
Well, brands want their influencers to have a great connection with their target audience. This makes them more authentic within the target segment. After all, having an engaged audience is way better than hiring an influencer with niche based followers.
Often, Macro and micro-influencers are the ones who excel in fostering meaningful relationships with their followers due to their smaller, more niche audience. Their engaged and loyal followers can offer higher conversion rates and better ROI for e-commerce brands in the UAE.
3.  Host Live Shopping Events
When influencers showcase your brand’s products in real time, they demonstrate the product and show behind-the-scenes looks. People can get their questions answered on the spot, interact with fellow customers, and share their opinions at the moment. This enhances the trust and connection between the influencers and the audiences.
This interactive format encourages immediate engagement and drives sales through in-app conversions, making it one of the most crucial strategies of influencer marketing for e-commerce companies in Dubai. Influencers also provide discount codes and limited-time offers, creating a sense of urgency and immediacy amongst the audience, which tends to make on-spot purchases.
4.  Appealing Gen-Zs and Denizens: Diversity and Inclusivity
Diversity and Inclusion are essential elements in influencer marketing. They allow brands to connect with a wider range of consumers and create a sense of belonging for all individuals within their target market. With Gen Z being at the forefront, the entire generation is known for their strong values of empathy, inclusivity, and social justice.
Diversity and Inclusion are not only about representation but also about cultural relevance and social responsibility. Partnering with influencers from diverse backgrounds ensures that your brand is represented across various demographics.
This representation is crucial for resonating with consumers who come from different ethnicities, generations, socioeconomic backgrounds, races, genders, and lifestyles. When consumers see influencers who look like them or share similar experiences, they are more likely to feel a sense of connection to the brand. This ultimately enhances brand’s reputation and loyalty.
5.  Utilize shoppable posts on social platforms
Shoppable posts are a feature on social media platforms that is perfect for e-commerce businesses in Dubai, especially when running an e-commerce influencer marketing campaign. It allows businesses to tag products directly within their posts. When users engage with these posts, the first thing they do is visualise themselves using the product, then they view the product details, pricing, and even make purchases without leaving the platform.
Brands can directly feature these products in the influencer’s content. This makes it easier for the followers to discover and purchase the products with just a few taps. This ultimately drives sales through in-app/website conversions.
6.  Virtual Events, Augmented Reality, And Metaverse
Brands in the UAE can get influencers to host virtual events within the metaverse. This can be an innovative strategy to reach and engage with their target audience. Brands can reach a global audience, including consumers in the UAE and beyond.
Brands can grab this unique opportunity for consumers in Dubai to interact with your product in a virtual environment. This can create immersive and memorable shopping experiences that drive sales. With influencers tight connections with their audience, they can drive attendance and generate buzz for such events.
In addition to that, Augmented Reality technology enables consumers to virtually try on products such as clothing, accessories, makeup, and eyewear. Influencers can showcase these Augmented Reality try-on experiences through social media platforms, aligning with the latest e-commerce brand influencer marketing trends. Brands like Lenskart, Ikea are already utilizing this technology for better customer experience.
This will allow their followers in the UAE to visualize how products will look on them before making a purchase. This immersive shopping experience increases confidence in buying decisions and reduces the chances of returns. This ultimately improves customer satisfaction as well.
7.  Integration of Affiliate Marketing
Recently, affiliate marketing has received a lot of attention within the e-commerce influencer marketing campaigns. In this way, brands provide influencers with unique referral links or promo codes that the influencers can share with their audiences.
When the influencer’s audience clicks on the referral links or uses the promo codes to make a purchase on the e-commerce platform, their actions are tracked. Influencers earn for every sale or conversion generated through them. This way, brands benefit from increased visibility, traffic, and sales.
8.  10x Your Results By Using An Influencer Marketing Agency in UAE
Here’s a highly effective strategy that has helped brands achieve success. Influencer marketing agencies hold the expertise to execute campaigns, they have access to influencers, they are updated with the latest trends on influencer marketing, etc.
One of the top influencer marketing agency in Dubai for e-commerce brands is Grynow. With a network of over 300+ million influencers,over 1000 clients, and experts from prestigious institutions, Grynow stands up front.
The top influencer marketing agency in UAE has worked with top brands like Amazon, Lenskart, Pantene, Flipkart, Meesho, H&M, Mintra, and many more.
With almost a decade of experience in the said field, Grynow has executed the biggest influencer marketing campaign (Most views) in 2022 and has also been awarded by Economic Times, Khaleejtimes, and Fobes, making it a top e-commerce influencer marketing agency in the Middle East.
To Sum Up
It may seem a bit overwhelming before starting an influencer marketing campaign for an e-commerce business in the UAE. How to find the right influencer? How to apply the ideal strategy? How to monitor the performance? How to optimize it for better results? And much more.
But with the right experts and resources by your side, it is possible. With Grynow, it’s possible to get all your questions answered and execute the influencer campaign your e-commerce brand is in need of to achieve success.
