The Power of Seasonal Content: How Do Customers’ Habits Change During the Holidays

14 June 2023

Attention retailers and e-commerce business owners, a huge shopping wave is approaching! Eid Al Adha 2023 is a few days away, which presents a great opportunity to boost sales. To prepare yourself, we recommend working on enhancing your seasonal content.

 

Seasonal content plays a vital role in capturing the attention and engaging customers during specific times of the year.

 

Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr, and Eid Al Adha are great examples of how festive seasons affect consumer habits. During this Islamic holiday, we can notice many changes in the behaviours of shoppers in the GCC and other Muslim countries.

 

According to YouGov, a market research company, about 51% of UAE and Saudi Arabia residents planned to spend on gifting and shopping, while 52% planned to spend on donations and holidays in Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr 2023.

 

Eid Al Adha is no different, as consumers normally showcase the same purchasing habits, which we can summarise in the following points:

Increased Spending

Eid al-Adha is a time of celebration and generosity, which often translates into increased spending. GCC residents tend to allocate a significant portion of their budget to shopping during this period. They purchase new clothes, accessories, and gifts for themselves and their loved ones.

Shopping for Traditional Attire

GCC residents often prioritise purchasing traditional attire, such as thobes for men and abayas for women, to wear during Eid. There is a high demand for new and fashionable designs, leading to increased sales in clothing stores and boutiques.

Gifting

Gift-giving is an integral part of Eid. Muslims purchase gifts for their family, friends, and colleagues to express love and gratitude. Popular gift choices include traditional sweets, chocolates, perfumes, and electronics. Retailers and malls see a surge in sales during this time.

Food Shopping

Eid al-Adha involves festive meals and gatherings with family and friends. GCC residents typically engage in extensive food shopping to prepare for the celebrations. They purchase fresh meat, poultry, and ingredients for traditional dishes. Butcheries and grocery stores experience a spike in sales during this period.

Shopping for Home Decorations

To create a festive atmosphere, GCC residents often decorate their homes during Eid al-Adha. They shop for decorative items, such as lights, carpets, and cushions.

Travel and Tourism

Many GCC residents see the holiday period as an opportunity to travel domestically or internationally. They look for travelling packages and shop for travel essentials such as luggage, travel accessories, and clothing suitable for their destination.

Online Shopping

In recent years, online shopping has become the go-to for GCC residents since many platforms and online retailers offer attractive deals, discounts, and convenient delivery options. Many choose to shop for their eid essentials online.

Family Outings and Entertainment

During Eid, GCC residents often engage in family outings and entertainment activities. They visit amusement parks, cinemas, and malls that offer special Eid promotions and events. These outings contribute to increased footfall in entertainment and retail venues.

Donations

Eid al-Adha is also a time of giving back and helping those in need. Many GCC residents participate in charitable activities and donate to organisations or individuals. They may shop for items like clothes, food, or household essentials to distribute as donations during the holiday.

 

Livestock markets also witness an increase in demand during Eid Al Adha, considering Muslims make "udhiya", which entails sacrificing animals (camels, cows and sheep) and sharing them with those less fortunate.

How to Capitalise on Seasonal Content in Eid Al Adha 2023?

As you can notice, the holiday season promises a lot of profit. But to make use of the changes in consumer behaviour, you must provide the right content that'll reach and resonate with your target audience. How?

 

The answer is simple; localise your seasonal content. Localising seasonal content offers numerous benefits for businesses aiming to engage with specific regional audiences during seasonal events.

 

Here are the key elements and considerations involved in seasonal content localisation:

Translation

If the content is in a different language, it needs to be accurately translated into the target language; in this case, it's Arabic. Professional translators with expertise in both the source and target languages ensure that the translation is accurate and maintains the intended message and tone of the original content.

Cultural Relevance

Localisation requires adapting the content to make it culturally relevant and relatable to the target audience. This involves understanding the cultural traditions, customs, and values associated with the seasonal event in the specific region. Adapting cultural references, symbols, idioms, and humour ensures that the content resonates with the local audience.

Localised Keywords and SEO

Localisation extends to optimising the content for search engines in the target region. This involves researching and incorporating localised keywords and phrases that are relevant to the seasonal event and the target audience. Adapting SEO strategies ensures that the content ranks well in search engine results and reaches the intended audience effectively.

Quality Assurance

After localising the content, quality assurance is essential. This involves reviewing the localised content for accuracy, cultural appropriateness, and consistency.

What Are the Benefits of Seasonal Content Localisation?

Localising seasonal content offers numerous benefits for businesses, including:

Boosting Engagement

By localising your seasonal content, you can incorporate cultural references, symbols, and traditions that relate to the local audience. This enhances the relevance of your content, making it more appealing to customers in specific regions.

 

Customers are more likely to engage with content that is presented in their native language, which will help you boost your brand engagement.

Improving Customer Experience

Localising seasonal content demonstrates your commitment to understanding and catering to the needs and preferences of local customers. It shows that you respect and value their culture, which can significantly enhance the overall customer experience.

 

Customers feel more connected to your brand when they see content that is specifically tailored to their region, fostering loyalty and brand advocacy.

Enhancing SEO and Organic Traffic

Incorporating localised keywords and phrases relevant to the region means you'll be one of the top results whenever customers hit the search button in their Eid shopping spree. It drives organic traffic to your website and subsequently rockets your sales.

Competitive Advantage

Localising seasonal content gives you a competitive edge in specific regions. By understanding and catering to local preferences and cultural nuances, you differentiate yourself from competitors who may not have invested in localisation, which will result in higher customer engagement, increased brand loyalty, and, ultimately, a larger market share in those regions.

Market Expansion Opportunities

Localising seasonal content opens up opportunities for market expansion into new regions. Customising your content to resonate with local customers during seasonal events will help in entering new markets and reaching untapped audiences, which will allow you to establish a strong presence in new geographic areas.

Our Language Experts Come to the Rescue

Do you feel that the localisation process is overwhelming and complex? Don't know where to start and how to customise your content to appeal to your audience in the Arab world? e-Arabization is here to help. Our experts are well versed in the Arabic language and culture and will ensure you provide accurately translated and localised content that will engage your prospects and guarantee they'll click “buy now” every time.

Book a consultation today to discuss your language needs and learn more about our localisation services.