Ramadan brings a unique opportunity for your business.
1.9 billion Muslims across the globe gear up to fast and focus on spirituality during this month.
But they also don’t want to miss out on good Ramadan deals either.
This article offers actionable expert tips to prepare your business for a Ramadan of sales.
We also share some successful brand examples to help you see the tips in action.
Let’s get started.
Copy and use these Ramadan messages to send your customers.
Why prepare your business for Ramadan?
Before we launch into the meaty part of the post, we want to address one big question.
Is it even worth the trouble to prepare for an entire month in advance?
Let’s look at some statistics for clarity.
According to a YouGov study conducted in 2021, 44% of Ramadan shoppers made at least one cross-border purchase globally.
By 2026, this global cross-border e-commerce market will grow to $2.2T.
Besides this, Ramadan is when people pray, fast, and get together. This means they communicate more and go on shopping sprees.
Muslims spend more time on supplication and congregation as well as online shopping. Because of this, certain businesses, like food, beverage, cafes, and clothing, see a surge in demand.
Preparing your business for the change in demand will help you manage surprises and attract lots of business from Muslim faithfuls.
| Use SMSCountry to run your best SMS marketing campaigns yet this Ramadan. Learn more about SMSCountry. |
Let’s dive in.
7 quick facts about Ramadan you should know
Here are 7 quick facts about the holy month of Ramadan.
- Grocery spending increases to an estimated 87%. Muslims tend to cook for bigger gatherings than those on normal days.
- Many people use online resources to track prayer times for automated Quran recitation. They also use apps to keep track of and perform religious activities.
- Ramadan is a time for events and entertainment. Themed shopping festivals, local food festivals, and iftar events become the norm.
- Businesses display their commitment to inclusion and diversity. This is done by celebrating festivities creatively in their offices.
- In an ad survey conducted in the UAE, 66% of users said they cook at home, while 19% said they get take-out food during Ramadan.
- Women gravitate towards perfume and fragrances. Skincare comes in second, followed by haircare.
- The cell phone is the preferred mode of looking up and receiving information.
So how do you prepare your business to attract more sales during the holy month of Ramadan?
How to prepare your business for Ramadan? (according to experts)
Want to be prepared for the business rush of Ramadan?
Here are 5 expert Ramadan business tips you should follow.
1. Know which month Ramadan is starting
Leonard Rego of Eleven777 Design & Advertising suggests thinking beforehand about the time of year Ramadan will arrive. This will enable you to connect your marketing strategy to capitalise on Ramadan.
The month of the year Ramadan will fall will help you determine what your customers may be needed most during that time of the year.
With this information, you can stock up with what Muslims would be looking for during Ramadan. Also, you can set up marketing campaigns and deals that your customers will most likely find useful and appealing.
For example, this is what Nando’s UAE did.
In 2022, Ramadan was in the month of April. Nando’s UAE took advantage of the summer opportunity to introduce their new milkshakes. Because April is prime summer time in the UAE, this was just perfect timing for them.
Why?
Because Nando’s was able to attract a fasting audience looking to get some refreshment.
2. Explore channels your customers frequently use
Kathryn Roberts, Managing Editor at Touchline, says online advertising is the way to go. More people than ever watch YouTube during Ramadan.
Coca-Cola picked up on this early on and created targeted and appealing videos.
Here is an example of their campaign from 2016.
Watch the YouTube video to see what we’re saying.
Be sure to check out the comments to see the effect of this advertisement.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what people said in the comments.
This strategy employs a strong emotional appeal.
To top it all, it’s right in the channel their customers love to hang out.
YouTube is fraught with videos. However, sending your consumers a message before Ramadan begins will benefit your business.
Ensure you create a video with a powerful message that is simple to understand.
You can also explore other channels like SMS. While you cannot create a video, you can use creative word messages for your customers.
3. Be online for travel bookings
Raksha Khimji, Managing Director of Team Red Dot, says that 50% of travel bookings in Ramadan happen through a mobile device.
If you run a travel business, hotel, or are in the hospitality industry, Raksha suggests maintaining a strong online presence during Ramadan. Promote offers to drive visits and re-visits from users looking for travel deals.
Hotels and resorts in the Middle East region open their doors for discounted staycations during Ramadan.
You can also find discounted trips to Maldives, Mecca, Turkey, Singapore & Malaysia.
Most of the trip promotions run on digital channels.
As a travel agency or a resort owner, you must create a campaign well before Ramadan begins. If you do not have a strong enough online presence, consider using paid channels like SMS and email.
Also Read: 8 Promotional SMS Templates to Supercharge Your Sales (+ Download 45+ Sales Templates for Free)
4. Sensitive brand messaging excels
Edgaras Katinas, Senior Marketing Manager at a financial services organisation, says you must be careful about what you say during Ramadan. You also need to look at what products you advertise and how you do it.
Edgaras adds that it is essential to understand that Ramadan is a religious occasion. The campaign should respect Muslim culture and traditions.
Edgaras thinks it is best to run through your campaign ideas with people who observe Ramadan. They can give better advice on it.
This is true for brands that non-Muslims may typically run. Having Muslims on the team can give you an edge.
Let’s look at a popular example by McDonald’s.
The above ad ran over five years ago. It uses typical elements of Muslim design- the moon and the fries in the shape of hands praying.
The subtle message of prosperity did not clash with the brand message. The entire message was well-received by the Muslim consumer market.
You can employ the art of subtle, sensitive messaging in your artwork too.
Place your product creatively in the shapes that signify Muslim heritage. You can take inspiration from the McDonald’s ad or use Muslim hexagons and mosques.
However, if you plan on creating SMS or email campaigns, create messages with a play on words.
Also Read: Expert Advice: 6 Promotional SMS Best Practices That Boost Sales
5. Start an SMS donation campaign
For the last tip, we circle back to Leonard Rego.
Leonard shares a basic value many businesses overlook when marketing to the Muslim market – the act of charity and giving.
Leonard says fasting is (in one way) an act of solidarity with the poor. Hence, Muslims especially reflect on their contributions to the less fortunate during Ramadan.
He suggests embracing simple initiatives. Such as donating part of your sales to charitable causes. If you are a restaurant, commit to minimising food waste and donating the excess to charity.
This could speak directly to your audience’s values. Especially to millennials, who tend to have a high degree of social consciousness.
In 2007, du, a telecom operator in the UAE, ran a campaign where they donated 18 fils per SMS to a charity.
As Leonard said, the CSR aspect of such a campaign had a massive impact.
All you need to do is send Ramadan greetings via SMS. Inform them that a certain percentage of the sales will go to a designated charity. Ensure you have a designated charity sorted. This makes your campaign legit.
You can also send timely reminders throughout the month to enhance your sales. Also, consider adding value deals for your customers to entice them to purchase.
Grow your business this Ramadan with SMSCountry
That’s all for this Ramadan.
You got valuable insights from the tips and can now put them to use. Your message, however, is as effective as the speed it reaches your customer.
We recommend adding SMS to your marketing arsenal. It is not only quick but ensures delivery and readability. And you can automate it too.
SMSCountry offers a simple and reliable messaging platform for businesses of all sizes. Connect with your customers during Ramadan via SMSCountry. Sign up for free today or schedule a demo now. Our team will get back to you right away.
