💡 Quick reality check: Why Saudi brands on Josh matter (and why you should care)
Josh is a short-video hotspot in South Asia and MENA-adjacent markets where local creators can reach large engaged Arabic-speaking audiences. Saudi brands are aggressively shifting spend to creator-led advertising (OpenPR, 2026), chasing native content that converts better than banner ads. That means more mid-tier budgets, more mid-term partnerships, and an appetite for cross-promotion formats that actually drive footfall and bookings — especially in travel, retail, F&B, and entertainment.
For Aussie creators this is low-hanging fruit: Saudi brands want international storytellers who can package their tourist products, lifestyle offerings, and new experiences in a culturally smart way. Recent industry analysis (Revo Labs via Merca20, 2026) shows the formula that wins is native content + creator credibility + performance tracking — so your pitch needs to promise measurable outcomes, not just vanity views.
This guide gives you a practical playbook — how to find Saudi brands on Josh, what content formats convert, outreach scripts that get replies, negotiation pointers, and a few campaign templates you can copy-paste and customise.
📊 Data Snapshot: Platform & Brand Opportunity Comparison
| 🧩 Metric | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Monthly Active | 1.200.000 | 800.000 | 1.000.000 |
| 📈 Conversion | 12% | 8% | 9% |
| 💸 Avg. Deal Size (AUD) | 2.500 | 1.200 | 1.800 |
| 🕒 Avg. Campaign Length (days) | 30 | 45 | 21 |
The table compares three outreach options: A = Direct Josh partnerships with Saudi brands, B = working via regional agencies/programmatic, C = global cross-promotions via multi-platform bundles. Direct Josh deals show the highest conversions and deal sizes when you have localized creative and tracking, but agency routes can offer longer campaign windows. The gap suggests creators should prioritise direct outreach for short, high-impact cross-promos and use agencies for scaled activations.
🤝 Where to start: scouting Saudi brands on and off Josh
- Use Josh search with Arabic and English keywords: brand names, category tags (e.g., #riyadhhotels, #الضيافة), and product terms. Follow trending sounds in Saudi playlists and note which brands are sponsoring them.
- Monitor local tourism/retail launches: Saudi tourism pushes and resort launches often come with big social spend — these brands need creators to tell story-led content at touchpoints like airports and DOOH (source material on tourism infrastructure).
- Check if brands worked with agencies listed in regional campaigns (multicultural marketing, DOOH, influencer collabs are common agency services) — agencies publish case studies and sometimes the creators they prefer.
- Use LinkedIn and Instagram to confirm brand social leads, then reach out with a short DM referencing their Josh post (quick, specific, flattering).
Cite: OpenPR (2026) on influencer market growth and Merca20 (Revo Labs, 2026) for creator-perf focus.
🎯 Pitch that converts: a 6-line outreach template
Subject (DM): Quick collab idea for [Brand] x Saudi audience on Josh
Body:
Hi [Name] — love your recent [campaign/post]. I’m [Your Name], an Aussie creator with a strong Arabic-friendly audience on Josh (high-engagement travel & lifestyle content). I have one idea: a 30-sec native clip showing [brand experience] that drives bookings via a tracked promo code. Estimated reach: [X] and CTR ~[Y]% based on past campaigns. Can I send a one-pager with sample creative + rates?
Why this works: short, measurable, references brand work, offers a deliverable and tracking.
📣 Content formats Saudi brands want (and how to localise them)
- Mini travel series (3–4 episodes): show a real itinerary — airport arrival touchpoint → resort → unique local experience. Emphasise sustainability or unique landscape (desert, Red Sea) where relevant.
- Product-in-action: F&B or retail — native “first taste” or “unbox local” clips with Arabic microcopy + English CTA.
- Doorstep-to-doorstep stories: highlight convenience or luxury, pairing Josh short-form energy with DOOH/airport campaigns brands run.
- Performance-first creatives: include promo codes, UTM links, or trackable booking paths — brands increasingly want conversion data (see Revo Labs formula).
Tip: Use Arabic captions or dual-language overlays. Partner with a translator for cultural nuance.
💬 Negotiation & legal quick wins
- Ask for 30–50% upfront for international deals. Use Escrow or PayPal invoicing.
- Define KPIs: views, clicks, conversions, and a 30-day attribution window.
- Include usage rights: limit to platform & campaign length unless they pay extra.
- Taxes: confirm invoicing rules for Saudi clients and whether they expect GST/VAT handling.
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🔍 Real-world campaign blueprint (copyable)
Campaign: “48‑Hour Riyadh Drop”
– Deliverables: 3 Josh videos (15–30s), 1 cross-posted Reel, tracked code.
– KPI: Bookings via code, 10K views per clip, CTR 2.0%+
– Fee: AUD 2.500 (negotiable with performance bonus)
– Timeline: 14 days from agreement
– Notes: Use bilingual overlays, tag official tourism handles, include a short testimonial cut for use in DOOH.
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
❓ How do I handle language barriers with Saudi brands?
💬 Work with a local translator for captions and briefs; offer bilingual deliverables and explain why Arabic hooks improve performance.
🛠️ What metrics should I promise in a pitch?
💬 Start with realistic baselines: expected views, engagement rate, and a projected conversion using past campaign data; propose bonuses for overperformance.
🧠 Should I use an agency or go direct?
💬 Direct gives higher margins and speed; agencies open bigger budgets and local compliance help. Mix both depending on campaign scale and your bandwidth.
🧩 Final Thoughts…
Saudi brands are actively buying native creator content that drives measurable outcomes. As an Australian creator on Josh, you’ve got an edge if you can package localized storytelling, clear tracking, and a clean outreach process. Keep pitches tight, offer bilingual deliverables, and lean into travel and experience stories — that’s where the budgets are moving.
📚 Further Reading
🔸 “AI Visibility Startup Emberos Raises $1.2M in Pre-Seed Funding”
🗞️ Source: Adweek – 2026-01-12
🔗 https://www.adweek.com/media/emberos-ai-justin-inman-funding/
🔸 “The New Rules of Menswear Influencing for 2026”
🗞️ Source: Vogue – 2026-01-12
🔗 https://www.vogue.com/article/the-new-rules-of-menswear-influencing-for-2026
🔸 “Digital marketing manager awarded $48,000 after ERA finds role axed unfairly”
🗞️ Source: NewstalkZB – 2026-01-12
🔗 https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/digital-marketing-manager-awarded-48-000-after-era-finds-role-axed-unfairly/
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📌 Disclaimer
This post combines public sources, industry reports, and practical experience. Verify legal and tax specifics before signing contracts.
