RIYADH: Saudi content creator Ahmed Aljar said patience and consistency were key factors in his journey from YouTuber to becoming CEO of his media agency, Vito.
He shared his success during a fireside chat titled “Influencers in Saudi Arabia, Best Practices for Brands” at the Saudi Festival of Creativity, Athar, in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The session was moderated by Karl Mapstone, head of marketing agency Vamp Middle East.
The panel highlighted various strategies for influencers to succeed, using the story of Aljar, who went from a graduate engineer to a successful content creator.
Aljar said, “During my third year of college, I realized that I wasn’t thinking in terms of engineering, and it was too late for me to change my major. I graduated and during that time I started my YouTube channel because it was always in the back of my mind. I knew I wanted to document my life and experience in the United States.
Continuing his career on YouTube and moving to Saudi Arabia, Aljar witnessed a spike in engagement like never before. He mentioned that sharing content about travel and family attracted a large audience who quickly became a loyal following.
Aljar said: “People who use the platforms are only supporting us. They like to see good content. They like influencers. If you are authentic and real and present something special and creative, you will have great luck.
After amassing 2.2 million subscribers and producing 620 videos, Aljar decided to leave YouTube a year and a half ago to focus on other social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram.
Today, he is the CEO of Vito and thriving with almost a million followers on TikTok and over 300,000 on Instagram.
Aljar’s success comes from paying attention to details and ensuring his expectations are met.
He said: “We are checking the videos after the campaign, thinking about how we can scale up further collaborations. So, I take it very seriously. We have our own way of creating content.
“I know how to speak to my audience and we are very thorough in creating content. You know, the lenses, the little details… we study the room before we go in.
He added: “I started as a content creator until I became the CEO of a creative agency, Vito. So, patience, patience, patience and consistency. I spent a year without making any money in this field, without reaching a thousand subscribers. But, you know, I was just loaded. I wanted to create and put myself on the map on social media.
Through owning a business, AlJar said he learned how to become a content creator while “building relationships, networking and improving communication.”
He advised the young Saudi community to “be creative, learn to delegate, hire staff, invest in equipment and a team to help you build your ideas and storyboards, present yourself the best possible way and to be authentic on a commercial level. .”
The Athar Festival, which runs until November 16, brings together the Saudi creative and marketing sectors for recognition and celebration. It includes workshops, coaching, training, roundtable discussions, C-suite sessions, talent competitions and an awards ceremony.