YouTube's Creative Meeting in Riyadh: How the Basics of Marketing Podcast Became the Foundation of My Personal Brand.

When YouTube brought its Creative Meeting to Riyadh, it didn’t feel like just another event — it felt like a checkpoint for creators like me.
Sitting among dozens of Arab YouTubers, I realized something powerful: YouTube isn’t just a platform — it’s the world’s biggest personal branding stage.

As the host of The Basics of Marketing — the #1 marketing podcast in the GCC — I’ve spent the past two years turning conversations into community.
But this event made me see my channel differently: not as content, but as a brand ecosystem.

What Personal Branding on YouTube Really Means

When people subscribe to my channel, they’re not just subscribing to marketing tips — they’re subscribing to me: my perspective, my tone, my values, and my story as a Saudi marketer who built from the ground up.

Personal branding on YouTube is built around three pillars:

Clarity of Identity – Why do you exist, and for whom?
For me: I exist to simplify marketing for Arab entrepreneurs — to make every viewer say, “I finally get it.”
Consistency of Message – Your audience should instantly recognize your rhythm.
For me: Every episode of The Basics of Marketing begins with the same energy: “Welcome to the podcast where we make marketing simple — and powerful.”
Connection Through Story – People follow people, not topics.
For me: I share real Saudi marketing stories — from brand founders, creative directors, and campaign builders — because that’s where lessons truly live.

Lessons I Took From the Creative Meeting

1) From Channel to Company

YouTube’s team reminded us that the most successful creators don’t just publish — they build systems.
When I mapped The Basics of Marketing as a company, not just a channel, everything changed:

We created four recurring show formats (Episodes, Shorts, Case Studies, and Quick Lessons).
We built a PESO model: Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned media — just like brands use.
And we defined our own brand guidelines — tone, visuals, cadence.

Because if your YouTube channel isn’t managed like a business, it’ll stay a hobby.

2) The Power of Localization

Riyadh was the perfect host for this event — it represents everything the new creator economy stands for: ambition, identity, and innovation.
At the Creative Meeting, I realized how much audiences value authenticity.
When I speak in Arabic — in my real Saudi tone — the connection doubles. When I talk about Vision 2030 brands or local campaigns, engagement triples.

Global storytelling doesn’t mean changing who you are; it means expressing it in a way the world can understand.

3) From Followers to Community

Before 200K subscribers, my focus was on growth.
Now, it’s on depth.
The real value is in how many people trust you — not how many follow you.

That’s why we started doing community-led Shorts, where followers send in marketing questions that I answer on-camera.
This small shift turned viewers into participants — and that’s what a personal brand does: it gives your audience a role in your story.

How I Apply YouTube’s Personal Branding Framework

Here’s how I’ve built my system around The Basics of Marketing:

1️⃣ Signature Show Format

Episodes (8–12 min): Story-driven breakdowns of real Saudi marketing lessons.
Shorts: 60-second insights — each one a teaser or a “Basics Bite.”

2️⃣ Visual Identity
We use consistent colors — beige, black, red — inspired by my agency Arbaaa Marketing. Every thumbnail follows one rule: one face, one emotion, one word.

3️⃣ Rituals That Build Trust
Every episode ends with a reminder:

“Marketing isn’t about selling. It’s about understanding.”
It’s become a signature line — something my community now repeats back.

4️⃣ Collaboration With Purpose
I only collaborate with guests who fit the show’s DNA — marketers, founders, and creatives whose stories teach, not just entertain.

Saudi YouTubers Are Building a Movement

At the Creative Meeting, YouTube made one thing clear: Saudi Arabia isn’t a “new market.” It’s a creative powerhouse.
We’re not copying international creators — we’re defining what authentic Arabic content looks like.

The next wave of Saudi creators won’t chase trends.
They’ll build personal brands — storytellers, teachers, and leaders who use YouTube not for fame, but for influence with purpose.

My Promise Moving Forward

As a Saudi YouTuber, I’ll keep building The Basics of Marketing with one clear mission:
To show every young creator that your story is your strategy, and that when you build with intention, your audience becomes your legacy.

Because YouTube isn’t just where you upload videos.
It’s where you upload your vision — one episode at a time.