Imagine
that there was an App that allows you to know whenever any business events,
products or services are set to launch.
That's
the premise behind the App EDirect,
created by business partners Omar Green and Andrew Karim as reported in the
article “EDirect:
the happening App and one-stop shop”, published Wednesday, June 22, 2016 by
Karena Bennett, The Jamaica Observer
.
The
premise of the App and the accompanying website, in which the business partners
Omar Green and Andrew Karim have invested some JA$2 million are surprisingly
simple; it lists out business events, products or services happening on a given
date in a given geographical area.
So
what is the EDirect
App all about?
EDirect App –
Advertising website and App combo for business events, products or services
This
is basically like an events website, but in App form, that tells you everything
that's going on in the island.
It's
an App, it makes advertising cost effective, being as it works on iOS, Android
and Blackberry platforms, advertising using Google Adsense to reach their
target audience; Jamaicans wanting to know in real-time what's poppin'!
They
attract users based on free access to content such as:
1.
Hotel accommodation
2.
Listing of events
3.
Photos
4.
Restaurants
5.
Shopping deals
In
exchange for dishing out the where and when for business events, products or
services, the App makes money by providing local advertising on their App, as
these business events, products or services are themselves looking for
exposure. Prices on their EDirect
App range as follows:
1. JA$500
for classified listings
2. $35,000
for digital advertising
A
listing may involve what's typically found on a regular events website, but in App
form:
1.
Company banner
2.
Interstitial advertising
3.
Video
Truth
be told, EDirect
is not along in this arena as many other App existed prior to EDirect
in Jamaica that cover events.
Most
local developers, it seems are content making either games or Google Map
applications or maps such as the JUTC Google Transit maps as explained in my blog article
entitled “Why
@JUTCltd @Google Transit from @UWImona Computer Science Department is the next
AVL”.
With
smartphone and Internet usage on the rise in Jamaica according opt the OUR
(Office of Utilities Regulation) Telecommunications Market Information Report
as detailed in my blog article
entitled “Why
OUR Telecommunications Market Information Report indicate Jamaicans love Snapchat
and High-Speed Internet”, smartphones and Tablets are the perfect vehicle
to advertise products.
So
what is the future of an App based events website?
EDirect is Listing
every Event islandwide – Great Expectations from Discounts and Coupons
Clearly
they’re onto something here!
This
Yelp-esque App aims to become the one-stop events App in Jamaica to quote
founder Omar Green: “The App can be different things to different persons, so
as a common user, you may want to find what’s happening in your area on any
given day — whether it be a party, seminar or any interesting event, what
restaurant is close by, who has a sale now on clothing, just about anything. It
really is just a one-stop shop for everything that you need”.
The
company has a small staff of two (2) full time employees and software developer
GDK Computer Systems and Services LLC,
most likely to maintain the backend of their EDirect
App.
They
plan to expand into long term contracts, eventually becoming a dispenser of
discount coupons to quote Omar Green: “We have several updates coming out soon
with new features and ways to make the App more user-friendly, as well and to
encourage more purchases and downloads. As it is now, most of our revenues come
from the advertising of events, but those are short-term contracts that
disappear after a time.
Still,
advertising isn't a sure means of making money from an Apps. At 100 to 500
downloads thus far, advertising the App via traditional media can drive traffic
to the App and increase membership as noted in my Geezam
blog article entitled “Why
App Developers, Celebrities and TV Ads increase App Downloads”.
Especially
as the ad-blocking arms race has accelerated with the developement of
Ad-blocking detecting software as detailed in my Geezam
blog article entitled “How Ad-blocker
Detecting Software protect US$22 billion Advertising Industry”.
Hence
their long-term goal of coupons, to quote Omar Green: “My vision for the
company is to see an increase in long-term contracts, like what we have with
South Beach and Century Wrecking, which provides discounts to consumers”.
Aside
from this, they plan to expand to lifting events outside of the traditional
events locations in Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. It'll be interesting
to see how they'll list events in the rural part of Jamaica.
I
suspect with more advertising, which is why I’m writing about EDirect,
Great Expectations are in store for the duo of Omar Green and Andrew Karim.
Here’s
the Link:
No comments:
Post a Comment