News
EG.GD new URL shortener, offers Pro accounts for FREE ‘first 2000 Users’
Since Egypt’s attempt to ban bitly service this month, Egyptian digital marketers are more cautious about using the international service to avoid losing business opportunities. An alternative service has floated on the surface recently. It brands itself as a national URL shortener service called Grand Egypt under the domain name eg.gd.
Grand Egypt or, eg.gd is a new free URL shortener service, in addition to pro features such as tracking, deep analytics, unlimited URLs, re-targeting integration, UTM, landing page meta customizations, custom domain, all are for free for the first 2,000 users.
bitly.com pro cost ranges from $29 per month to $499 per month based on your links usage, while, eg.gd offers unlimited links at zero cost with all pro features.
The service is an alternative to bitly, that are threatened to be banned in the country.
Why use a URL shortener service like bitly?
From marketing and branding prospectives, short URLs play a crucial role in helping businesses grow because they provide more clean and meaningful links, which trigger more clicks and business opportunities. Here’s a real example, we’ve recently published a post about Eventtus rebranding. Here are two links that can lead to the article. Which one will you prefer?
https://adigitalboom.com/eventtus-unveils-new-brand-identity-as-expands- event-tech-solutions/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweet &utm_campaign=eventtus-rebranding&utm_term=eventtus& utm_content=organic-tweet
OR
https://eg.gd/eventtus-rebranding
We’ll all agree that the second one is the winning link. People prefer clicking on visually appealing links, especially when the links are customized. That’s the true power of URL shorteners.
Effective cost reduction method
Shortened URLs provide a cutting cost opportunity for businesses who use SMS marketing, as every character counts. If you use shortened URLs, you will be cutting a lot of your marketing costs with these shortened links.
Measure behavior in an easy and a better way
Tracking clicks is one thing, but measuring the quality of traffic coming to your website is equally important. Yet, the majority of Online Marketers are not aware of it. To see how any given traffic behaves on your website, you need Google UTM parameters.
With URL shortener services, you can do both things at the same time. When you shorten the link, you can enter any UTM tags and get your shortened tagged link.
The traffic from tagged links will be visible in the Google Analytics Acquisition tab. Check the source/medium tab to get all of the information.
Pixel Integration for non-technical users or inaccessible websites
Many brands around the world do not provide access to their websites to international teams. This is a showstopper for advertising remarketing as it requires adding remarketing codes to their webpages.
URL shortener services can help with this by adding pixel codes to their shortened links, which will allow Online Marketers to capture these data and use it in re-targeting later on.
Keep all your links in one place, track, and compare results.
URL shortener services provide an easy way for Online Marketers to track results and compare them on the go in one place.
However, almost every URL shortener service charge for pro features links the above.
Register your account your free account here.
Lendo, a Saudi Arabia-based Shariah-compliant crowdlending marketplace, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with J.P. Morgan to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
The MOU was signed during 24 Fintech, a premier fintech event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and investors in Riyadh.
J.P. Morgan and Lendo are working together on potential opportunities to support the SME sector in Saudi Arabia in growing and sustaining the remarkable demand in this market.
“This strategic collaboration with J.P. Morgan, a pioneer in the financial industry, marks a significant milestone for Lendo,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo. “By combining our strengths, we’ll deliver cutting-edge financial solutions to SMEs, supporting their growth and contributing directly to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
The SME financing landscape in MENA presents a substantial market opportunity as limited financial access continues to restrict the growth of the region’s businesses, with commercial banks hesitant to issue loans to SMEs at scale, resulting in a high percentage of declined financing requests annually.
The total SME financing gap in developing countries is estimated to be approximately $5.2 trillion, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Lendo’s debt crowdfunding platform aims to bridge the financing gap for SMEs, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to significantly expand SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.
According to the latest available report from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the total value of debt crowdfunding in Saudi Arabia surged from SAR 1.4 million in 2019 to SAR 771 million in 2022, marking a remarkable growth.
Lendo raised SAR 132 million ($35.2 million) in total funding from leading investors, including the most recent Series B led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly-owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Since its inception in December 2019, Saudi fintech Lendo has processed over 5,000 financing transactions on its platform, providing over SAR 2 billion ($600 million) in financing to SMEs and generating SAR 280 million ($74 million) in returns for investors.
TA Telecom, a prominent player in the Middle East’s tech sector, has unveiled AnteThink, an AI-driven tool designed to enhance decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.
With a history of influencing the tech landscape through various initiatives, including advanced mobile solutions, high-volume payment platforms, and ventures in e-commerce, fintech, and analytics, TA Telecom has carved a niche for itself. Serving a vast user base of 40 million and processing an impressive 15 billion transactions across its platforms, TA Telecom has cemented its position as a tech industry leader, with some of its ventures achieving the status of Y Combinator companies.
Established in 2000, TA Telecom has emerged as a prominent player in the technology sector. With over 40 million users and processing 15 billion transactions annually, TA Telecom has made a notable impact. Recognized for its contributions by the Financial Times and featured on Deloitte’s list of fastest-growing tech companies in EMEA, TA Telecom is known for its adaptability and forward-thinking approach in the ever-evolving global tech landscape.
Sameh Ibrahim, CEO of TA Telecom, highlights the potential of AnteThink: “AnteThink reflects our commitment to leverage technology for practical impact. It aims to provide clarity and confidence in decision-making, whether in the professional or personal sphere. AnteThink is a tool that can empower startup founders, executives, and individuals to make more informed choices, alleviating the stress and uncertainty often associated with critical decision-making.”
Mostafa Ashour, CEO of Y Combinator-backed startup NowPay, shared his perspective on AnteThink: “AnteThink transformed our strategic planning, allowing us to explore various scenarios and prepare for different outcomes. It has strengthened our decision-making process, helping us navigate the complexities of the business landscape.”
AnteThink embodies TA Telecom’s commitment to innovation, focusing on supporting the startup ecosystem. The tool is tailored to help leaders and executives navigate the complexities of business management and strategic development by providing a clear picture of potential outcomes.
Key Features of AnteThink include:
1. Second Order Mode: Offering a comprehensive analysis of broader impacts, fostering a strategic mindset for long-term success.
2. Optionality Mode: Enabling detailed evaluation and comparison of different choices to ensure decisions align with strategic objectives and values.
3. Inversion Mode: Focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks, thereby strengthening risk management strategies.
Credit: Antethink
AnteThink’s advanced AI technology aims to assist decision-makers with insightful analytics, offering guidance through the decision-making process.
Selina Bieber, the Senior Director of Global Markets at GoDaddy, has predicted a significant increase in Egypt’s e-commerce revenue. By 2028, it could reach $9.88 billion.
Godaddy is forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives to help local entrepreneurs. These efforts align with Egypt’s digital transformation goals and its Vision 2030.
In an interview with the Arabic financial news “Amwal Al Ghad,” Bieber spoke about GoDaddy’s plans and how they match Egypt’s 2023 strategy. She highlighted the company’s aim to provide effective, easy-to-use digital tools and services. By 2024, GoDaddy wants to serve more customers in Egypt by making its digital tools more widespread.
The company is working closely with the Egyptian government, especially the Ministry of Planning. They are offering training programs to improve the digital skills of startups and existing businesses. GoDaddy’s services in Egypt include domain registration, web hosting, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing tools.
Recent surveys support Bieber’s positive outlook for e-commerce in Egypt. They show a clear trend towards digital strategies among small businesses. Many are realizing the importance of having an online presence for their growth and success.
As GoDaddy continues its partnerships and supports government digital initiatives, its influence on Egypt’s digital landscape is growing. The company is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. It aims not just for business growth but also to contribute to a sustainable and thriving digital economy in Egypt.
The 2028 projection indicates a vast potential for e-commerce, with GoDaddy playing a key role in this digital evolution.
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