Going digital in today’s day and age, is something that is happening all over the world, and Cairo, Egypt is no stranger to it. Ezz Fayek is the CEO of E-ntrepreneur for Marketing Services which is based in Cairo. WaffarX.com is their first project, and it is the first cashback portal in the MENA region. Also a member of GoDaddy’s Affiliate Program, the beta version of WaffarX was launched and tested with samples of customers from different segments. Development on the website continued taking into account the users’ feedback, until a presentable version was launched in April 2018. Even though it’s pretty young, today WaffarX has 750 daily visitors and 3000 page views. Fayek explains the meaning behind the name today:
“Waffar” means “save” in Arabic, and X refers to not only the amount someone will save passing through WaffarX, but also the added-value they’ll receive, like saving time.
WaffarX has been using pay-per-click (PPC) advertising as well as search engine optimization (SEO), social media and offline advertising to build a follower base. They have their own software house, their browser extension is ready, and they’re planning to launch their Android app soon. At the moment, they’re working on accomplishing the best customer acquisition cost, focusing on the development of the portal itself, and they will start increasing their marketing budget soon.
Online: an investment that fit the criteria
Fayek had been following the growth in online businesses over the last few years, and his criteria for a new investment were 1) he would need zero inventory, 2) it would be something scalable that could cover the entire MENA region and 3) it would be an online business.
Launching a website was our plan since 2012. First, we tested a website for a cosmetics company, we studied the idea and wanted to find something to offer that would provide real added-value.
After a trip to California, Fayek decided on launching a cashback portal for the MENA region, and that’s how his company was born. Today, WaffarX.com, offers cashback services, coupons and discount codes, as well as stable service and easy withdrawal methods that suit the MENA region. For this, in Egypt, they have a partnership with Fawry to facilitate cashback withdrawals.
Our main goal is to create the largest, single source of qualified online buyers in MENA. We also aim to be the number one choice of the buyers who are looking for deals and savings. We plan to further develop our offerings in the future.
“Affiliate programs are a must for this business model”
WaffarX.com has been a part of affiliate marketing since November 2017. Mentioning that affiliate programs are a must for their business model, Fayek says that being able to market a wide range of products and services with zero inventory through affiliate programs is “sure profitable.” According to Fayek, here’s what an affiliate needs to be successful online:
- Being able to understand the terms and conditions of the affiliate programs, which are similar for most of them.
- Being able to offer the audience a real added value based on a know-how.
I advise everyone with the appropriate knowledge to participate in an affiliate program and start marketing products based on their know-how. They can build a whole idea, too, but providing real added-value is a must.
Member of the GoDaddy Affiliate Program
WaffarX.com is a member of GoDaddy’s Affiliate Program as well. They feature GoDaddy’s homepage as the main link and also add in any coupon codes or special deals. Fayek himself is also a GoDaddy user; he uses GoDaddy’s domains, SSL certificates and Office 365 products. As an affiliate, he thinks people choose GoDaddy for its affordable prices, easy-to-use interface and the fact that it supports multiple currencies across the regions.
In my opinion, GoDaddy is a must-have when it comes to affiliate programs. That way you’ll be offering easy-to-use products and services to a market that is growing massively.
Fayek says most people in the region don’t know what affiliate programs are, and those that do don’t really understand the concept well. He thinks there will be a positive change in this regard as more relevant people will start joining affiliate programs; people that already have a following and people who can create real added-value.
