Turning opportunity into apps, with Jonathan from Promonow.
“When I started using ride hailing apps, my wife would ask me what promo was available. And after getting frustrated,” says Jonathan, pausing to laugh, “I decided to to put it on Facebook so she wouldn’t bug me anymore.”
That small idea eventually grew into Promonow, an Android app that provides users with the latest promo codes for ride hailing apps like Grab and Uber. Despite there being several websites that already share this information, there are few apps that exist, which is what led him to invest time and money into building Promonow.
“Instead of having to go to a website or Facebook page to scroll about just to look for the promo code, the app can broadcast promos that are time-sensitive. You can then use it immediately, before it gets fully redeemed.” He speaks with speed, clearly excited at the app’s prospects.
Given that this is a side gig for him, it’s inspiring to see him juggle between his day job, family, and Promonow. It’s even more incredible to know that despite not having a technical background, he’s gone ahead to build the app and has chosen to ignore any doubts he might have had.
“Actually, it wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t that difficult either. Finding the right person to work with was the most important thing,” he says, watching for my agreement. “Then, it’s about focusing on user experience and design. Once that’s done, making sure the product does its job well, is all that is left to do.”
According to him, there are actually a lot of promotional apps out there, but there are almost none that focus exclusively on ride hailing app promo codes. It’s really surprising to him, especially since it’s such a daily necessity among commuters today.
“Although we only have this on Android for now, we’re currently working on the iOS version. The dream scenario is for promo redemption to take place within the app itself. Maybe even manage customers too,” he says. “But for now, I’m fully focused on gaining users.”
For Jonathan, since launching the app a month ago, marketing has solely been by word-of-mouth and traditional channels like Facebook. He’s already begun experimenting with Facebook ads, and although this is a hobby, he’s dead serious about everything he’s doing. He goes on to question me about the finer details of CPIs on Facebook, as we investigate the configurations of his campaigns.
“I often ask drivers about their situations, and it’s quite depressing to find that most of them have been retrenched over the past year or so. But it’s also hopeful to know that there are options for anyone in that situation. It’s an opportunity, in a sense, and I hope my app can benefit them by encouraging people to use the Ubers and Grabs of this world.”
