EcardForest Ltd
About the Company
EcardForest creates customizable digital greeting cards that allow multiple people to sign, incorporating text styles, colors, and even gifs to make each card unique. Unlike traditional e-cards, EcardForest focuses on personalization and making the experience as close as possible to receiving a physical card. The company also emphasizes eco-friendliness by investing in tree-planting initiatives for every card sold, supporting multiple NGOs globally. Additionally, EcardForest ensures high levels of privacy by not collecting personal information, instead using secure tokens for each user. This unique approach has helped them cater to companies, especially for birthdays and farewells.
Idea Behind Company
The idea for EcardForest was born during the pandemic when Dayana struggled to find a suitable online greeting card service to say goodbye to a colleague who was leaving her company. After extensive market research, Dayana found the existing options insufficient for European users, particularly in terms of payment methods, currencies, and design preferences. With a background in digital marketing, she saw an opportunity to improve the product, especially for a European audience. Envisioning an e-card platform that would allow groups to share meaningful messages in a digital format, she quickly formed a team, including a developer and a graphic designer, to begin working on the project.
Creating the Company
Building the first iteration of EcardForest was a side project for Dayana and her friends, as they all had full-time jobs. To expedite the development process, they launched with a minimal viable product (MVP) and continuously improved the platform based on user feedback. The initial product design was simple, but they added new features over time, like text rotation, scheduling card delivery, and image uploads. They also expanded their catalog from just birthdays and farewells to include a broader range of occasions such as weddings, get-well cards, and more. Agility and outsourcing, particularly through freelance platforms like Fiverr, were key to scaling the company quickly.
Launching the Business
EcardForest's website and product were closely intertwined, as all interactions with the greeting cards took place online. They designed a user-friendly website with clear calls to action and visual elements, ensuring that the site performed well technically, with fast loading times and optimal Google rankings. After three weeks of preparation, the website went live. The team started with a small advertising budget, using Google and Microsoft ads, and quickly saw traction when Dayana introduced the service to her colleagues. The company’s branding evolved from "E-GreetingCard" to EcardForest, reflecting their eco-conscious ethos. After a few months, they expanded their reach by collaborating with creators to diversify their card designs.
Earnings
Within a year of its launch, EcardForest achieved over $15K in monthly revenue, totaling approximately $180K annually. The company’s success was fueled by a combination of effective digital marketing strategies, including paid advertising and partnerships with influencers and related businesses. Despite increasing competition, EcardForest managed to grow by improving keyword targeting and bidding strategies in online ads. The business also benefitted from strong customer retention, as users continued to return for future purchases. With ongoing investments in advertising and product development, the company remains profitable and is looking to expand further into new markets and onboard more creators.
