How I Code Apps SOLO That Actually Make Money (Idea + Build + Marketing Guide)

Summary

This video offers a practical guide for aspiring app creators, detailing the steps to generate an idea, build, and market an app successfully. The creator emphasizes that originality isn't essential in the beginning and encourages replicating successful ideas, before adding unique features over time. Key advice includes using popular, well-supported technologies like Next.js, Expo, and Supabase for app development, and leveraging platforms like Stripe for payments. For marketing, the video stresses organic social media strategies (TikTok, Instagram) and Reddit advertising as effective ways to gain traction quickly and make your first sale.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on copying existing app ideas instead of coming up with a completely new one to validate your market quickly.
• 😀 Originality isn't necessary in the early stages of app development—prioritize solving a problem and iterating later.
• 😀 Validate your idea through existing successful products and build upon them instead of reinventing the wheel.
• 😀 Choose a tech stack with strong developer support to avoid frustration during development (Next.js is recommended for web apps).
• 😀 For mobile apps, Expo (based on React Native) is a great choice for cross-platform development for both iOS and Android.
• 😀 Use Superbase for backend services as it provides a convenient, all-in-one solution for storage, authentication, and databases.
• 😀 Stripe is the most popular and recommended payment processor due to its ease of use and excellent developer tools.
• 😀 PostHog can help you track user interactions and perform A/B testing to optimize your app and understand user behavior.
• 😀 Social media marketing is key—don't hesitate to copy successful formats and leverage platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
• 😀 Reddit marketing can be a powerful tool, allowing you to engage with users discussing relevant problems and offer your app as a solution.
• 😀 SEO is important but it takes longer to see results; focus on social media and Reddit marketing for faster returns and viral potential.

Q & A

What is the most important thing to remember when coming up with an app idea?

You don't need to come up with an entirely new idea. It's often better to copy an existing app idea that has already been validated in the market.

Why is it not necessary to validate your app idea when you're just starting?

If you're trying to make your first dollar, the market validation has already been done by others. You can skip the validation step and build an app similar to existing ones.

What should you do if you feel your app idea is not original?

Drop the ego! Originality doesn't matter at the early stages. There can be multiple apps that solve the same problem, just like there are many hamburger restaurants.

How did the speaker's current app 'Mon' come to be?

The speaker's app 'Mon' was built by copying existing AI-powered meeting recording apps. Later, it was differentiated by adding unique features like a real-time meeting co-pilot.

What tech stack does the speaker recommend for building full-stack web applications?

The speaker recommends using Next.js for building web applications due to its popularity, developer support, and ease of use.

Why does the speaker suggest using Vercel for hosting web apps?

Vercel is recommended because it is easy to use and integrates well with Next.js, despite being a bit expensive.

What is the suggested platform for building cross-platform mobile apps?

Expo, based on React Native, is recommended for building cross-platform apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase.

Why is Superbase the recommended backend provider?

Superbase is an all-in-one backend solution offering authentication, databases, and storage. It is highly popular and has great community support.

Which payment processing service does the speaker suggest for handling transactions?

Stripe is recommended for payment processing because it is the most popular, easy to use, and offers excellent developer documentation.

What is PostHog, and how is it useful for app developers?

PostHog is a tool that helps track user events and interactions within your app. It allows for features like session recording and A/B testing to improve app functionality and user experience.

What marketing strategies does the speaker suggest for app promotion?

The speaker suggests focusing on organic social media marketing, particularly through TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit. These platforms offer viral potential and can help quickly validate your app idea.

Why is Reddit a powerful tool for marketing an app?

Reddit allows for targeted marketing by engaging with posts related to specific problems your app solves. Additionally, Reddit posts often rank well on Google, providing long-term visibility.