My mobile app made $800K in 365 days

Summary

Louis, a Canadian entrepreneur, went from building failed apps to creating 'Glow Up,' a makeup app that made $800K in its first year. By studying TikTok comments and building content around users' needs, he validated his idea before even coding. He shares his playbook for leveraging TikTok, including content strategies and how to grow an app quickly. Louis emphasizes the importance of taking action, adjusting along the way, and building a business model that adapts to real user demands. His success story highlights how content, particularly on TikTok, is key to app growth and business success in 2025.

Takeaways

• 😀 Louis built 10 apps that failed before finding success with a makeup app called Glow Up.
• 😀 He studied TikTok, specifically analyzing the comment sections to identify a real problem that many people were facing.
• 😀 Instead of just building another app, Louis created content around the idea first, which helped validate the app's potential before launch.
• 😀 Glow Up became a top app, reaching the number one spot in the Lifestyle category and generating over $800,000 in revenue in just one year.
• 😀 Louis' simple video generated $12,500 in sales in one day, demonstrating the power of effective content and viral marketing.
• 😀 To find successful app ideas, Louis recommends focusing on trending topics on TikTok and validating ideas through comments and engagement.
• 😀 Louis advises starting with TikTok content before building the app itself, ensuring the idea resonates with an audience and has viral potential.
• 😀 When building a TikTok strategy, Louis suggests posting 1-2 times a day to start, then increasing to 4-6 times a day once you see traction.
• 😀 He shares a detailed TikTok playbook for beginners, including warming up your account, researching hashtags, and using anchor links to drive downloads.
• 😀 Louis' app, Glow Up, uses AI to let users try on makeup virtually, offering personalized experiences based on skin tone, wrinkles, and makeup preferences.
• 😀 His tech stack for building the app includes FlutterFlow for MVP development, Firebase for backend, and Superwall for payments, achieving a profit margin of around 90%.

Q & A

What was Louis' main struggle before building the Glow Up app?

Louis spent years building apps that failed because he was focused on developing apps for himself without validating them in the market first. His previous apps received no users and failed to generate revenue.

How did Louis find the idea for the Glow Up app?

Louis and his co-founder observed TikTok makeup videos and studied the comments section to identify common problems people were facing. They realized there was a demand for an app that could help women try makeup looks virtually, which led them to build Glow Up.

Why did Louis decide to start with content creation before building the app?

Louis realized that building an app without validating the idea through content and audience engagement led to failure in the past. This time, he focused on creating content around the makeup app idea to ensure there was real demand before investing in development.

What was the result of Louis' TikTok content strategy for Glow Up?

Louis' TikTok strategy led to rapid success, with the app reaching 100K users in just three days and generating $800K in revenue within the first year. The TikTok videos went viral, with one video alone bringing in 12.5K in sales in a single day.

What steps did Louis follow to warm up his TikTok account before posting content?

Louis warmed up his TikTok account by spending 15-30 minutes a day liking, commenting, and watching videos in his niche. This helped the TikTok algorithm recognize him as a real user rather than a bot, which was crucial for his content strategy.

How did Louis' team use anchor links in their TikTok videos to increase app downloads?

Once their TikTok videos gained significant traction, Louis added an anchor link in the video, making it easier for viewers to download the app directly without visiting the profile. This approach significantly boosted app downloads, particularly for videos that were going viral.

What type of content did Louis focus on to gain traction on TikTok?

Louis focused on creating faceless content or using user-generated content (UGC). He replicated successful trends on TikTok while incorporating his app’s concept, which made it easier to produce and post frequently. The goal was to reach as many people as possible.

What was the pricing model for the Glow Up app, and how did it contribute to the app’s revenue?

The Glow Up app used a subscription model, charging $9.99 per week or $39.99 per year for unlimited makeup looks. This subscription model helped generate a steady stream of revenue, with the app earning approximately $15K per month.

What tools and technologies did Louis use to develop Glow Up?

Louis used Flutterflow for the app’s front-end development, Firebase for backend services, Google Cloud Functions, and Superwall for payment processing. For event tracking, he used Mixpanel.

What key advice did Louis give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build successful apps?

Louis advised entrepreneurs to take action quickly and adjust later, emphasizing that there is no perfect time to start. He also stressed the importance of building momentum, learning from both failures and successes, and focusing on practical execution rather than waiting for perfection.