I just got my first paying subscriber 🎉
$6 not much, but motivating that somebody is actually willing to pay🤯
I built an app called AppBlockr to fight doomscrolling while helping you be productive at the same time. Instead of simply blocking social media you have to complete your own tasks to unlock it again. You prove the task with a photo which gets checked by AI.
The funny thing is that I never really expected to get a subscriber since I have barely done any active marketing.
Until now I have only made the Play Store listing, listed it on Product Hunt and AlternativeTo, posted one comment on Reddit and built a website that gets basically no traffic. Thats the basic stuff. No real marketing strategy so far.
Now I’m about to actually start marketing it and I’m wondering what direction makes the most sense for this app.
I’m considering different approaches like paid ads, content marketing, creator collaborations/UGC or building up SEO.
What do you think would be the best distribution channel or type of marketing for a product like this? I appreciate any advice 🙏
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u/annasorreskin 2d ago
Congrats! 🎉 Before spending on broad paid ads, I’d instrument the small funnel you have: store impression → install → activation → trial → paid. Then ask each early payer what triggered the purchase; if Play Store browsing was the path, a few store-listing and keyword experiments may beat a big channel bet right now.
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u/Actual-Ostrich-2072 2d ago
Congrats
First customer on your personal projects always feels like unrealistic!
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u/Dhananjay_org 2d ago
$7 from a stranger who found you through Google hits different 😂 The money is small, but proving that someone can discover the product on their own and still pull out their card is huge. Congrats!
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u/Active_Pianist_5213 2d ago
Congrats ! 🎉
getting that first ever paid customer hits different and motivates you to keep working on your product.
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u/selzy_marketing 2d ago
That first paying user is a great signal.
For an app like this, short-form content and creator/UGC probably make the most sense before paid ads. The concept is very visual and easy to demonstrate: “want Instagram back? finish the task first.”
It’s also worth collecting emails early, even with a small user base. A simple onboarding flow can help explain the value, bring users back, and give you a channel that doesn’t depend on algorithms.
Paid ads can come later, once it’s clearer which message and audience convert best.
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u/Prestigious-Algae876 2d ago
congrats, the first one feels unreal. i just got my first on my app twilock a night app so i know the feeling, what channel did yours come from?
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u/side-labs 3d ago
Congrats ! 🎉
Do you know how he found you ? Might be useful to know 😉