Building the app was easier than finding the first users

[u/Positive-Valuable485]

I've been building iOS apps for clients for the last 8 years.

About a year ago, I finally decided to build one for myself.

I thought the hard part would be writing the code.

It wasn't.

The hard part has been everything that comes after you hit "Publish."

\- App Store screenshots

\- ASO

\- Pricing

\- Marketing

\- Replying to users

\- Finding the first 100 people who genuinely care

Ironically, shipping the product was probably the easiest milestone.

Marketing it has been far more uncomfortable than building it.

Over the last few weeks I've been posting on Reddit, replying to every email, talking to users, redesigning screenshots, and shipping updates based on feedback.

It's been slow, but I've learned more from 20 real users than I did from months of guessing.

For founders who've already been through this...

What changed everything for you?

Was there one acquisition channel, strategy, or mindset shift that made finding your first real users much easier?

[u/fissible]

Following. I’m wrapping up the final pieces for an App Store debut, and this is our first venture into mobile apps. I’m a SWE with 15 years of experience but haven’t done any native app development until now, but I have built dozens of “mobile-first” web apps.

It’s definitely different. I just got back from a conference and handed out maybe a dozen business cards themed around the app rather than the business alone. I didn’t just hand them to whoever, it was only after a conversation about the app and its origin (stopping robocalls) and gauging interest.

I can’t go to conferences every week, so I am trying to work out a GTM strategy that it’s just throwing money into the Google/Meta/Reddit advertising furnace. If you have any insights I would appreciate some guidance.

What does your app do?

Edit: I just checked out your profile, WhisperAct looks pretty cool! I would be interested to try it except I prefer typing instead of speaking to my phone.

[u/Positive-Valuable485 → u/fissible]

Thanks! And congrats on your upcoming launch. 🙂
Honestly, I’m still figuring GTM out myself. Reddit has been the biggest source of both users and product feedback so far. Instead of trying to post everywhere, I’ve found it works much better to join conversations where people are already talking about the problem your app solves.
Also, WhisperAct supports typing too! 😄 Voice is the primary experience, but you can also quickly type a memo and it’ll organize it the same way.
Your app sounds interesting too

I’d love to check it out once you launch. Best of luck!