How We Built an App That Changed Everything: Two Key Decisions That Boosted Our Business

I'm Andrew Zavada, a developer and one of the founders of Storist.me. At the end of the third quarter of 2024, I reflected on our progress, as I usually do, and realized that launching apps significantly boosted both our business and product. I’d like to share some of these insights with you.

Before we dive into the details, here are three key takeaways:

1. Consider if your product or service can be adapted into a mobile app.
2. If the answer is yes, start developing it. It’s not as complicated, scary, or expensive as you might think. In-app web technology has made things much easier.
3. Plan extra time for your app's release in app stores. If you’re new to this, it can be tricky. We learned a lot through trial and error.

Now, let’s break it down. I could tell you that we launched the Storist.me app four months ago and immediately gained 100,500 users and huge profits, but that wouldn’t be true. We started this project three years ago, and only after many tests, changes, and setbacks have we reached the point where I can proudly say: our product is used by people worldwide, and they are willing to pay for it. There’s still much to do, but let's take a look back at our journey.

2021 – The first ideas, initial development, and market testing of Storist.me. Back then, we focused on creating practical summaries of business books.

Early 2022 – We were on the verge of signing a pre-seed investment deal with a major fund, but it fell through. My team and I debated what to do next. We decided to expand beyond Europe, but progress was slow as everyone had other full-time jobs.

Late 2022 – GPT technology appeared, offering us a way to significantly speed up content production without sacrificing quality. We focused on maintaining high standards and continuously improving our algorithms and processes.

Summer 2023 – After some marketing experiments, our marketer insisted that we needed an app, as the market demanded it. So, we began exploring our options while continuing to focus on business book summaries.

End of 2023 – We tried different marketing channels and eventually realized that a web-based summary product wasn't going to cut it. Fortunately, we had already started working on an app.

Early 2024 – We pivoted, transforming Storist.me into a service designed to help users improve their English from Intermediate to Advanced through engaging content. If you're worried about all the previous work going to waste, don’t be! It turns out that quality content is what users appreciate most, and we began putting more effort into developing the app.

June 2024 – We launched the app, and things started moving. We were cautious with our marketing, but the results were promising. We even started gaining traction with B2B clients.

September 2024 – By this time, we had paying users from different countries, made some exciting corporate sales (including with Muse Group!!!), and focused on improving the user experience. We’re now making up to $1,500 per month with minimal marketing spend.

In just four months, we've received more revenue, product insights, and user feedback than in the previous 2.5 years. We've made several product updates that have improved conversions at various stages, and we’re excited to share a few highlights:

1. New vocabulary exercises – We introduced new exercises to help users build vocabulary, including finding synonyms and matching words in context. These features have proven effective in developing active vocabulary, with 50% of users regularly engaging in them.

2. Expanded content library – We’ve added more non-fiction books, especially on topics like multiculturalism and feedback. We’re also experimenting with new types of content, including articles on work, self-development, and TEDx topics. Many users read these shorter texts between books, which seems to meet their need for a varied reading experience.

3. Fiction content – We now offer over 30 fiction stories by well-known authors, available in Simplified versions for intermediate learners and Original versions for advanced learners. Initially, the team was concerned this might dilute our focus, but it turned out to be a success. Fiction not only helps users relax after non-fiction, but it also renews their interest in practical content.

4. Quick implementation based on user feedback – One small but significant update is that the words you translate are now highlighted in the text, making it easier to pick up where you left off. It’s a tiny detail, but it improves the overall user experience.

Of course, there were many smaller updates too, like the ability to add your own words to the learning simulator, customize the number of words to review, and even cute animations that make the app more engaging.

In summary, Storist.me is now a service for those stuck at the Intermediate level and who feel like they don’t have enough time to read all the valuable literature out there! Two years ago, I would have been thrilled to have such a tool. But most importantly, none of this would have been possible if we hadn’t embraced the fact that today's users consume content primarily through their phones.

What’s Next?

1. AI Tutor – We plan to introduce an AI tutor that will ask questions, offer opinions, and engage users in discussions about the books they read, helping them improve their speaking or writing skills.

2. More books and articles – We’ll continue to expand our library with content focused on English learning and personal development.

3. New onboarding and navigation – As our library grows, we’re working on streamlining the user experience to make it easier to navigate through hundreds of texts.

Stay tuned! And if you have any tips for promoting or improving the app, we’d love to hear them! We’re still learning as we go.

Storist.me – Read, Translate, Repeat!