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15 Comments

Learning how to market my app: Double Subtitles

Hi all, I first posted on IndieHackers 4 years ago now 😅
https://www.indiehackers.com/post/dont-know-where-to-start-1614f13173?commentId=-M4Dcuk3z9Ls1nxb5lFI

Desperate, I didn't even know where to start. But, with @JonathanOron's amazing advice I decided to figure it out!

I searched for products here, sorted by revenue and filtering by zero employees. And what intrigued me the most was the app Zubtitle.

At the time I was working at Google on a not-very-permissive work visa, so I wrote code privately in my spare time. I could not release anything to the public, start a business, or anything which could jeopardize my status in the US.

But then (about a year ago) I got my Green Card and SPRINTED to incorporate and launch. Right before I launched I was laid off from Google, which was basically perfect timing to go all in.

Now where I'm at is this: I'm trying to learn how to market properly.

I launched on ProductHunt a while ago, which yielded quite a few downloads, and a handful of paid conversions.

I have not been successful in getting feedback from customers. The only feedback I've received is from a few friends that I reached out to. I did a few iteration loops and I just finished a big update that everyone has been asking for: better styling.

Now I have several features I want to add but I'm trying to be a good business man instead of an engineer. What I mean by this is I want to listen to customer feedback and get 1-10 paying customers to be able to iterate on feedback from people with "skin in the game".

Does anyone have advice for a fellow nerd aspiring to be a good businessman and marketer?

EDIT: adding link to www.getdoubleapp.com

on January 18, 2024
  1. 2

    Keep up my man :) Best of luck

  2. 2

    Congratulations on navigating through challenges and launching your app, after obtaining your Green Card! Your journey from Google to entrepreneurship is inspiring. Here are some thoughts and advice:

    Customer Feedback:

    Engage actively in seeking feedback. Consider using surveys, email outreach, or even reaching out personally to users who have downloaded your app. Understand their pain points and what they value most in your product.
    User Interviews:

    Consider conducting user interviews to delve deeper into the needs and preferences of your users. This personal interaction can provide valuable insights that may not come through in written feedback.
    Build a Community:

    Create a community around your app. This could be through social media, forums, or a dedicated space on your website. Foster discussions, share updates, and encourage users to share their experiences.
    Content Marketing:

    Share your knowledge and experiences through content. Write blog posts, create videos, or engage on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This can establish you as an authority in your space and attract a broader audience.
    Leverage Product Hunt:

    Since you had success with ProductHunt initially, consider launching updates there. Engage with the Product Hunt community, respond to comments, and use it as a platform to gather feedback.
    Iterate Responsibly:

    While it's essential to listen to feedback, also trust your instincts and vision. Iterate based on what aligns with your product goals and the needs of your target audience.
    Networking:

    Connect with other entrepreneurs, marketers, and professionals in your industry. Attend events, join online communities, and seek mentorship. Networking can open doors to collaborations and shared insights.
    Remember, the journey of marketing and entrepreneurship is ongoing. Stay persistent, keep learning, and adapt your strategies based on what works best for your unique situation. Best of luck! 🚀

    1. 1

      Thank you very much for this extremely thoughtful response. I will try everything you've mentioned

  3. 2

    i found the copy somewhat confusing. what does "double time" mean in "Add Subtitles in Double time"? its just adding subtitles right?

    My advice is to focus on seo, that's what i am doing with my product after failing to gain any traction on twitter.

  4. 1

    90% of people watch on mute is quite a crazy stat...😂 I see that it's because people mute their videos in public.

    Anyways that's a great well researched piece of copy there.

    Generally a great landing page must have:

    1. Hero
    2. Problem and the negative consequences of it being ignored
    3. Emotional value from soliving the problem with your product
    4. Testimonials
    5. Features of your app
    6. Pricing options (is it free only?)
    7. Faq

    Make sure to update your favicon too and add testimonials

    I think Jimmy's comment gave a lot of info here. To add on to that, generally i'd start with understanding who your buyer persona is. You can use this free template

    Then start creating blog content that is taken from unfiltered conversations across Reddit and other communities where your buyer persona hangs out(content creators). Provide value and answer them directly in their language Example

    And distribute it to all the different communities where they hang out, make sure to adjust the content to fit the platform you are on. Facebook likes short form with images, while Reddit likes long-form content for example. Again this is an example of how you can distribute it on Reddit

    Anyways that's 1 way of doing it, just scrolling through this marketing gallery might be able to help you optimize your marketing strategy. it gives you actual free examples on how others do their marketing.. There's over 30 in there :)

  5. 1

    Hi Bojan,

    Start listing you app on product listing websites. That a clean way to get backlinks to your webpage and it will start impacting your google page ranking. Here are few to start with

    TrustPilot
    Sourceforge.net
    Kickstarter
    Hacker News
    Dev.to
    Alternativeto.net
    Indiegogo
    G2.com
    Product Hunt
    Theresanaiforthat.com
    Sumo app
    Capterra.com
    Topai.tools
    Alternative.me
    Futuretools.io
    F6s.com
    Futurepedia.io
    TrustRadius
    Saashub.com
    Appadvice.com

  6. 1

    Congrats man. This inspired me to get serious after a long time of lurking around.

  7. 1

    Hey Bojan! Glad to see you've mastered the art of app marketing since then. Who said you can't teach new tricks?

    My only advice. Listen, listen, listen. It's not about you, it's about people that need you solution.

    Hope you do it!

    1. 1

      Thank you!
      Those people exist, I just need to do a better job exposing my product to them

  8. 1

    Your growth is motivating and it's important that you pay attention to what customers have to say. Think about reaching out to users directly or using targeted surveys to create a feedback loop.

  9. 1

    Did you start by doing cold outreach ? By reaching people whose creating content on social media ?

    1. 1

      Yes, I should absolutely do that more

  10. 1

    That's a hard thing to sell your products.
    I launched subscription-based design agency https://www.pentaclay.com 3 months ago.
    I regularly posted my updated on IH, Reddit, and X.

    I was able to attract 3 clients and 10+ leads within this period. You can start doing this too.

  11. 1

    You should be more generous with your links. I'm interested in seeing your product, but it's not linked here or on your profile. I think that getting good feedback is mostly a numbers game -- you need to ask for it a lot. Another thing that's helpful is giving other people honest feedback; it opens the door for them to trust that they can be transparent with you.

    1. 3

      Good call, I added my app’s website to the post (getdoubleapp.com). I’ll try to review a bunch of peoples products on this site, products that I would actually use of course

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