Three weeks after launching my translation messenger: here's what surprised me most

Three weeks ago, I launched Easy Communication Messenger (ECM), an Android app that translates messages in real time.

I expected that publishing on startup directories would bring my first users.

Instead, I learned that distribution is much harder than building the product.

Over the last three weeks I've:

• published on Product Hunt, F6S, Crunchbase, and several startup directories;

• joined dozens of communities for travelers, expats, and international students;

• talked directly with people about how they deal with language barriers;

• received valuable feedback that made me rethink my positioning.

One thing became very clear.

People rarely search for "a translation messenger."

Instead, they search for solutions to problems like:

• "How do I communicate with my landlord?"

• "How do I speak to a doctor abroad?"

• "How do I make local friends if I don't speak the language?"

Building the app was only half the journey.

Learning where the people who actually need it spend their time has been just as challenging.

I'm continuing to improve ECM every week and learning something new from every conversation.

For founders who have already launched products:

What distribution channel ended up working much better than you originally expected?