Here are the strategies I used to get my first 1000 users on my app as an indie app developer

Hotdogerino — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:28:06 +0000

If you’re building an app and wondering how to actually get users, you quickly realize something uncomfortable:

Building now is the easy part. Distribution is hard.

So instead of guessing, I mapped out every channel I used to test and more importantly, how I approached each one.

Short-form content is the fastest feedback loop

Right now, TikTok and Instagram Reels are probably the highest-leverage organic channels available to indie developers.

But posting your app features isn’t enough. That kind of content dies instantly.

What actually works is structure:

A strong hook in the first 1–2 seconds
Fast pacing and cuts
Subtitles (non-negotiable)
A clear payoff

That’s why I was building my app, BlitzCut - to automate subtitles and remove dead space. Not just as a product, but because it directly supports this distribution strategy.

The goal here isn’t just “posting content.” It’s finding what resonates. One good video can bring thousands of users, but more importantly, it tells you what messaging works.

And once something works organically, that’s when it gets interesting.

Organic first, then paid amplification

Most developers get this backwards. They start with ads and burn money on unproven creatives.

I’m doing the opposite.

If a video performs well organically: views, comments, people asking for the app I’ll turn that creative into ads.

Instead of guessing, I’m amplifying something the algorithm already proved works.

There’s also a practical constraint here: Meta ads need data. Roughly ~50 conversions in a 7-day window before the algorithm stabilizes. That usually means committing a few hundred dollars minimum.

So the plan is simple:

Test messaging organically
Identify winners
Then scale with ads

Not before.

ASO is what determines whether you exist or not

Even if someone hears about your app, they still have to find it.

That’s where App Store Optimization (ASO) comes in.

The biggest mistake is guessing keywords. I’m using tools like AppTweak and Sensor Tower to find what people are actually searching for, not what I think sounds right.

Competing for “video editor” is unrealistic. Competing for something like “auto subtitles” or “caption generator” is much more viable.

Then it becomes a placement game:

Title (highest weight)
Subtitle
Description

Localization is another lever you can pull.

Apple lets you target multiple localizations per storefront, each with its own keyword field. That means you’re not just optimizing once you’re multiplying your surface area.

Even without fully translating the app, localized listings can significantly expand reach.

And beyond keywords, conversion rate matters just as much. If users don’t download after landing on your page, rankings drop. So screenshots, preview videos, and positioning have to be tight.

ASO isn’t a one-time setup. It’s a compounding system.

SEO captures intent outside the app store

People don’t just search in app stores. They search on Google.

Things like:

“Best app for subtitles”
“How to remove silence from videos”

That’s high-intent traffic.

So instead of a basic landing page, I’m building content around those searches:

Tutorials
Problem-based articles
Comparison pages

For example:

“How to add captions in 2025”
“BlitzCut vs CapCut”

If I control those pages, I control how the product is positioned during decision-making.

SEO is slower, but once it works, it’s consistent and essentially free.

Reddit works if you don’t act like a marketer

Reddit is one of the best places to reach highly specific audiences.

It’s also one of the fastest ways to destroy your credibility if you’re too promotional.

The approach is simple:

Participate first
Share experiences, not pitches
Mention the product only when it genuinely fits

A single well-placed post or comment can drive a surprising amount of traffic but only if it feels authentic.

LinkedIn is underrated (for the right products)

LinkedIn isn’t for every app, especially if you’re purely B2C.

But for anything with a B2B angle, it can be extremely effective.

I’ve seen examples where LinkedIn drives the majority of leads with relatively low impressions compared to other platforms.

My plan is to experiment with:

Posting insights and lessons
Testing how a product launch video performs
Framing the app in a way that makes sense for professionals

Even if it’s not a perfect fit yet, it’s worth testing.

Email still works especially early

Email is one of the few channels you actually own.

I started collecting emails early, even without a huge audience. The plan is to use that list for targeted updates like notifying people interested in a macOS version.

Beyond that, there’s also cold outreach.

Sending personalized emails or DMs to potential users especially early on can be one of the fastest ways to get initial traction.

Generic messages don’t work. Specific, relevant ones do.

Build in public (with realistic expectations)

I’ve been sharing my progress on X what I’m building, what’s working, what isn’t.

This builds an audience over time, especially among other builders.

But there’s a limitation: if your product isn’t for builders, this audience doesn’t always convert directly.

So the challenge is figuring out how to translate that visibility into actual users possibly through video or more user-focused storytelling.

YouTube might be the highest-leverage long-term channel

This is where I think my app has the most natural fit.

I’m already using BlitzCut to edit my own videos, which means I can:

Demonstrate it in real workflows
Build content around the problems it solves
Create a feedback loop between product and content

Unlike short-form, YouTube compounds differently. Videos can bring traffic for months or years.

Everything ties back to distribution

What this really comes down to is not doing everything, but testing strategically.

Some channels will fail. Some will work better than expected.

The goal is to find a few that:

Fit the product
Fit how I naturally create
Actually convert

And double down on those.

Advice from a junior developer to a new freshly starting developer

Hotdogerino — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:56:24 +0000

Introduction

I have been working as a software developer close to 1 year now, and I have noticed some stuff during my time as a developer that could probably help a developer that is starting out completely fresh in this industry. Here are 5 tips I have for new developers coming to the scene.

Have some projects under your belt

Currently I myself am in progress of making more projects to better represent my skills, but even before I had any job, I still had some CRUD apps to show to an employer. It doesn't really matter what projects it might be - a calculator app, GUI app, what matters is that you are able to show your competencies as a developer with some sort of projects you have made.

Utilize the power of networking

I probably could go even more in depth about utilizing LinkedIn to get a job, but I cannot stress enough how important is making connections. Most of the time, it is not me applying to companies, it is companies messaging me, asking me to come for an interview. That comes when you have tons of connections on LinkedIn or in real life as well. I would recommend going to various meetings for technologies or while in university, making as many acquaintances as possible.

Select your first workplace wisely

While having your first job is great and all, it is much better to apply to your first place, where the team would support you in achieving greatness by teaching you how to write proper code and giving you all of the resources to improve. If it so happens, that you are in a workplace environment where the company doesn't curate your improvement, then I have a good quote for you

If the job doesn't pay well, or you're not learning anything useful, then it is time to leave.

Do some research on the technology stack where you are based in

I once made a web scraper to understand what I would need to learn to land a job fast. It so happened to be react, and that is the technology I am sticking with, which brings me to another tip...

Find your favorite technology, and stick with it

For me, it was react, because I am a fairly creative person and I love creating stuff with code, before that, I had used C#, Python and other languages. But I believe, that once you start programming, you should stick with one technology, learn it well, and then other languages will be much easier, due to them just being so similar to each other most of the time

Forem: Hotdogerino