How to build a $1M+ Consumer SaaS App (step-by-step guide)
Join me as I chat with Joseph Choi, Founder of Viral App Founders Community, as we discuss his frameworks and strategies for finding and building profitable Consumer Apps. Learn his step-by-step formula to building and growth hacking apps.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:48 Ecom Marketing Strategies applied to Consumer Apps
10:55 TikTok Shop Affiliate Center = goldmine for app ideas
22:03 Profitable Niches that are Underserved
33:14 Influencer Marketing 2.0
40:45 Capitalize on internet "cults" & movements
1) TikTok organic = BIGGEST underpriced distribution channel right now
Cost of creating & distributing content = low
Potential reach for consumer apps = high
Time to leverage this opportunity!
2) E-commerce tactics are invading the app world
Remember Tabs Chocolate? 0 to $10M/year with mass UGC creators
Now these tactics are being used for consumer SaaS
Higher margins + better exit multiples = Bigger Opportunity
3) Carousels perform better than Short-form video on TikTok?!
Surprising trend: Photo carousels are CRUSHING IT
Easier to create + more scalable than talking head vids
Pro tip: Use Midjourney for quick, eye-catching visuals
4) TikTok Shop Affiliate Center = goldmine for app ideas
Find top performers in any niche
Build apps to help them sell better
Get free marketing from influencers
Win-win-win situation!
5) High LTV niches are UNDERSERVED on TikTok
Think: Golfers, poker players, niche sports
Example: Golf swing analysis app
10k downloads / month
$70k revenue / month
Huge potential for more!
6) Myth: TikTok users are all young
Reality: Diverse demographics, especially in niche content
Serve content to underserved niches = Underpriced reach
7) Rethink influencer marketing for TikTok
Old way: Pay for followers
New way: Hire creators as ACTORS, not for their audience
TikTok algorithm favors good content, not follower count
8) Capitalize on internet "cults" & movements
Examples:
Looksmaxing (YouMax app)
Make money online (Crayo app)
1. Find passionate communities without products
2. Build the app they need
3. Profit
Bonus tip: Product quality is CRUCIAL
Nail your metrics before scaling marketing efforts!
Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)
Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startu...
Work with me and my team: LCA — world’s best product design firm to build apps, websites and brands people love. https://latecheckout.agency/
BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/
BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/
Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses [https://www.startupempire.co](https://www.startupempire.co/)
Stop Building Websites That Look Good But Don’t Sell: https://www.designscientist.com/desig...
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: / gregisenberg
Instagram: / gregisenberg
LinkedIn: / gisenberg
FIND JOSEPH ON SOCIAL
Viral App Founders Community: https://whop.com/viral-app-founders/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/JosephKChoi
LinkedIn: / choi-joseph