Building an App : Community Building/monetization for Content Creators

[SanaNrah]

<div class="bbWrapper">Hi everyone,<br /> <br /> In line with my desire to get serious about my project to get out of the mess, I am going to set up this logbook that will accompany the one and only project I will be working on for the coming months.<br /> <br /> The idea is to bring accountability to the forum members, share my doubts and questions (which generally, when processed by my brainwashed mind, lead to abandonments) and especially my progress.<br /> <br /> I want to build an app in a field that is doing very well today with well-established players, real revenues, but I hope to stand out by playing on two value skews that I have identified (commissions and new features that allow creators to generate more revenue).<br /> <br /> My project: (please, if you see any areas for improvement in this approach, please let me know.)<br /> <br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">25/01: Clarify the idea, the business model, the features, and improve my value skew and my value proposition.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">01/02: Prepare wireframes/mockups and discuss them with interested creators.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">22/02: Create an MVP -&gt; Continue to gather reviews and insights.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">30/05: Finalize a version and launch it on as many platforms/creators as possible.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Learn &amp; Adapt to get as close as possible to the famous Product Market Fit.</li> </ul>I often have the habit of starting a project and letting it sleep for months depending on my motivation and the vagaries of life, which is why I decided to set precise and quick deadlines to achieve things, keep the momentum, and not give my brain time to demotivate me.<br /> <br /> Since I have very little experience in code I will do my best, leverage boilerplates and AI to create the MVP and the V1, but SINCE this wont be a problem until 22/02 according to my planning, I need to train my brain to solve REAL problems and not the ones I see along the way but not real yet.<br /> <br /> To Do this week : <br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Analyze Competitors apps / busines model / features</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Work on the identity / branding of my app</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Finalize a first version of the busines model / features / promise / value skews</li> </ul></div>

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

<div class="bbWrapper">What tech stack or platforms are you using?<br /> <br /> Appreciate the progress thread.</div>

 

[Jobless]

<div class="bbWrapper">I like it. You have a plan. Until you know what you need to create, it&#039;s hard to know how long it will take, but when you know what you&#039;re doing, it can usually be done faster than you think.</div>

 

[SanaNrah]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 1" data-quote="MJ DeMarco" data-source="post: 1154834" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=1154834" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1154834">MJ DeMarco said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> What tech stack or platforms are you using?<br /> <br /> Appreciate the progress thread. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Thanks, it&#039;s much appreciated!<br /> Regarding the tech stack I will go with Expo for the front : it makes it easy to go from web to native apps with the same code and classic node / express for the back.<br /> I will use every facilitator I find to make the coding part easier (managed services like firebase or supabase / boilerplate codes etc...).<br /> I try to not focus on this subject for now and to focus more on creating a value proposition submit it to real creators and gather the first feedbacks, I will try to connect and interview some of them and I will build a landing page highlighting the benefits of the service and share it on specific forums / reddits etc ...<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="member: 48612" data-quote="Jobless" data-source="post: 1154878" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=1154878" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1154878">Jobless said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I like it. You have a plan. Until you know what you need to create, it&#039;s hard to know how long it will take, but when you know what you&#039;re doing, it can usually be done faster than you think. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I try to work on two very specific aspects that always made me fail in the past.<br /> <br /> First : not having deadline made me let things go, never work on them, build some kind of guilt and this guilt makes it even harder to start. (Infinite negative loop)<br /> <br /> Second : not being specific on what the next step is made me kind of blocked not knowing where to start, what to do and facing a huge task, now I am using chatgpt to break every task into very specific chunks and handle them one after the other.<br /> <br /> There is a famous sayings that says &quot;take your one year plan and try to make it in two months&quot; that&#039;s the philosophy I will try to have this project.</div>

 

[Andy Black]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 98791" data-quote="SanaNrah" data-source="post: 1154778" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=1154778" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1154778">SanaNrah said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Hi everyone,<br /> <br /> In line with my desire to get serious about my project to get out of the mess, I am going to set up this logbook that will accompany the one and only project I will be working on for the coming months.<br /> <br /> The idea is to bring accountability to the forum members, share my doubts and questions (which generally, when processed by my brainwashed mind, lead to abandonments) and especially my progress.<br /> <br /> I want to build an app in a field that is doing very well today with well-established players, real revenues, but I hope to stand out by playing on two value skews that I have identified (commissions and new features that allow creators to generate more revenue).<br /> <br /> My project: (please, if you see any areas for improvement in this approach, please let me know.)<br /> <br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">25/01: Clarify the idea, the business model, the features, and improve my value skew and my value proposition.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">01/02: Prepare wireframes/mockups and discuss them with interested creators.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">22/02: Create an MVP -&gt; Continue to gather reviews and insights.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">30/05: Finalize a version and launch it on as many platforms/creators as possible.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Learn &amp; Adapt to get as close as possible to the famous Product Market Fit.</li> </ul>I often have the habit of starting a project and letting it sleep for months depending on my motivation and the vagaries of life, which is why I decided to set precise and quick deadlines to achieve things, keep the momentum, and not give my brain time to demotivate me.<br /> <br /> Since I have very little experience in code I will do my best, leverage boilerplates and AI to create the MVP and the V1, but SINCE this wont be a problem until 22/02 according to my planning, I need to train my brain to solve REAL problems and not the ones I see along the way but not real yet.<br /> <br /> To Do this week : <br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Analyze Competitors apps / busines model / features</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Work on the identity / branding of my app</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Finalize a first version of the busines model / features / promise / value skews</li> </ul> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I&#039;m a bit concerned for you. I feel you&#039;re approaching this like a student or engineer, and your timescales seem so long.<br /> <br /> Can you help someone, this week?<br /> <br /> Can you get paid, this week?<br /> <br /> Can you get into conversations with your target market this week? (I define your target market as people already spending money to solve the problem you hope to solve.)</div>

 

[SanaNrah]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 23590" data-quote="Andy Black" data-source="post: 1155073" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=1155073" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1155073">Andy Black said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I&#039;m a bit concerned for you. I feel you&#039;re approaching this like a student or engineer, and your timescales seem so long.<br /> <br /> Can you help someone, this week?<br /> <br /> Can you get paid, this week?<br /> <br /> Can you get into conversations with your target market this week? (I define your target market as people already spending money to solve the problem you hope to solve.) </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Hi !<br /> <br /> Yes in fact I have kind of processed the thing since I am the kind of guy who gets easely lost starting many thing and finishing none.<br /> <br /> Regarding the timelines I will try to shorten them but since I have few time to work on this, I dont want to create too much preassure (job + 2yo kid + SO MANY Chores...).<br /> <br /> Can you help someone, this week? Not yet<br /> <br /> Can you get paid, this week? Definetly not, nothing to show for, I can try to get my first subscribers in a landing page<br /> <br /> Can you get into conversations with your target market this week? Definetly, started cold mailing creators, let&#039;s see how it goes and if I get any answers.<br /> <br /> <br /> Thanks for your message and your time <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/23590/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="23590" data-username="@Andy Black">@Andy Black</a> !</div>

 

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[Andy Black]

<div class="bbWrapper">Can you get into conversation with people sooner rather than later?<br /> <br /> Check out the first couple of rows of links in my signature.<br /> <br /> Here they are in case you&#039;re on your phone and can&#039;t see them:<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">&quot;Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person closest to you.&quot;<br /> - Mother Theresa<br /> <br /> Get Started &gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/don%E2%80%99t-lurk-do-this-instead.101756/" class="link link--internal"><u>Don&#039;t Lurk</u></a> | <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/for-those-getting-started-stop-learning-and-overthinking.111440/" class="link link--internal"><u>Start Faster</u></a> | <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/just-start-already.98547/" class="link link--internal"><u>Just Start Already</u></a> | <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/audio-who-have-you-helped.84241/" class="link link--internal"><u>Who Have You Helped?</u></a> | <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/clarity-of-purpose-get-your-goal-right.63337/" class="link link--internal"><u>Get Your Goal Right</u></a> | <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/what-if-you-already-know-enough.84940/" class="link link--internal"><u>What If You Already Know Enough?</u></a> | <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/learnings-from-3-000-pms-with-fellow-forum-members.66903/" class="link link--internal"><u>3,500+ PMs</u></a><br /> Radio Interviews &gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/radio-interview-how-to-quickly-get-started-in-business.68179/" class="link link--internal"><u>How To Quickly Get Started In Business</u></a> | </span><a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/radio-interview-freedom-motivation-grow-what-you-know.70094/" class="link link--internal"><u><span style="font-size: 12px">Freedom, Motivation, and Grow What You Know</span></u></a>&#8203;</div></div>

 

[theazizmoh_]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 98791" data-quote="SanaNrah" data-source="post: 1154778" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=1154778" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1154778">SanaNrah said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Hi everyone,<br /> <br /> In line with my desire to get serious about my project to get out of the mess, I am going to set up this logbook that will accompany the one and only project I will be working on for the coming months.<br /> <br /> The idea is to bring accountability to the forum members, share my doubts and questions (which generally, when processed by my brainwashed mind, lead to abandonments) and especially my progress.<br /> <br /> I want to build an app in a field that is doing very well today with well-established players, real revenues, but I hope to stand out by playing on two value skews that I have identified (commissions and new features that allow creators to generate more revenue).<br /> <br /> My project: (please, if you see any areas for improvement in this approach, please let me know.)<br /> <br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">25/01: Clarify the idea, the business model, the features, and improve my value skew and my value proposition.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">01/02: Prepare wireframes/mockups and discuss them with interested creators.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">22/02: Create an MVP -&gt; Continue to gather reviews and insights.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">30/05: Finalize a version and launch it on as many platforms/creators as possible.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Learn &amp; Adapt to get as close as possible to the famous Product Market Fit.</li> </ul>I often have the habit of starting a project and letting it sleep for months depending on my motivation and the vagaries of life, which is why I decided to set precise and quick deadlines to achieve things, keep the momentum, and not give my brain time to demotivate me.<br /> <br /> Since I have very little experience in code I will do my best, leverage boilerplates and AI to create the MVP and the V1, but SINCE this wont be a problem until 22/02 according to my planning, I need to train my brain to solve REAL problems and not the ones I see along the way but not real yet.<br /> <br /> To Do this week :<br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Analyze Competitors apps / busines model / features</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Work on the identity / branding of my app</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Finalize a first version of the busines model / features / promise / value skews</li> </ul> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I&#039;m curious, are you&#039;re trying to a platform like skool.com?</div>

 

[SanaNrah]

<div class="bbWrapper">Hi Everyone,<br /> <br /> <b>27/01/2025 Due objectives:</b><br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Clarify the idea: The idea, product, and key features are clear to me. <span style="color: rgb(65, 168, 95)">Done</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The business model: The business model and revenue generation are obvious: selling a digital product. <span style="color: rgb(65, 168, 95)">Done</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The features: I have identified a large list of features on my competitors&#039; websites. I will start by developing my &quot;special feature,&quot; then I&#039;ll work on the others based on my prioritization. <span style="color: rgb(65, 168, 95)">Done</span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Improve my value skew and my value proposition: I have identified two main value skews to leverage (price and new feature). I&#039;m trying to identify others such as customer support, platform usage, etc. <span style="color: rgb(251, 160, 38)">Ongoing</span></li> </ul>Besides that, I have created my brand identity and a landing page presenting the product with the goal of collecting email addresses and offering a &quot;Founder&quot; subscription with a bonus on commissions.<br /> <br /> Finally, I spent quite a bit of time (maybe action faking) sending messages to creators to have exchanges with them and try to capture their pain points. I sent about 150 messages and received 5 responses with 1 real conversation that didn&#039;t go very far. Maybe I did it wrong, but overall not many frustrations were shared. When I talked about my idea, I got &quot;Wow, super interesting,&quot; which is encouraging, but it doesn&#039;t get me very far...<br /> <br /> Regarding negative thoughts, every day is a battle. The book &quot;The War of Art&quot; is a great help in this regard. Every day I wonder if it will work, if it&#039;s worth it, if I will succeed, if I am technically capable, etc. BUT I force myself to work every day, despite family, work, or whatever it is, and not let a day pass without at least making a small step forward.<br /> <br /> <b>02/02/2025 Objectives:</b><br /> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Prepare wireframes/mockups and discuss them with interested creators. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Identify the first few functionalities for the app and develop at least 3 of them. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Prepare assets for starting ads (since I have a working landing page). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Limit the time spent on &quot;talking with customers.&quot;</li> </ul></div>

 

[SanaNrah]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 108382" data-quote="theazizmoh_" data-source="post: 1155890" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=1155890" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1155890">theazizmoh_ said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I&#039;m curious, are you&#039;re trying to a platform like skool.com? </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Hi well kind of since it&#039;s a platform to share content with a community, set paywalls and create unique exprience with &quot;fans&quot;.</div>

 

[theazizmoh_]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 98791" data-quote="SanaNrah" data-source="post: 1156065" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/community/goto/post?id=1156065" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1156065">SanaNrah said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Hi well kind of since it&#039;s a platform to share content with a community, set paywalls and create unique exprience with &quot;fans&quot;. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I wish you the best, can I see your project if you don&#039;t mind? I can give you Feedbacks.</div>

 

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[eramart]

<div class="bbWrapper">It looks like Telegram and possibly WhatsApp are going to go for miniapps, not unlike WeChat. Maybe there is a great opportunity here - early adopters might gain a lot if those ecosystems soar.</div>

 

[SanaNrah]

<div class="bbWrapper">Two months since my last post... And the more I think about coming back here, the more I feel guilty for not having done anything, and the more I delay admitting to myself that I got lost... and that I need to get back on track. <br /> <br /> Basically, I fell back into my old habits, the project&#039;s code is becoming increasingly complex, some ideas are hard to realize, I tell myself stories and blah blah blah, nothing is moving forward. <br /> Recently, while talking with a friend, they pointed out that I was &quot;perfectionist,&quot; something I had never suspected, until I realized that this &quot;perfectionism&quot; is what prevents me from moving forward as soon as things become concrete. So, a new insight to move forward with: do, do anything, even if it&#039;s not perfect, even if it might need to be redone, but done will always be better than nothing at all (Better done than perfect, as they say).<br /> <br /> Well, I haven&#039;t been idle either, in terms of Action Facking, I&#039;m at the TOP of the TOP. I recently became the manager of a team of 6 people, initially, my goal was to make it work, not to invest too much and keep time for MY project that makes sense to me and will be my vehicle to get out of the slowlane... Instead, I gave it my all, the team has never worked so hard, I automated tasks with code, in short, all the energy I could have put into my project, I put into my work for 2 months...<br /> <br /> So I had a little hint, a little knot in my stomach, that bothered me and that I ignored / silenced by telling myself that I should favor office work because I would get a good &quot;bonus&quot; at the end of the year, I would work on my exit from the slowlane later... <br /> <br /> I don&#039;t know how or why, but today the desire to beat this resistance came back, so I&#039;m here to expose my failure to you and I&#039;m relaunching my project!</div>