Avsnitt
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In this conversation, Shawn Hickman discusses the often-overlooked aspect of app development: the removal of features. He emphasizes that sometimes it's more beneficial to remove features rather than continuously add new ones. Through personal experiences and examples, he outlines the reasons for feature removal, including when features aren't working as expected, are broken, or when the product has evolved. He also shares best practices for effectively communicating these changes to users and managing feedback.
Chapters
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In this video, Iām sharing why I donāt offer a free trial for my app, Sofa.
When I first launched the Super Sofa subscription, I struggled with decisions around pricing and whether or not to offer a free trial. Most advice said, āYou should offer a free trial because thatās what everyone does.ā But that never sat right with me.
Now, after a few years of running a subscription app without a free trial, Iāve gained clarity on why I donāt do it ā and why Sofaās freemium model works better without one.
Iām not against free trials! They can work great for certain products. But for Sofa, it doesnāt make sense. In this video, Iāll walk through my thought process and explain why.
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Chapters
(00:00) - Intro(00:15) - A little context(02:05) - Camera car mount(03:11) - In the car(03:45) - Purpose of free trials(05:16) - Sofa is a freemium product(09:02) - What I've learned about Sofa(13:09) - Some advice
LinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow Me
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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In this video, I dive into the realities of building an app: why starting is the easy (and fun) part, and why the real challenge lies in growing and maintaining it over time.
Iāll talk about the excitement of launching a new project, the hurdles youāll face when life gets busy or progress feels slow, and how setting the right expectations can make all the difference. Iāll share tips on building sustainable systems, celebrating small wins, and staying motivated when you hit technical, emotional, or mental roadblocks.
Whether youāre creating your first app or struggling to keep going, this video is here to remind you to enjoy the process and keep moving forward.
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Chapters
(00:00) - Intro(00:32) - Starting is easy(03:19) - Setting expectations(04:20) - Patience(05:17) - Work nights(08:26) - You're going to hit walls(09:45) - Celebrate the wins(12:05) - Supportive people(13:31) - Have fun(14:52) - Outro
LinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow Me
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In this video, I share the lessons Iāve learned after investing $30,000 into marketing my app over the past three years. For an indie app developer, itās a significant amount, and I dive into why I chose to spend it, where it went, and what came out of it.
I discuss the challenges of getting attention in todayās competitive market and why I decided to focus on sponsoring podcasts and YouTube channels in the Apple and tech world. I also explain my goals for this marketing effortābuilding brand awareness rather than immediate conversionsāand the results Iāve seen, including increased sales, recognition from Apple, and turning this into my full-time job.
If youāre an indie developer or just curious about the business side of app development, this is for you!
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Chapters
(00:00) - Intro(01:41) - Why spend money for marketing?(03:54) - Where did I market?(04:30) - Why I chose those channels(08:17) - My goals(12:23) - The results(18:06) - Some advice(19:55) - Outro
LinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow Me
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In this video, I answer a great question I got on YouTube: How did you approach marketing in the beginning of making an app?
Iāll share what I did when starting out, how my approach evolved over time, and what Iād do differently if I could go back. Whether youāre just starting your indie app journey or looking to improve your marketing strategy, I hope this video gives you some helpful insights!
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Chapters
(00:00) - Intro(01:32) - What I did in the beginning(06:17) - How it evolved(10:16) - What I would do differently(14:15) - Outro
LinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow Me
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Have feedback? Send me an email:
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When starting out as an indie app developer, should you make one app or multiple apps? While there are many way to answer that question, I think focusing on one app is a better approach when starting out.
Watch on YouTube
Links
Sofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow Me
YouTubeThreadsInstagramBlueskyShare Feedback
Have feedback? Send me an email: