The Path to $100,000 ARR - What Flopped with Paid Ads

In this episode, we’re joined by Offer Yehudai, CEO at Arya - a subscription platform helping couples around the world reignite passion and intimacy through curated products, educational videos, and expert guidance.With 15+ years of experience building marketplaces and keeping apps free, Offer co-founded Inneractive, scaled it to an acquisition, then led at Fyber and Digital Turbine before switching gears to tackle one of the most universal human needs: connection.Offer will share real-world insights on go-to-market strategy, paywall experiments, monetization tactics, retention strategies (like hitting 87% usage retention by month-12), and how to apply a product-driven mindset across both apps and subscription businesses.Whether you’re an indie founder or a scaling studio, this session is packed with actionable strategies for launching, growing, and sustaining a successful product in today’s competitive landscape.You will discover:✅ How to design paywall experiments that actually move the needle✅ Go-to-market strategies for launching and scaling apps✅ Web vs App: when and how to go beyond the stores✅ Retention strategies to turn early users into long-term customersLearn More:Arya is hiring marketers and product managers - check out https://www.arya.fyi/ if you’re looking to join a mission-driven team!You can also watch this video here ⁠https://youtube.com/live/xHB1N14DBIMWant expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

13 Sep 1h 5min

Struggling to get app store reviews? Or maybe you’ve hit a wall with your average rating stuck at 4.2 or 4.3? 🤔In this video, I’ll show you how we took one client from 50 reviews a month with a 4.3 rating → to nearly 400 reviews a month and a 4.5 rating, all by changing when and how we asked for reviews.You’ll learn:✅ Why timing is everything when asking for app reviews✅ The psychology of “win moments” that drives 5-star ratings✅ How one simple A/B test 3X’d reviews and boosted ASO✅ Proven strategies for brand-new apps, established apps, and everything in between✅ Extra hacks like lifetime free promos and web-to-app funnels to accelerate ratingsMore reviews = better ASO, lower cost-per-install, and higher trust with users. Whether you’re a solo indie dev or running a top-grossing app, these tactics will help you scale ratings, improve retention, and grow revenue.You can also watch this video here ⁠https://youtu.be/vWCn_y5ANHUWant expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

9 Sep 12min

In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Hewish, President at Xsolla - a global leader in video game commerce. With a career spanning Activision, DreamWorks Animation, Survios, and now Xsolla, Chris has decades of experience building strategies that fuel growth for games and apps worldwide. He’ll reveal why off-platform monetization is the next big revenue driver for developers and web shops are unlocking higher margins & growth potential for apps and games. Whether you’re an indie app developer or part of a top gaming studio, this session will give you the proven playbook for building scalable revenue streams outside the App Store and Google Play.If you want to maximize app revenue, reduce transaction fees, boost user retention, and future-proof your app business model, you won’t want to miss this.You will discover:✅ Why off-platform payments are the future of game and app monetization✅ The rise of web shops - and how to set them up for success✅ Proven ways to boost retention, cut acquisition costs & gain user data✅ How developers can balance compliance, user experience, and profitabilityLearn More:📲 Build your own Web Shop: https://webshop.xsolla.com/home?utm_source=content-syndication&utm_medium=infuencer&utm_campaign=webshop2025&utm_content=AppMasters1You can also watch this video here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/live/Ug1ZbWR6rOUWant expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

6 Sep 1h 1min

Want to create high-performing AI UGC ads in less than 15 minutes? In this video, I’m breaking down the exact framework we use at App Masters to craft UGC creatives that convert, and you can easily replicate it.You’ll learn step by step how to:✅ Research competitor ads and find proven winning scripts✅ Remix and adapt scripts for your own app or business✅ Use Arcads.ai to generate actors, B-roll, and emotional storytelling shots✅ Test variations (actors, pacing, gestures, B-roll) to maximize click-throughs✅ Build ad creatives that boost installs, engagement, and revenueThis is the same UGC ad strategy that’s delivered incredible results for our clients. Whether you’re in the app space, e-commerce, or SaaS, this process works to scale your marketing quickly and affordably.📌 Tools mentioned:👉 Arcads.ai – AI UGC Ad Creator https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters👉 TikTok Ad Library – for researching competitor ads💡 Some of the best-performing scripts' Notion board - https://arcads.notion.site/Brief-What-is-Arcads-233b2f4721ce80c2a3e9e06f5307db02You can also watch this video here ⁠https://youtu.be/nTV3k8BQlusWant expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

2 Sep 12min

Want to create high-performing AI UGC ads in less than 15 minutes? In this video, I’m breaking down the exact framework we use at App Masters to craft UGC creatives that convert, and you can easily replicate it.You’ll learn step by step how to:✅ Research competitor ads and find proven winning scripts✅ Remix and adapt scripts for your own app or business✅ Use Arcads.ai to generate actors, B-roll, and emotional storytelling shots✅ Test variations (actors, pacing, gestures, B-roll) to maximize click-throughs✅ Build ad creatives that boost installs, engagement, and revenueThis is the same UGC ad strategy that’s delivered incredible results for our clients. Whether you’re in the app space, e-commerce, or SaaS, this process works to scale your marketing quickly and affordably.📌 Tools mentioned:👉 Arcads.ai – AI UGC Ad Creator https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters 👉 TikTok Ad Library – for researching competitor ads💡 Some of the best-performing scripts' Notion board - https://arcads.notion.site/Brief-What-is-Arcads-233b2f4721ce80c2a3e9e06f5307db02You can also watch this video here https://youtu.be/nTV3k8BQlusWant expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

2 Sep 13min

In this episode, we are joined by Mark Weinstein, a tech entrepreneur, thought leader, privacy advocate, and one of the original inventors of social networking. He is a founder of MeWe, the privacy-first social network app. Named one of the “Top 8 Minds in Online Privacy” and a “Privacy by Design Ambassador,” Mark has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, CNN, and more. His TED Talk on “The Rise of Surveillance Capitalism” has inspired technologists worldwide.He’s going to talk about how indie founders can leverage AI and social media marketing to scale apps, attract investors without massive ad spend, and why ethics, privacy, and mental health must be at the core of product design.Mark will also share the journey of building MeWe, how to stand out in a world dominated by Big Tech, and practical steps indie founders can take to future-proof their apps in the age of AI and Web3. You will discover:✅ Journey of building and scaling MeWe in a Big Tech world✅ How indie founders can use AI and social media marketing to scale apps✅ Strategies for attracting investors without massive ad spend✅ A social framework for rebooting the internet with ethics and privacy at the coreLearn More:MeWe: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mewe-the-safe-network/id918464474 Mark’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Our-Sanity-Online-Revolutionary/dp/1394273967/Want expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

30 Aug 1h 6min

In this episode, we are joined by Mark Weinstein, a tech entrepreneur, thought leader, privacy advocate, and one of the original inventors of social networking. He is a founder of MeWe, the privacy-first social network app. Named one of the “Top 8 Minds in Online Privacy” and a “Privacy by Design Ambassador,” Mark has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, CNN, and more. His TED Talk on “The Rise of Surveillance Capitalism” has inspired technologists worldwide.He’s going to talk about how indie founders can leverage AI and social media marketing to scale apps, attract investors without massive ad spend, and why ethics, privacy, and mental health must be at the core of product design.Mark will also share the journey of building MeWe, how to stand out in a world dominated by Big Tech, and practical steps indie founders can take to future-proof their apps in the age of AI and Web3. You will discover:✅ Journey of building and scaling MeWe in a Big Tech world✅ How indie founders can use AI and social media marketing to scale apps✅ Strategies for attracting investors without massive ad spend✅ A social framework for rebooting the internet with ethics and privacy at the coreLearn More:MeWe: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mewe-the-safe-network/id918464474 Mark’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Our-Sanity-Online-Revolutionary/dp/1394273967/Want expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

30 Aug 1h 7min

Want to instantly double your app retention? 🎵In this episode, we interviewed with Lauren Puffpath, Co-Founder & COO of Feed.fm, to uncover one of the most overlooked ingredients in app success: music integration.Most indie founders and app developers focus on onboarding, UI, or push notifications—but adding the right music can dramatically boost engagement, retention, and even revenue.You’ll discover:✅ How music impacts user behavior & session length✅ Real-world data: 1.7x–2.5x lift in D90 retention with music✅ Why music works across verticals (fitness, wellness, social, gaming, retail, sleep apps & more)✅ The hidden challenges of licensing—and how Feed.fm solves them✅ Practical tips to integrate music into your app without huge costsWhether you’re building a fitness app, meditation app, game, or e-commerce experience, this conversation will give you a proven strategy to keep users coming back and paying.Connect with Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenpufpaf/📌 Work with us: https://appmasters.com📌 Join the App Masters Academy for advanced strategies: https://appmasters.com/academy*********************************************SPONSORSEveryone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Apps are shifting billions. Timing is everything. iOS users are your VIPs.If you're in e-commerce and still running last year's playbook, you're already behind.The State of eCommerce App Marketing 2025 by AppsFlyer breaks down $4.2B in spend to show exactly how top Shopping apps are winning - from smarter UA and AI-driven scaling to the death of “just Android” and the rise of web-to-app.Peak season is coming. Want to win it? Check out the report: https://shorturl.at/Av8fR*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

26 Aug 18min