How a Non-Coder Built a $40,000 Monthly Revenue Mobile App

 

How a Non-Coder Built a $40,000 Monthly Revenue Mobile App

Building a successful mobile app doesn’t require coding experience or a background in software development, as proven by Steven Creada. His app, Puff Count, now generates $40,000 per month in recurring revenue, yet Steven didn’t start with any technical skills. How did he achieve this? Let’s dive into his unconventional yet effective approach, where marketing played a massive role in his success.

From Uncertainty to Opportunity: Steven’s Journey

Steven’s entrepreneurial journey began like many others: trying various online business models without significant results. But everything changed when he stumbled upon the world of mobile apps. "Not a lot of people are doing mobile apps right now, and it’s easier than many think to get started," Steven said during an interview. His recognition of the untapped potential in mobile app development sparked his success.

The secret to his success? Marketing. Steven believes that “marketing really is 95% of the success of a mobile app,” which he leveraged to make Puff Count a viral hit.

No Coding Experience? No Problem!

One of the biggest misconceptions about mobile app development is that it requires deep technical knowledge. Steven, however, proved that you don’t need coding experience to create a successful app. His process involved finding problems, hiring the right team, and focusing on the business side of things.

"I don't design or develop anything," he admits. "I just have the idea and know how to put a team together." For Steven, it’s all about having the drive and persistence to turn an idea into reality.

Turning an Idea into an App

The process of building a mobile app starts with an idea. For Steven, it was about solving a problem he experienced firsthand. "If you’re building an app from the perspective of solving your own problem, you become the ideal user," he explains. This user-centered approach ensures that the app is useful and marketable because it directly addresses a need.

To validate his idea, Steven did thorough market research. He looked at trends, analyzed similar apps, and paid attention to viral content on platforms like TikTok. By spotting the rise of vaping trends and the viral nature of Vape-related content, he realized Puff Count could fill a market need.

From Idea to App: How Steven Built Puff Count

Once Steven had a solid idea, he brain-dumped all his thoughts and features onto a Google Doc. From there, he sketched out the app by hand, noting what worked well in his competitors' apps.

Next, he took his sketches to 99designs, a platform where professional UI designers bring app ideas to life. "I don’t build anything myself," Steven emphasizes. "I focus on the idea and hire experts to do the rest."

For the technical side, Steven outsourced development through Upwork, hiring experienced developers to build his app for under $5,000. He advises other entrepreneurs to hire developers from Eastern Europe, who, in his experience, deliver the best quality for a reasonable price.

Overcoming Fear of Outsourcing

One concern many first-time app developers have is the fear of outsourcing. What if the developer steals your idea? Steven dismisses this fear. "Ideas are worth nothing without execution," he says. His approach is simple: conduct a short interview with the developer, assess their enthusiasm for the project, and trust the process. "Part of being a founder is trusting your team and iterating as you go."

The Power of Marketing: 95% of Success

Once the app is built, marketing becomes critical. Steven emphasizes that "marketing is 95% of being successful" and TikTok is his go-to platform. Using TikTok, Steven studied viral Vape-related videos and replicated the elements that made them popular. He credits one specific viral video with helping Puff Count gain tens of thousands of downloads.

The key to success on TikTok, according to Steven, is subtlety. "My TikToks are entertainment first, with a call to action at the end." Instead of creating overt sales videos, he focuses on engaging content that subtly promotes his app.

Steven’s TikTok strategy is so effective that it doesn’t stop at organic traffic. He repurposes top-performing TikToks into paid ads, multiplying his app’s visibility.

Monetization: Turning Users into Paying Customers

Steven’s monetization strategy has evolved with experience. For Puff Count, he found that ads weren’t as effective as they were with his earlier gaming apps, where users spent more time within the app. Instead, he focused on in-app purchases and subscriptions, implementing what is called a "hard paywall." This is where users are required to commit to a free trial or subscription before they can fully access the app’s features.

Switching to this paywall model transformed his business. "When I made users commit to a free trial before using the app, my conversion rate shot up to 20-25%," Steven shared. This shift has significantly increased his revenue.

Pricing: Testing and Optimizing

Steven didn’t stumble upon the perfect price point by chance—he tested it. Through a process called AB testing, he experimented with different price points and found that $12 provided the best return. By using tools like Superwall, he could adjust his pricing without needing App Store updates, making it easier to test and optimize.

Essential Tools for Building Apps

To sum it all up, Steven’s tech stack is simple yet powerful:

• Upwork for hiring developers
• 99designs for app UI design
• Superwall for AB testing paywalls
• RevenueCat for analytics

These tools have allowed him to scale his business with minimal technical involvement while maximizing revenue.

Conclusion: You Can Build an App Too

Steven’s story is a perfect example of how someone with no coding experience can build a profitable mobile app. His success comes from identifying a market need, using available tools, and focusing heavily on marketing. If you’re thinking of building a mobile app, remember, it’s all about finding a problem, validating the idea, and executing with the right team.

And if you’re serious about starting your own mobile app or side project, resources like Starter Story can help you access over 4,000 case studies and business idea breakdowns, giving you everything you need to get started.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to turn your idea into reality—just like Steven did with Puff Count.