The Impact of Branding and Paywall Strategies on User Engagement

Join me as I chat with Blake Anderson, Co-Founder of Apex, as we discuss his frameworks and strategies for building and scaling viral AI Apps. Learn his step-by-step formula creating viral apps. 

Episode Timestamps: 
00:00 Intro
02:59  Why build AI Apps
04:58 Startup Idea 1: Career AI
08:19 Blake's framework for building Viral AI Apps
10:38 Finding influencers
13:23 Product Development
17:25 Startup Idea 2: Journal AI
24:01 Paywalls and Payment Strategy
29:03 Startup Idea 3: Language AI
24:01 How to find more AI app ideas

1) Career AI: The all-in-one career advancement tool
• Combines resume analysis, career quizzes, & job application tips
• Use AI to create a 6-factor rating system for resumes (like Madden ratings)
• Design viral hooks: "I'm a senior and it says I should study CS!"

Distribution strategy:
• Target students on IG, TikTok, LinkedIn
• Partner with ed-tech influencers
• Split test different hooks across niches

2) Journal AI: Your AI-powered second brain
• Branded as a journal, functions like an emotional support assistant
• Provides productivity insights, relationship analysis, and emotional support
• Uses ChatGPT with enhanced memory storage
Key insight: People already use ChatGPT as a journal. This makes it official.
Naming tip: Consider friendly names like "Juni" or "Journey" instead of "AI"

3) Language AI: The Duolingo disruptor
• Create a dynamic, AI-powered language learning app
• Leverage newest AI voice-to-voice models as they become cheaper
• Update content dynamically, unlike Duolingo's static modules

Why it could work:
• Even 1% of Duolingo's market = $100M company
• High-intent users willing to pay
• Established players move slower than scrappy startups

4) Blake's framework for building viral AI apps:
1. Iterate on virality from day one
2. Split test hooks, influencers, and product features
3. Build personal relationships with influencers (don't use marketplaces)
4. Design around both functionality AND virality
5. Use tools like Superwall for easy paywall testing

5) Pricing strategy: Optimize for (users^n * profit per user), where n is greater than 1
• This prioritizes growth and market dominance over short-term profits.
• Blake's hot take: The "evil" onboarding flow that works

1. Get users to input personal info for "customization"
2. Hit them with a paywall at the end

• It's effective, but Blake admits it feels morally questionable. Use at your own risk.

6) Bonus tip: Create burner social media accounts to immerse yourself in your target niche.
• Curate your feed around your app's topic to truly understand your audience.

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/30startupideas

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/

Stop Building Websites That Look Good But Don’t Sell: https://www.designscientist.com/design-store?b=https://www.designscientist.com/

FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND BLAKE ON SOCIAL
Blake’s startup: http://apex.inc/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/blakeandersonw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakeandersonw/