App Masters Greatest Hits: Episode 7 with Greg Isenberg
Feb 20, 2025
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Join Greg Isenberg, CEO and founder of 5by, as he shares his journey from selling two companies by age 24 to advising TikTok and Reddit. He reveals how to generate and validate app ideas effectively. Discover the importance of user feedback in shaping apps and learn powerful influencer marketing strategies. Greg also delves into the art of engaging copywriting for improved user retention and shares insights on building connections that can elevate app success in today’s competitive landscape.
Greg Eisenberg emphasizes the necessity of validating app ideas through user feedback and leveraging entrepreneurial networks for market success.
He highlights the crucial role of visibility in the Apple App Store in driving app downloads and gaining competitive advantage.
Deep dives
Greg Eisenberg's Entrepreneurial Journey
Greg Eisenberg's early success in entrepreneurship is highlighted by selling two companies before the age of 24. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding himself with successful individuals to continue growing and improving. Although he recognizes his past achievements, he remains focused on building substantial value in his future endeavors. His frugal mindset leads him to prioritize investments in personal and professional growth over extravagant purchases.
The Value of App Store Features
Eisenberg shares insights into the significance of being featured on the Apple App Store in driving app downloads. He reveals that their app, FiveBy, gained extensive traction after being featured, leading to hundreds of thousands of downloads within a short timeframe. The discussion includes the importance of having contacts within the app store ecosystem, as well as various organic ways to achieve visibility. He emphasizes that developers must utilize every opportunity to get their app in front of users, as the competition for attention is fierce.
Addressing User Needs and Validating Ideas
The concept for FiveBy originated from Eisenberg's personal frustration with finding enjoyable content online. He describes how an initial spark during a casual setting led to the realization that many others likely experience similar challenges. To validate this idea, he engaged his entrepreneurial network to gauge interest in a curated video discovery service. The overwhelming positive feedback from this group confirmed the concept's potential commercial viability, prompting him to develop the product.
Learning from Mistakes and Emphasizing Copywriting
Eisenberg discusses critical mistakes made during the development of his first company, Wall Street Survivor, and the $1.5 million in lessons learned. He emphasizes the importance of effective copywriting as a crucial element in shaping user experience and brand identity. By comparing previous attempts with bland messaging to FiveBy's engaging and personality-driven copy, he illustrates how well-crafted language can enhance user retention and interaction. His approach emphasizes collecting user feedback to refine messaging, ultimately creating a more inviting experience for users.
Get ready to explore the stories behind some of the most iconic and innovative apps that have shaped the mobile landscape!
We’re here with App Masters Greatest Hits—a 10-episode series where we’ll journey back in time to uncover the successes, challenges, and game-changing moments that made these apps truly distinguished.
In this episode, we’re joined by Greg Isenberg, CEO & founder of 5by (Acquired by StumbleUpon) and former advior TikTok and Reddit. Greg shares invaluable insights on turning ideas into successful apps, from conception to market domination.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
✔️ How to generate and validate app ideas
✔️ The power of user feedback and how to leverage it
✔️ Effective influencer marketing strategies
✔️ Overcoming challenges and turning setbacks into success