In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups
from no app downloads for 2 years, to 100,000 in 14 days. this is how to find the shorts template for your product
Mar 25, 2025
Laurent Boulin, co-founder of FocusTree—a productivity app for students—shares how they achieved 100,000 downloads in just 15 days. He reveals his viral growth playbook, highlighting the shift to media-first strategies and utilizing TikTok for creator-led marketing. Laurent discusses sourcing international creators and the game-changing impact of a gamified onboarding process. He emphasizes the importance of validating ideas and creating habits similar to popular apps, all while targeting Gen Z and navigating a saturated market with innovative tactics.
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Quick takeaways
- Prioritizing media engagement over product development, as seen in FocusTree's strategy, allows for rapid user acquisition through creator-led content.
- A well-designed onboarding experience enhances user retention and ensures that the app delivers perceived value, promoting regular engagement.
Deep dives
Disruption Through Creator-Led Content
Small teams are currently disrupting established app categories by leveraging creator-led content, particularly through platforms utilizing For You Page algorithms like TikTok. This shift allows new applications, such as Focus Tree, to gain traction rapidly by focusing on organic growth through engaging media rather than traditional marketing methods. The app's approach is exemplified by its swift success, achieving 100,000 downloads within 15 days by prioritizing media engagement over product development initially. This strategy highlights a significant opportunity for app developers to capitalize on social media dynamics to drive user acquisition.
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