logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
48m 14s

How to build a $400k/mo AI App using ASO...

Greg Isenberg
About this episode

Join me as I chat with Romain Torres, Co-Founder of Arcads AI, as we discuss his frameworks and strategies for finding and building profitable AI Apps. Learn his step-by-step formula to building and growth hacking apps. 

Episode Timestamps
0:00 Intro
00:49 Introduction to AI Apps and User Acquisition
10:38 Product-Led Growth
13:30 ASO (Apple Search Optimization)
21:13 Organic Social Growth Hacks
33:51  Paid Ads Strategy
40:30 Creating Ads at Scale with AI Tools

1) Three main strategies to grow mobile apps:
• TikTok/Instagram organic growth
• Paid ads (FB, TikTok, Google)
• Apple Search Optimization (ASO)
• Each has its pros and cons.

2) ASO (Apple Search Optimization) 101:
• Find keywords with high volume, low competition
• Put keywords in app title
• Optimize app store page conversion rate
• Get reviews & high initial download velocity
• Pro tip: Use AppFigures to research keywords & opportunities

3) Organic social growth hack:
• Create native-looking content (not ads)
• Integrate app naturally into videos
• Post consistently across platforms
• Leverage micro-influencers for reach
• Example: Travel buddy app crushing it with wanderlust reels 

4) Paid ads strategy:
• Test THOUSANDS of ad variations
• Use AI to scale ad creation (tools like @ArcAdsAI)
• Iterate on winning formats
• Localize ads for different markets
• Key insight: AI makes testing 1000s of ads feasible for small teams

5) Case study: 17yo dev makes $400k/mo with AI calorie tracking app 
• Found trend on Reddit/TikTok
• Built simple AI-powered app
• Leveraged micro-influencers for organic growth
• Iterated on viral formats
• Lesson: Sometimes "overdone" ideas + AI + great marketing = $$$

6) Monetization hack: Niche down existing app ideas
• Examples:
a) Dating apps for specific demographics
b) Bible app for women
c) Plant identifier for specific countries
• Smaller audience, but higher conversion rates & less competition

7) AI is leveling the playing field:
• Easier to build MVP with ChatGPT
• Faster ad creation & testing
• Quick localization for global markets
• You don't need VC $ to compete with big players anymore!

8) Key takeaway: Success = Product-Market Fit + Execution
• Find proven demand (ASO, trends)
• Add AI "sizzle" to existing concepts
• Execute relentlessly on product & marketing
• Test, iterate, scale

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 

🎯 To build your own portfolio businesses powered by community you might enjoy my membership.

You'll get my full course with all my secrets on building businesses, peer-groups to keep you accountable, business ideas every single month and more!

Spots are limited.

https://www.communityempire.co/

📬 Join my free newsletter to get weekly startup insights for free:

https://www.gregisenberg.com/

70,000+ people are already subscribed.

To improve your rankings your business on Google and using AI for SEO, sign up to

http://boringmarketing.com/

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

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

FIND ROMAIN ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/rom1trs 
Arcads AI: https://www.arcads.ai/

Up next
Today
Reviewing Claude Opus 4.5
I sat down with James, the Boring Marketer, to stress-test Claude 4.5 Opus against Gemini 3 Pro for real-world coding and design work. Together we live-build and compare landing pages and clickable prototypes for an “EstateClear” probate-family dashboard, then zoom out into conve ... Show More
59m 48s
Nov 24
Build Mobile Apps that Stand Out (Here's the Playbook)
On this episode I sit down with indie app builder and designer Chris Raroque to break down how solo developers can make apps that truly stand out in a world of “vibe-coded” clones. Chris walks through concrete examples from his own products, Ellie (planning), Luna (budgeting), an ... Show More
47m 7s
Nov 21
Is Gemini 3 a 10x designer? I Wanted Proof.
On today’s episode I stress-test Gemini 3.0 in Google AI Studio to see how good it really is as a designer, not just a code generator. Across the episode, I ask Gemini to redesign my personal website in a Windows XP–inspired style, build a restaurant analytics SaaS dashboard, and ... Show More
28m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Google Ads Conversion Tracking Problems & How to Deal With Them - Part 2
<p>Dive into the challenges of tracking Google Ads conversions and how to deal with them in this episode of Curry, Cheese, and Vegemite. Our Google Ads Aficionados talk about the common issues with conversion tracking and one unique issue Usama recently encountered. They then dis ... Show More
11m 10s
Jan 2025
Google Ads Lead Generation Campaign Strategy to Increase Conversions
<p>Struggling with low conversions in your Google Ads lead generation campaigns? Our Google Ads Aficionados are here to share a powerful strategy to help improve lead gen campaign performance. They share how to run the strategy and the key to making it work. Watch this Curry, Che ... Show More
7m 51s
Oct 14
How to Start a $1M Business Using Only AI
Get Greg's AI Million Dollar Idea Generator prompt: https://clickhubspot.com/kgj Ep. 370 Is making a million dollars with AI really that easy? Kipp, Kieran, and Greg Isenberg, Co-founder of Ideabrowser and host of The Startup Ideas Podcast, dive into Greg’s proven frameworks and ... Show More
45m 21s
Jul 2022
Creative for Google Ads: 5 Golden Rules
<p>Listen to Kasim, Regina, Efe, Onkar, Susmita, and Usama in action as they create the five golden rules for building creative for Google Ads. </p><p>Effective Google Ads copy is usually composed of “benefits and keywords” rather than creative media and storytelling.</p><p>While ... Show More
43m 2s
Feb 2025
AI Made Easy: How to Use It For Business Without Losing Your Mind - 821
If you're not using AI like ChatGPT or Perplexity in your business yet, you're working way harder than you need to—but don't worry, Chalene Johnson has you covered! In this episode, she breaks down the simplest, most practical ways to use AI so entrepreneurs can save time, boost ... Show More
23m 48s
Sep 8
Fast-Tracking Growth: Community, Niching Down, and Multi-Channel Strategies from Dood Woof
Elina Panteleyeva is the founder of Dood Woof, a dog brand focused on Doodles. Founded in 2023, they hit $600k in year one, and are on track for sales of $2million this year. They’re already multichannel selling on their Shopify store, TikTok Shop, and Amazon. In this episode, El ... Show More
26m 22s
Aug 10
Google Ads VS. Meta Ads: Why You Should Run BOTH (Not One!)
Is it a battle between Google Ads and Meta Ads? Stop the debate! Our Meta Ads Manager, Jonathan Paquin, shares why running BOTH ad platforms is the smartest strategy. Learn how they work together to capture high-intent searches and build brand awareness for maximum sales. He also ... Show More
8m 45s
Oct 7
AI Tools to Replace Your $10k+ Creative Agency
Want Rory's system to turn one brief into 100+ assets with AI? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/drf Ep 368 Ever wonder how you can use AI to reduce the amount of money you’re spending on ads to acquire more customers? Kipp and Kieran dive into how to leverage AI to scale cre ... Show More
50m 53s
Sep 18
How This AI Startup Grew to $50M ARR in 2 Years (Marketing Playbook)
Want to steal Gamma's influencer-led strategy? Get our 10 AI prompts: https://clickhubspot.com/hgb Ep. 363 Is influencer marketing the new product virality? Kipp and Kieran dive into the viral marketing playbook that skyrocketed an AI startup to $50M ARR and 50 million users with ... Show More
22m 4s
Oct 1
How to Bootstrap to $1Million ARR [REVEALED]
In this episode of Startup Strategies, Juliana sits down with Ish Jindal, the engineer-turned-entrepreneur who spent four years not knowing what MRR meant while bootstrapping TARS to $1M ARR. After discovering the internet in his second year of college, Ish went from building edu ... Show More
1h 2m