Rafomac News, Tech & Trends That MatterA product designer built 72 apps but didn’t make a single dollar—until a challenge forced him to rethink. What followed was a breakthrough that netted $6,500 in just 60 days. Here’s how.
From Overbuilding to Zero Revenue
Garb spent months crafting 72 apps, tools designed for creators, but none brought in any money. Despite a resume featuring work for Nike and Samsung, his passion for building digital products turned into an obsession with quantity rather than quality or customer fit.
He told the Starter Story host, “I was all in on building. I created about 100 apps in 60 days, got to 72, but after that, I had no revenue and no clear direction.”
What Was Holding Him Back?
His biggest obstacles? An addiction to starting new projects, shiny object syndrome, and uncertainty about which app had real monetisation potential. He was also unsure how to pick a product to focus on and how to move from building to selling.
The advice was clear: cut off creating new stuff cold turkey. Instead, Garb was tasked to generate $1,000 in 30 days through two non-negotiables: have two customer conversations daily and post one piece of content daily documenting his journey. This was a drastic pivot from building to learning and engaging.
The First 30 Days: Fumbling for Traction
In that first month, Garb took a scattershot approach to posting on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, and YouTube, hoping one platform would stick. But despite some interactions, the traction was minimal. He struggled to find customers in the video content creator space and managed to secure just one sale of his Attention Design product for $99.
“It felt like the challenge wasn’t working because revenue wasn’t coming in, but I discovered the power of content creation,” Garb said, referring to the new skill he was building despite the lack of sales.
The Breakthrough in the Next 30 Days
Garb noticed LinkedIn was responding differently to his content. Unlike YouTube where vlogs are common, LinkedIn was saturated with expert interviews and launch announcements—but not the vlog-style content he adapted. That format broke through the noise and sparked growing interest.
He also realised he’d been targeting the wrong audience. Instead of YouTubers, he found an eager market in professionals and experts who wanted to build their personal brands but lacked video content skills.
This refocusing on a clear niche, as he put it, was “classic startup advice that really works.” His LinkedIn engagement rose steadily, with 250 clicks on links from professionals in high-spending cities — a signal these were customers willing to pay.
From Customer Conversations to $6,500 Revenue
Armed with growing interest, Garb reached out cold and offered personalised demos and mock-ups to potential clients. Editors and agencies showed interest in his video QR code platform, View Magnet, especially in managing multiple creators.
After 60 days, Garb reported $6,500 in revenue. The gateway product, Attention Design, had five pro plan subscribers paying $99 each, while View Magnet attracted higher-value agency clients. Most of this revenue surged in the latter 30 days, proving persistence pays off.
Lessons Learned in Two Months
Reflecting on his journey, Garb distilled four core lessons:
- Live the Problem: Truly understanding customer pain points requires personal experience or deep immersion.
- Start Where You Have a Network: Instead of chasing every platform, rely on where you already have credibility.
- Meet Customers Where They Are: Adjust your positioning to match the stage your customer is at, making your product resonate.
- Video Is the Internet’s Language: Creating video content not only reaches customers but also showcases product impact.
Garb’s next goal is to nurture these two products and sustain or grow $6,000 per month over the next half year.
His story is a reminder for anyone frustrated by slow progress: sometimes, less is more. Stop building excessive products and start listening, engaging, and refining your approach with clear customer focus.
