Steven Cravottaa young entrepreneur and creator of the Puff Count app, has demonstrated that a lucrative app business is within reach even without technical skills. Recently, Cravotta shared his journey in a episode of Starter Storyrevealing how its no-code app designed to help users quit vaping now brings in over $40,000 every month. Cravotta’s insightful approach and carefully crafted strategies provide a roadmap for aspiring app creators hoping to break into the competitive mobile market.

Number of puffsas described on its website, is a free app aimed at helping users quit vaping by tracking their nicotine intake and progress toward quitting vaping. Cravotta’s path to success is unique, focusing less on technological skills and more on innovative thinking, strong problem-solving skills and strategic marketing.

A Non-Technical Start: Letting Marketing Drive Success

Cravotta knew early on that marketing would be the cornerstone of his app’s success. As he said: “Marketing is really 95% of the success of a mobile app. » Instead of trying to learn complex coding languages, he used accessible resources like Upwork and no-code tools to realize his vision. In his own words: “I honestly don’t think you need any experience to create mobile apps…I didn’t have any.”

His approach to building applications starts with solving real-world problems. According to Cravotta, the best app ideas come from solving problems personally encountered by the creator, because they provide a deeper understanding of user needs. Puff Count was inspired by the rise of power anti-vaping trend on social networks, notably TikTok, where Cravotta observed the popularity of viral videos aimed at raising awareness among young people of the risks of vaping.

Validate demand: guarantee the existence of a market

With an idea in mind, Cravotta had to validate its potential. It used platforms like Sensor Tower and Google Trends to gauge interest in anti-vaping content and apps. He also noted the massive audience for vaping-related videos on TikTok, reinforcing his belief that Puff Count could find a dedicated audience.

Even though the first few months were slow, with little to no income, Cravotta stuck with it. “The first four to six months I didn’t make any money,” he admits, attributing that to the need for patience and continued marketing investment until the app took off.

Building the app: from idea to launch

Once he confirmed the idea’s viability, Cravotta began sketching out the app’s design and functionality in Google Docs. This planning phase involved writing down all the potential features he wanted Puff Count to have. To bring his design concepts to life, he used 99designs, where professional designers came up with creative versions of his app’s UI. For the development phase, he hired Eastern European developers through Upwork, who provided quality talent at a fraction of the cost, paying per project rather than hourly to keep the project in budget limits.

Mastering Marketing: TikTok and Viral Appeal

For Cravotta, marketing was the key to Puff Count’s success. His strategy focused on TikTok, which he saw as a perfect platform to reach his target audience. “TikTok is the best way to market any app,” he said, explaining how he immersed himself in the platform’s trends. Cravotta studied the most popular TikTok videos related to vaping and kept a spreadsheet of hit content for inspiration.

His approach to TikTok marketing prioritizes entertainment over direct sales. “My TikToks are entertainment first and foremost, a call to action at the end,” he explains, ensuring users engage naturally before being prompted to download the app. This subtle strategy has proven to be effective in generating downloads.

Monetize the application: from free to profitable

As Puff Count’s user base grew, Cravotta turned its attention to monetization. Realizing that ads wouldn’t generate substantial revenue for a tools-focused app, he implemented a subscription-based model. “The strategy that everyone uses now is the app is free, you go through onboarding, and then you hit a difficult paywall,” he explained. This paywall approach proved effective, significantly increasing revenue because users who found value in the app were willing to pay.

To maximize profits, Cravotta ran A/B tests at different price points, ultimately choosing the price that generated the highest user lifetime value (LTV). He started by setting a base price of $4, then gradually increased it to $12 as he refined his strategy, maximizing revenue without dissuading new users.

Essential Tools: Streamlining App Development and Marketing

Cravotta’s success is also attributed to its use of a carefully selected toolkit. It uses Upwork to recruit developers, 99designs for UI design, and Superwall for paywall optimization. “Superwall is essential,” he noted, emphasizing its role in refining monetization strategies. To track user behavior and LTV, Cravotta leverages RevenueCat, which provides valuable insights into user engagement and retention.

This holistic approach, from idea generation to strategic marketing and effective monetization, transformed Puff Count from a simple concept into a profitable app. Cravotta’s journey illustrates that creativity, perseverance, and a well-executed plan can lead to enormous success, even without coding skills.

Cravotta’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: “If you have a good idea and it solves a problem for people, commit to implementing it.” » His success story serves as a reminder that with the right approach, anyone can create a valuable product that not only meets market demand, but also generates substantial revenue.