I Built a $670/Day SaaS App with NO Paid Ads (Here's How)

Key Concepts

• Organic social media marketing (Instagram, TikTok)
• Building in public
• Content formats (2x2 images, short videos)
• Niche targeting
• Algorithm optimization
• Call to action (CTA)
• Iteration and testing
• Automation (ManyChat)
• Warming up a new account

Organic Social Media Marketing for Startups

Introduction

Jack Ficks, who built a startup generating $15-20k/month in revenue through organic social media marketing, primarily on Instagram, shares his strategies. The core idea is to attract thousands of customers to a product on autopilot without relying on paid advertising.

Jack's Background and Approach

• Jack emphasizes that his success wasn't overnight; it took 4-5 years of minimal revenue before experiencing rapid growth.
• His primary focus is on using organic social media posts, specifically videos on Instagram and TikTok, to drive traffic to mobile apps for free.
• He argues that the skills learned in organic social media marketing are transferable to any business, even those not consumer-facing.

Finding Content Ideas and Formats

• Creating a New Account: Jack recommends creating a new account specifically for the business to help the algorithm target the right audience.
• Niche Research: Follow content within your niche to identify viral content formats. Save these videos for inspiration.
• Iteration: Experiment with different formats daily and iterate based on performance. Jack initially made hundreds of videos before finding a successful format (2x2 images with captions).
• Format Universality: Formats can be adapted from other niches. Jack successfully applied a format he found in the hobbies niche to his food app.
• Algorithm Awareness: A new account helps the algorithm test different audiences, maximizing reach.

Warming Up a New Account and Posting Strategy

• Avoid Bot Behavior: Do not post any content for the first week to avoid being flagged as a bot.
• Gradual Posting: Post only one video per day initially to allow for iteration and maintain a good account standing.
• Manual Posting: Avoid using social media scheduling tools for new accounts. Post manually to mimic human behavior.

Content Creation and Call to Action

• Relevance is Key: Content should be highly relevant to the product being promoted, not just aimed at maximizing views.
• Clear Call to Action: Include a clear call to action in the video and/or pinned comment, directing viewers to download the app or visit the website.
• Avoid Ads: Organic content should not look like an advertisement.
• Iteration is Crucial: Avoid making the same video repeatedly without changes. Test new angles and improve with each iteration.

Leveraging Automation (ManyChat)

• ManyChat Integration: Use tools like ManyChat to automate responses and send links to users who comment on posts.
• Comment-Based Funnels: Encourage users to comment (e.g., "Comment X to get the playbook") to trigger automated DMs with links.
• Engagement Boost: Comments are valuable for the algorithm, increasing the reach of the content.

Recap and Key Takeaways

• Attention First: The first skill is grabbing attention within the niche.
• Conversion Second: The second skill is converting that attention into users for the product.
• Consistency and Patience: Post one video a day, iterate, and be patient. It may take a month or two to see results.
• CapCut for Simplicity: Use simple video editing tools like CapCut.
• Manual Before Automation: Master manual content creation before automating.

Using AI for Ideation (ChatGPT Example)

• Prompt Engineering: Use prompts like "I'm the CEO of [App]. I found this video format that gets views, but I want more video format ideas that can bring in more views that are related to my food diary app."
• Refining Prompts: Add constraints like "make the ideas possible to create with low effort" or "sound like Gen Z."
• AI as a Bridge: AI can help bridge the gap between seeing viral content and adapting it to your niche.
• Human Oversight: AI is not autonomous; human oversight and understanding of what works are still necessary.

Additional Tips

• Warm-up accounts properly: This is crucial for getting initial views.
• Refer to the guide: Reread the guide for detailed instructions and to avoid common pitfalls.
• Don't be discouraged by small numbers: Even hundreds or thousands of views represent real people who could become customers.

Notable Quotes

• "You don't want to just make content for max views, you want to make content that's highly relevant to what you're promoting."
• "If it looks like an ad, they're going to scroll."
• "The first skill is attention grabbing, getting attention. The second skill is converting that into like actual people going to your thing."

Conclusion

Organic social media marketing, particularly through short-form video content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, offers a viable path for startups to acquire customers without significant advertising spend. The key is to identify successful content formats within a specific niche, consistently create and iterate on content, and implement clear calls to action to drive traffic to the product. While AI tools can assist with ideation, human oversight and a deep understanding of the target audience remain essential for success.