Notes on building creator apps.
Essays on paywalls, retention, release QA, and running an app for an audience instead of just shipping one.
Strategy
Caption SEO is real: how to write Instagram captions people actually search for
Instagram capped hashtags at 5 per post and cut hashtag-following entirely. Here's what actually drives discovery now, and how to write for it.
·6 min read
Strategy
Does Instagram punish business accounts? Fact-checking 5 small-business myths
A 2025 eye-tracking study found people look at Ad-labeled posts less. Here's what's true, what's myth, in the most common Instagram ad complaints.
·6 min read
Strategy
How to build a faceless Instagram account without filming a single video
Carousels now run up to 20 slides and are outperforming Reels on engagement. Here's the format-backed case for growing without a camera.
·5 min read
Monetization
How much to charge for a logo placement when your views outpace your followers
A 16K-follower page pulling 10M weekly views can't price off follower count. Here's how to build a reach-based rate for a first sponsorship.
·6 min read
Strategy
Instagram ranks shares over likes now, here's what Mosseri actually said
The '10 shares beats 100 likes' rule isn't real. Here's Mosseri's actual January 2025 statement on Instagram's top three ranking signals.
·5 min read
Strategy
Your Reel just hit 500K views with 200 followers. Here's what to do next
A single viral Reel doesn't guarantee retention. Here's what the algorithm, posting cadence, and creator income data say to do in the first week.
·6 min readQA
AI can change your app. Who checks the release?
AI coding tools can produce mobile app changes fast, but creators still need scope, QA, and release judgment before users see the update.
·5 min readPerspective
AI is changing the service industry
AI-native service companies sell finished work instead of software seats. For creators, that means buying the app rather than managing the developer process.
·6 min readProduct
How often should a creator app actually update?
Too many updates train users to expect breakage. Too few and the app feels abandoned. Here's how to actually set an update cadence for a creator subscription app.
·4 min read
Monetization
How to monetize your Instagram audience without guessing
Followers, platform, paywall, release — monetizing an Instagram audience is four decisions, not one. Here's the order to make them in, with the tradeoffs at each step.
·6 min read