March 2024 - Breaking record revenue and the result of going viral

Also in this issue: Getting criticized in public, interview with Starter Story, and personal updates

Hi, everyone 👋 It's Hieu here 😸

In March, CompressX achieved a new revenue record. But first, let see what I shipped this month.

Product updates

1 major update and 3 minor updates were released in March with one big feature and many small, impactful improvements to CompressX, all based on what my users asked for. The improvements were implemented and shipped immediately as small updates when I received the feedback from users. This strategy let me quickly solve user needs while still making headway on bigger features.

For more details, you can review CompressX's changelog here.

Revenue milestone

Last month, we celebrated $5k in total revenue milestone. While it was a huge achievement, we've hit another notable milestone this month: CompressX achieving a record revenue of $3,743.87. 

Key factors contributing to this success include:

• Viral post on 𝕏, generating over 1 million impressions and approximately $1,700 in revenue in just 4 days post-virality.

• Product launches on platforms like Uneed.best and IndieAppSales.com.

• Additional viral engagement through a Reddit post.

Financial breakdown

• Operating Costs: $330

  • Vercel hosting: $20

  • Promotional video: $300

  • GitHub Copilot: $10

• Revenue: $3,743.87

• Payouts: $2,458.64

• Net Revenue: $2,128.64

Getting criticized in public

Receiving public criticism is tough for me, and for any founder, especially when it comes to accusations that CompressX is just a wrapper. It can be disheartening to see negative comments questioning the value of the product, especially when I have put in so much time and effort to create it. However, I think it's important to take feedback constructively and use it as an opportunity to improve and showcase the unique features and benefits of the app. Not everyone will see the value in your app, but as long as you believe in its purpose and continue to innovate, you will attract customers who are willing to pay for the value it provides.

Starter Story interview

As I shared in previous issue, my interview with Starter Story is now live at https://www.starterstory.com/stories/compressx. The story is read by 4,783 founders at the time this issue was written. I hope that my story can inspire and motivate aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and overcome any challenges they may face along the way.

Typefully challenges

Early this month, I decided to join Typefully challenge: post every day for 30 days. If you are wondering this matters, it serves multiple purposes: building a personal brand, expanding your audience, fostering connections, experimenting with new ideas, and ultimately, funneling more traffic to your SaaS.

Check out the challenge details here.

Personal growth and upcoming launches

This month, I also reached 4,000 followers. As I reflect on my journey on 𝕏, I am grateful for each and every follower who has supported me along the way. I am truly blessed to have such an incredible community surrounding me.

Having returned to Ho Chi Minh City, I’m also eager to connect with the indie community and fellow tech enthusiasts. If you’re around, let’s catch up!

April holds exciting prospects for CompressX, with launches planned on MicroLaunch and IndieHunting. I am keen to see the impact of these platforms on the app's growth and user engagement.

That's all for March

Subscribe for more updates, and let's continue to grow together!

— Hieu