The rollercoaster of May: CompressX updates, new travel, WWDC and visa challenges
The rollercoaster of May: CompressX updates, new travel, WWDC and visa challenges
CompressX’s update
I rolled out just one update for CompressX this month, focusing on our users' feature requests and bug reports. I've noticed that frequent app updates, such as weekly ones, aren't overly popular. So, I've switched up my approach. Instead of releasing features straight away to all users, I now target only those who requested them. If you're still using version 1.8.1 or earlier, I recommend updating your app now to benefit from the latest features and bug fixes I've spent many late nights working on.
Revenue
While May saw the least revenue since our launch, this was expected due to lessened SEO and marketing efforts this month. Previously, I had viral social media posts that have provided significant sales boosts. That said, it's a good reminder of their impact and importance.
Operating expenses were as follows:
FounderPal: $99
Fastmail: $6.35
Ad banner: $200
Vercel: $20
Regardless, my May revenue amounted to $1,116.26, demonstrating the sustained interest in CompressX.
Ad spending falls short of expectations
I invested $200 in ads this month, but the outcome was less than I anticipated.
I placed ad banners on two websites earlier this month:
The first was a developer's blog that sees ~100K views a month. As a frequent user of my app in my developer role, I assumed others like me would also find CompressX intriguing. However, the results underperformed. The blog only drew in a total of 20 visitors seeing 21 page views. That boils down to a cost of about $5 per visitor, not the return I was hoping for.
The second site was a landing page directory attracting between 100K - 150K views a month. Thinking that CompressX's potential to reduce bandwidth and speed up page load times would appeal here, I felt it would be good for an ad. While the result topped the first site with 44 visitors and 49 page views, the cost still came out to about $2.3 per visitor, which still doesn't strike me as worthwhile.
Team pricing plan's first customer
In May, I rolled out a Team pricing plan for CompressX. It costs $19 per device, the same as the Personal License, but it allows one license to manage all devices effortlessly.
Here's what happened with the first sale of the Team plan:
A customer reached out via email with their existing license, aiming to purchase 10 more seats.
I responded by sending them a payment link.
They paid and notified me of their transaction.
I promptly updated their license and sent a thank you note.
Interestingly, they had no queries! This was quite a surprise. I had braced myself for a potential barrage of questions and a lengthy waiting period for approval, similar to what I had experienced when buying team licenses at work.
Partnering with r/macapps Discord server
I'm excited to renew my partnership with the r/macapps Discord server! Our previous collaborations included giveaways, which led to CompressX being featured on their Reddit and server. If you're a developer looking for collaborative opportunities, just visit their server and use the command /partner. Join this lively community using this invite link: https://discord.gg/UhJCuSSn. Let's join hands and achieve growth together!
Travel update: 2nd trip to Manila
Same time last year, I went on a business trip to Manila to support the acquisition process of Grab and Move It apps. Fast forward to this year, and I found myself in the city again, but this time for another project. This year's trip was far more enjoyable, as I had a 5-day stay that included a full day exploring the historic Intramuros district.
During my visit, I enjoyed some delicious Filipino cuisine like Lechon, Mang Inasal (a type of grilled chicken), and the national soup Sinigang, which I tried both with beef and fish—some versions even featured watermelon! Adobo was also a must-try. Among all the dishes, the grilled chicken stood out as my favorite. It was surprisingly juicy and tender. One thing I noticed about Filipino food is that it generally lacks vegetables, unlike Vietnamese cuisine, where half of the portion often consists of various greens.
Additionally, I had the chance to watch a thrilling basketball match between TNT and the Rain or Shine team, which was a lot of fun.
From my perspective, the Philippines is a unique country. It is the only Asian nation that hasn't been significantly influenced by Buddhism. Instead, it feels like a fascinating blend of Asian and Western cultures.
Almost made it to WWDC 2024
I had big hopes for WWDC 2024, but things didn’t go as planned. Twice, the US Embassy turned down my dream trip to Apple Park! If you don’t know, WWDC is Apple’s yearly event where developers from all over the world gather at Apple Park to see the latest tech—like new iOS, macOS, visionOS, watchOS, iPadOS, and more. Apple announced the event and opened registration on March 26. Tickets are super hard to get; only a few hundred lucky people get them. Every iOS developer dreams of going, not just for the tech but also for the networking. WWDC can change your life.
My adventure started with my first US visa interview on April 15. I didn’t have a WWDC ticket yet or any travel plans, so my visa was denied. I almost lost hope, but then Apple sent me a last-minute ticket on Friday, May 3, at 6 PM. I quickly got everything ready and reapplied for the visa. The earliest interview I could get was on May 24, which was nerve-wracking but still gave me two weeks before WWDC if I got the visa. Those three weeks felt like forever! I bought flight tickets, booked a hotel, and prepared for all the questions.
The interview went well—the officer was nice and I answered everything correctly. But still, my visa was denied again.
My friends mentioned that my passport wasn’t strong enough, so the US Embassy was cautious. They suggested I visit developed countries to show that I won’t overstay my visa. That might help me get a US visa in the future.
So, even though missing WWDC was tough, I’m using this as a reason to travel more this year. ✈️ Every setback can be a new opportunity!
👋 That’s all for May
See you all next month. Thanks for reading!