Apollo · B2C · Reddit app for iPhone
Turn down popular feature requests by explaining why, not just saying no
Users mostly agreed once they heard the reasons
Workedfeature-developmentcommunity
What they did
When a popular request didn't fit (e.g. restoring deleted Reddit comments from scraper caches), he explained the reasons users couldn't see, such as the safety of people who deleted comments that doxxed themselves, instead of silently refusing.
What happened
Responses were along the lines of 'good point'; he did not get yelled at.
- Stage
- growth
In their words
Sub Club by RevenueCat · The Advantages of Working On an App You Care About — Christian Selig, Apollo“the first time I did it, I think I just kind of explained my reasons why like I didn't think this was a great idea, because maybe they don't have the full picture. And like the responses were like, "Oh shit, yeah, that's a good point. Okay."”
Related topics
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More from this episode
- Apollo: Post an early beta in a popular subreddit, then launch to the waiting crowdBeta filled up; lots of launch-day downloads and paid upgrades, profitable from day one
- Apollo: Build each month whatever your app's subreddit complains about mostFounder says it shaped the app and worked well for about 9 years; no numbers
- Apollo: Charge the same $2.99 one-time price as the main rival appProfitable from day one, but founder calls the price too low in hindsight
- Apollo: Raise the lifetime price from $19.99 to $30-40Take rate didn't change at all
- Apollo: Live cheaply with roommates and build full-time on savings until a set dateMade it to a launch that paid from day one; savings almost gone
- Juno: Build the YouTube app YouTube skipped for Vision Pro, in two weeks, for launch dayStill earns about $100 on some days months after launch