I recently crossed $2,500 in all-time revenue from my indie apps, and in this video I break down the exact playbook that got me there. For context: my first $1,000 took me 6 months, the next $1,000 took 3 months, and then I pulled in about $600 in the last month alone. It might not sound massive to everyone, but for me it’s huge because it’s been my single source of income after getting laid off, and it forced me to get way more intentional about what actually moves the needle. The core of the playbook is simple: treat ASO like a friend, not an enemy. I show how I pick keywords based on popularity and difficulty (my rough rule: popularity > 20 and difficulty < 60–65) so I can actually rank and get that initial App Store boost in the first week. Then I talk about shipping MVPs fast—I try to plan, design, build, and publish in one week—because getting stuck for weeks on one app can mean validating nothing. I also explain why I don’t listen to “it’s oversaturated” takes (originality is dead), how I check profitability with Sensor Tower, and why giving an app a “soul” (streaks, achievements, etc.) can literally double revenue.