Founder Stories: Michael Ginzburg On Building LeMi Apps
In today’s Founder Story, we feature Michael Ginzburg, founder of LeMi Apps!
Read on for lessons he has learned from launching and marketing his business.
1. Please introduce your business and share your role.
Hi. I am Michael Ginzburg, 58 years old, a mobile app indie entrepreneur, founder, and owner of LeMi Apps – SMS Marketing Auto Reply Apps for Small Business Automation.
We sell our apps (restricted versions) through several app stores (Google Play, Amazon, and others) and full-featured app versions through our website as well
LeMi Apps offers a suite of Business Automation Tools tailored to Small Businesses, self-employed individuals, and entrepreneurs:
- Keyword-based Autoresponder Android App (SaaS) for SMS/Text Marketing: This app handles product and service inquiries, auto-replies to leads, addresses frequently asked questions, and more, enhancing your SMS marketing strategy.
- Text Marketing Autoresponder: An effective SMS MARKETING AUTOMATION TOOL designed to:
- Increase Sales
- Enhance Customer Service
- Maintain Productivity
- Call/SMS Auto Reply Android App: This automatic text app provides auto-response to Missed Calls, Incoming Texts, and messages from various platforms like Signal, Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and more. It caters to situations such as:
- Busy moments
- Meetings
- Out-of-office scenarios
- Driving (with Bluetooth integration)
- Sleeping (includes scheduling, silent mode, and wake-up alarms)
Why LeMi Apps’ apps are beneficial for your business:
- High Engagement Rates: With high open, response, and conversion rates.
- Continuous Responsiveness: 24/7 auto-response to inquiries.
- Sales Boost: Enhances sales by engaging customers effectively.
- Customer Interaction: Increases customer engagement and refines service.
- Productivity Enhancement: Improves overall business efficiency.
- Awareness Amplification: Increases brand visibility.
- Cost-effective: Affordable solutions for businesses.
- Time Savings: Efficient use of time resources.
Our Apps assist you in:
- Business Marketing: Efficiently engage your audience.
- Time Management: Optimize your work schedule.
- Work-Life Balance: Better manage personal and professional time.
Our goals:
- Make Your Life Easier
- Make Your Work More Effective
- Make Your Android Smarter
- Help you to get rid of some of your problems
- Free up some valuable time for you
2. How did you prepare for, and go about your launch?
We launched our 1st app without any pre-launch activity, without “collecting” early bird users.
For our B2B keyword-based SMS Marketing Autoresponder App release, 4 years later, we already learned the importance of pre-launch activity and used social media platforms, Product Hunt and BetaList to provide discounted prices for pre-registered users.
3. Since launching, what types of marketing campaigns and designs have worked best to attract and retain customers?
Over the course of 10 years, we’ve explored a wide range of acquisition channels, each with its own complexities and demands. Our experiences have yielded conversion rates that fall within the low to medium range for the average user. However, we’ve yet to attain a high conversion rate from any paid channel.
Here’s an assessment of various channels based on our success levels. It’s important to note that our applications are distributed and sold within communication, productivity, and business categories—not gaming. This distinction significantly impacts interest, acceptance, engagement, and more.
Channels with Promising Results:
ASO (App Store Optimization) – Undoubtedly the most crucial strategy for driving organic app store traffic. Invest time and effort into comprehensive ASO practices.
Leveraging Social Networks for Free Traffic:
We’ve managed our own accounts and collaborated with influencers on platforms including:
- X (formerly Twitter)
- YouTube
Positive Experiences with:
- Quora
PPI (Pay-Per-Install) Channels:
- Facebook Ads: Our most successful experience.
- Google Ads
- Twitter Ads
- Bing Ads
Channels with Less Impressive Outcomes:
- Paid PR and Influencer Engagement – Despite our efforts, we didn’t achieve results that could be described as “impressive.”
- User Referrals and Influencer Marketing – This avenue didn’t yield the desired impact.
- Incentivized Referrals – Similar to user referrals, incentivized referrals fell short of delivering significant outcomes.
Basic, Essential Channels:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – A fundamental requirement for online visibility and reach.
- Email Marketing – An effective way to maintain communication and engagement with users.
Our journey has involved various approaches, and while some have shown promise, others have been less impactful. As we move forward, it’s essential to continuously assess and adapt our strategies to align with the ever-evolving landscape of app acquisition.
4. Looking ahead, what are you most excited about?
Our Plans
- Development – We are developing a new consumer-oriented app based on a small monthly subscription ($1-2)
- Marketing – Add new niche-related bundles
Short-term goals
Scale revenue to $35K +/ m
Our profit split at the beginning of 2023:
- Google Play Store – still 60%
- Website – 37%
- Amazon App Store- 1%
- Other channels – 2%
Long term goals
- To be acquired by a big mobile company or mobile marketing agency
5. Who or what inspires and motivates you?
The wealth of resources available to mobile app business developers can feel overwhelming—almost excessive, I’d say. I’ll highlight a handful of particularly professional resources here. Keep in mind, that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The key takeaway: Keep your learning momentum constant. Dedicate a minimum of one hour daily to exploring fresh insights on mobile app trends, innovative marketing tactics, and crucial ongoing analytics—this dedication is of utmost significance.
- A blog about app User Experience
- PreApp is the online system that reinvents the pre-application service
- AppAnnie blog
- MobileAction
- AppFigures – ASO Tools, Analytics, and App Intelligence
6. What are some lessons you’ve learned along the way that you would share with entrepreneurs hoping to launch or who have just launched?
Do not expect to grow your business only from organic traffic. Allocate a significant budget for pay-per-install advertising.
To summarize our learnings:
- Split your budget 1/3 for Development and 2/3 for Marketing.
- Allocate a significant budget for pay-per-install advertising.
- The mobile apps world (devices, platforms) is highly sensitive and rapidly developing, so it requires constant attention and non-stop adaptation development.
- Diversify your distribution channels.
7. What do you believe are the qualities of a good entrepreneur? And what makes a team successful?
Qualities of a Good Entrepreneur:
- Visionary Thinking: Successful entrepreneurs possess the ability to see beyond the present and envision a future where their ideas become reality.
- Passion and Determination: A deep passion for their ventures and an unyielding determination to overcome challenges drive entrepreneurs to persevere.
- Adaptability: The business landscape is ever-changing. Entrepreneurs need to adapt swiftly to new technologies, trends, and market shifts.
- Risk-taking: A willingness to take calculated risks is vital. Entrepreneurs understand that growth often requires stepping out of their comfort zones.
- Resilience: Failures and setbacks are inevitable. Resilient entrepreneurs bounce back, learning from mistakes and turning challenges into opportunities.
Qualities for a Successful Team:
- Clear Communication: effective communication is the foundation of a successful team.
- Complementary Skills: Team members bring diverse skills and expertise to the table, allowing the team to cover a wide range of tasks effectively.
- Shared Goals and Vision: A shared understanding of goals and a unified vision provide a sense of purpose and direction for the team.
- Collaboration: A culture of collaboration encourages brainstorming, idea-sharing, and collective problem-solving.
- Adaptability: Just as entrepreneurs need to adapt, so do teams. A willingness to embrace change ensures the team remains effective in evolving circumstances.
Both successful entrepreneurs and teams embody a combination of these qualities, enabling them to navigate challenges, innovate, and achieve their goals.