---
name: mobile-apps
description: Use when building, launching or growing a mobile app business and the question spans more than one area, or is about strategy — picking or validating an app idea, MVP scope, which categories earn most per install, build cost and tooling, growth stages (when to add features, when to start paid ads), first marketing channel and budget, or "why isn't my app making money". Routes to the specialised skills for monetization, ASO, user acquisition and web2app funnels.
---

# Mobile apps — strategy and router

Entry point for the mobile-apps domain of the Subida knowledge base (synthesised so far from
App Masters / [Steve P. Young], Sub Club, Superwall; 2025-11 → 2026-10). Full list of notes: `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/INDEX.md`.

## Which skill for which question

| Question is about… | Load skill |
|---|---|
| Paywalls, trials, pricing, onboarding-to-paywall, subscription metrics | `mobile-app-monetization` |
| Keywords, App Store / Google Play listing, screenshots, product page tests | `app-store-optimization` |
| Apple Ads, Meta/TikTok ads for apps, app ad creatives, UGC/creator programs | `app-user-acquisition` |
| Organic short-form content, creators/influencers, affiliates, PR, growing without ads | `app-organic-growth` |
| Web quiz funnels, web checkout, selling app subscriptions outside the stores | `web2app-funnels` |
| General ad creative, Meta account structure, measurement (CAPI, incrementality) | `performance-marketing` |

## Core playbook (strategy)

1. **Pick ideas from search demand, not inspiration** — find an under-served keyword "tentacle" of a big
   high-earning app and validate it before building. → app-idea-tentacle-strategy
2. **Choose a category that earns per install** (health & fitness, education, business); look for a high
   revenue-to-downloads ratio among competitors. → high-rpi-app-categories
3. **v1 solves one problem**: one feature, one keyword, hard paywall — a demand test, not a product. → app-mvp-single-problem-scope
4. **Build fast and cheap**: AI coding agents cut v1 to ~2 months; dedicated hosting and startup credits. → app-development-cost-and-tooling-2026
5. **Design v1 for conversion** — UI/UX is the differentiator when everyone can build. → app-design-for-conversion-and-ux
6. **Earmark a marketing budget; start with ASO + Apple Ads**; viral views rarely equal downloads. → app-marketing-budget-and-first-channel
7. **Stage gates**: rank #1 for your keyword → fix monetization → features at ~$5–10K MRR → paid social above ~$10K MRR.
   "Download problem" (ASO/UA) vs "sales problem" (paywall) need different fixes. → app-growth-stages-organic-to-paid

## Note map (product strategy)

| Note | Read when |
|---|---|
| `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/wiki/mobile-apps/product-strategy/app-idea-tentacle-strategy.md` | Looking for or validating an app idea |
| `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/wiki/mobile-apps/product-strategy/high-rpi-app-categories.md` | Choosing a category; estimating competitor revenue |
| `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/wiki/mobile-apps/product-strategy/app-mvp-single-problem-scope.md` | Scoping v1; feature creep |
| `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/wiki/mobile-apps/product-strategy/app-development-cost-and-tooling-2026.md` | Estimating build time/cost, hosting, credits |
| `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/wiki/mobile-apps/product-strategy/app-design-for-conversion-and-ux.md` | Planning v1 design priorities |
| `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/wiki/mobile-apps/product-strategy/app-marketing-budget-and-first-channel.md` | Planning launch marketing, first channel |
| `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/wiki/mobile-apps/product-strategy/app-growth-stages-organic-to-paid.md` | Deciding what to work on next at a given MRR |

## Gaps

Sources so far: App Masters, Sub Club (RevenueCat), Superwall; more in `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/INDEX.md`. Not yet covered: retention/engagement and push strategy,
Android-specific growth, ad-based monetization, app analytics stacks, selling an app (exits),
AI-generated ad creatives. Say so when asked, rather than improvising from general knowledge without flagging it.

[Steve P. Young]: ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/people/steve-p-young.md