10 Lies About App Marketing Everyone Still Believes (That Are Killing Your Launch)
🚨 10 Lies About App Marketing Everyone Still Believes (That Are Killing Your Launch)
✨ Excerpt
Most indie devs fall for outdated app marketing myths that sabotage their growth. Break free from these lies—and learn what really drives installs in 2025.
⚡️ Introduction: Why Most App Marketing Advice is Trash
Let’s get real:
✅ The App Store is crowded.
✅ Ads are expensive.
✅ User attention is scarce.
Yet the same tired “marketing advice” keeps getting repeated.
“Just build it and they’ll come.”
“Launch on Product Hunt once.”
“Paid ads are all you need.”
This isn’t 2015.
If you want real users in 2025, you need to unlearn these lies—and replace them with proven, sustainable strategies that work even if you’re a solo dev with no budget.
Let’s bust the 10 biggest myths killing your launch.
❌ Lie #1: “Build It and They’ll Come”
This is the most damaging advice of all.
✅ The App Store doesn’t promote you by default.
✅ Users won’t stumble on your app magically.
✅ Good code isn’t enough.
Reality:
Marketing is part of the product.
If you don’t plan for traffic, you won’t have any.
✅ Build a landing page.
✅ Grow a waitlist.
✅ Share your journey on social.
✅ Submit to discovery platforms like Nazca.my.
❌ Lie #2: “My App is for Everyone”
Another killer of indie projects.
“It’s so good anyone can use it!”
If it’s for everyone, it’s for no one.
✅ Broad messaging converts terribly.
✅ Users ignore generic solutions.
Reality:
✅ Choose a niche.
✅ Speak their language.
✅ Solve their specific problem better than anyone.
❌ Lie #3: “Launch Day is Everything”
Product Hunt is great, but it’s one day.
✅ Traffic spikes then drops.
✅ Most people miss it.
✅ Your long-term installs don’t come from one launch.
Reality:
✅ Successful apps relaunch often.
✅ They treat launch as the start of marketing.
✅ Every big feature is a new reason to market.
👉 Nazca.my lets you update and relaunch easily.
Submit or update your app here
❌ Lie #4: “Users Will Figure It Out”
Dev mindset:
“They’ll know how to use it.”
“My screenshots are enough.”
Nope.
✅ Confusing onboarding kills retention.
✅ Bad screenshots kill installs.
✅ Generic copy kills conversions.
Reality:
✅ Design clear, benefit-focused onboarding.
✅ Use polished, outcome-driven screenshots.
✅ Write simple, compelling copy.
❌ Lie #5: “I Don’t Need ASO”
App Store Optimization is treated as optional.
✅ But it’s free, targeted, evergreen traffic.
✅ People search for solutions daily.
Reality:
✅ Research real user keywords.
✅ Include them in title & description.
✅ Use compelling icons and videos.
ASO isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential.
❌ Lie #6: “Ads Will Solve Everything”
✅ Paid ads can work.
But:
✅ They’re expensive.
✅ Competition drives up costs.
✅ Users need trust to convert.
Reality:
✅ Ads amplify traction—they don’t create it from scratch.
✅ Without organic marketing, paid is a money pit.
✅ Start with:
- SEO
- Content
- Community
- Discovery platforms like Nazca
❌ Lie #7: “Social Media is for Big Brands”
Think indie devs can’t win on social? Wrong.
✅ Social is the best free marketing channel.
✅ Users love authenticity.
Reality:
✅ Share your build-in-public journey.
✅ Post behind-the-scenes.
✅ Engage with your niche.
People buy from people—not faceless companies.
❌ Lie #8: “Product Hunt is Enough”
Product Hunt is excellent—but it’s not your whole strategy.
✅ It’s one-time.
✅ It reaches tech-focused users only.
✅ Traffic drops off after launch day.
Reality:
✅ You need evergreen discovery.
✅ Multiple channels.
✅ Continuous marketing.
👉 That’s why you should list on Nazca.my for ongoing visibility.
❌ Lie #9: “I Can Do it All Alone Forever”
Indie means solo—but growth is social.
✅ Other devs aren’t your competition.
✅ They’re potential partners.
Reality:
✅ Cross-promote.
✅ Bundle offers.
✅ Guest posts.
✅ Social shout-outs.
Collaborate to grow faster.
❌ Lie #10: “If It’s Good Enough, It Will Sell Itself”
Quality matters—but it’s not enough.
✅ Thousands of great apps flop.
✅ Users don’t know you exist.
Reality:
✅ Marketing is essential.
✅ You must fight for attention.
✅ The best product can’t win if no one sees it.
🎯 The Truth: Great Apps + Great Marketing Win
Forget “build it and they’ll come.”
✅ Build it.
✅ Market it.
✅ Relaunch it.
✅ Improve it.
✅ Repeat forever.
That’s the indie dev playbook in 2025.
📈 10 Proven Tactics That Actually Work
Now that you know what doesn’t work, here’s what does:
✅ 1️⃣ Niche Audience Targeting
✅ 2️⃣ Unique Value Proposition
✅ 3️⃣ Pre-Launch Waitlists
✅ 4️⃣ Beautiful Landing Pages
✅ 5️⃣ Evergreen SEO Content
✅ 6️⃣ App Store Optimization (ASO)
✅ 7️⃣ Build in Public on Social
✅ 8️⃣ Community Engagement (Reddit, IndieHackers)
✅ 9️⃣ Partnerships and Cross-Promos
✅ 🔟 Discovery Platforms like Nazca
🚀 Why Nazca.my Should Be Part of Your Plan
Most devs think short-term.
✅ Nazca gives you evergreen visibility.
✅ SEO-friendly listings.
✅ Feedback and reviews.
✅ Easy relaunches.
✅ A home for your app outside the App Store.
No one-and-done spikes.
💥 Final Words: Stop Believing Lies. Start Marketing Smart.
2025 is indie dev’s golden age.
✅ No-code tools.
✅ Cheap hosting.
✅ Global audiences.
But you need to market smarter.
✅ Don’t rely on luck.
✅ Don’t wait for App Store blessings.
✅ Don’t fall for hype.
Plan your marketing.
Launch with confidence.
And get your app actually discovered.
Ready to get started?
👉 Submit your app today
👉 Get discovered. Get feedback. Grow. 🚀
fAdnim
Author at Nazca. Passionate about creating exceptional mobile applications and sharing knowledge with the developer community.
