I paid micro-influencers and got great TikTok engagement — and almost zero downloads. What am I missing?
I’ve been building an iOS/Android app called Tamakey for 3 months. The idea: you post a secret, lock it with a tamakey, and only the keepers you choose can unlock it. Small trusted circle instead of broadcasting to everyone.
Here’s where I’m stuck.
I paid several micro-influencers for UGC. The videos did fine — good comments, decent likes, people in the replies saying the concept is interesting. On TikTok same story. Views and engagement are there.
Downloads are basically nonexistent. Not “lower than hoped” — I mean I could name every user.
So either (a) the videos entertain people without making them want the app, (b) my store listing kills whatever intent does exist, or (c) the concept is one people enjoy hearing about but don’t actually want. I honestly can’t tell which, and I’ve spent enough money guessing.
Questions for anyone who’s been through this:
• How do you tell the difference between “bad marketing” and “nobody wants this”?
• For social apps specifically — how did you get past the empty-network problem? Nobody wants to be the first one there.
• Did paid micro-influencers ever work for you, or is that just a tax indies pay once?
And if anyone wants to try it and tell me it’s bad, I’d genuinely rather hear that now. Link in comments so this doesn’t read as an ad.