This week we're fixing my new janky app designed to track my protein shakes. Ask me questions about it, development, or just chat with me about life! Build is a space where I can build whatever I want in a glass box for anyone who wants to see.
fixing my janky protein shake app | Build #01
Duolingo Has A Billion Dollar Retention Empire
This Is How Apps Stop You From Leaving
Why Are Duolingo Notifications So Pushy?
I downloaded Duolingo, did two lessons from the app, and then ghosted it. I didn’t do this to be petty; I wanted to understand how Duolingo keeps its users engaged. What I found was a billion-dollar retention system that uses psychological hooks to keep you coming back. I documented every notification, email, and strategy they used to entice me back into the app. It was fascinating to see how they transitioned from happy encouragement to sad reminders, all designed to trigger my fear of losing my streak. This fear of loss is a powerful motivator, and it’s what keeps users like me returning to the app. Now, I’m taking these insights to build my own user retention strategy for my apps. If you’re struggling with user churn, you need to understand these tactics. 00:00 - The Day I Deleted Duolingo 01:27 - The Billion Dollar Addiction Engine 01:58 - 30 Days of Psychological Warfare 02:33 - Deconstructing the "Ding" 03:13 - Weaponizing Guilt 07:15 - Engineered FOMO 07:34 - Applying Duolingo's Strategy to Other Apps 08:29 - Creating a Protein Shake Tracker 09:17 - Reviewing the Initial Design 09:26 - Improving the Design 11:05 - Final Design Review 11:45 - Conclusion
Stealing Duolingo's Retention Strategy (For My Own Apps)
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The Dumbest Mistake With New Apps
I’m Trying Ali Abdaal’s Habit Tracker App For 30 Days
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