Why your app is stuck at 500 downloads

January 13, 2026

Hey there,

Some apps hit 10k downloads with zero ad spend.

Others die at 500 downloads no matter how much money they throw at ads.

The difference isn't the algorithm.

It’s your content.

If you post generic tips, educational carousels, and product screenshots with "Download now" captions, don’t wonder why nobody cares.

Six months of posting with zero traction, and the app dies at 500 downloads because nobody ever saw it.

Meanwhile, your competition is hitting 10k downloads with worse apps because their content actually works.

The algorithm doesn’t owe you attention. Your content has to earn it.

Bad content has no hook, so people scroll past in half a second.
It has no story, which means the facts don't make anyone feel anything.
And it has no edge, so it looks like every other post in the niche.

Good content stops the scroll, makes people feel something, and creates demand without selling.

I grew Puff Count to 120k followers and 50 million organic views.

I didn’t hack the algorithm, I just made content people actually wanted to watch.

My TikToks were stuck at 200 views until I fixed my content strategy. Then one video hit 3.6 million views.

Same algorithm everyone else has access to.

If your app isn't growing, stop blaming distribution. Fix your content first.

Peace,
Steven