In today’s fast-paced digital world, innovation often comes from unexpected places. An example is Rexon Wong, a high school student who has become the name of a tech entrepreneur.
In this interview with the Niche Pursuit Podcast, Rexon successfully launched his app to thousands of users in just three hours on how to create his own app, text behind the images.
Let’s break the journey, the strategies behind success, and what others can learn from his experience.
Watch the entire episode
From idea to reality
Rexon’s app The Word Behind the Image was born out of personal problems he encountered.
Daniel Dalen, while watching one of his entrepreneurial inspirations, appreciates the design effect used in Dalen’s thumbnails, which appears behind his face. However, Rexon struggles to reproduce this effect using tools like Photoshop.
He realized that for beginners, there is no simple, accessible tool to create this text effect. This insight allowed him to build his own application, which simplified the process of creating this text effect on the image.
Rexon used his coding background, especially his experience with hackathons, to create a prototype of the application in just three hours using a combination of AI tools and coding platforms.
The power of social media and virus launch
Once the app was built, Rexon wasn’t just sitting on his creations. He shared it with the world. He went on Twitter to show his app.
How is his launch different?
He is not only promoting an app. He is promoting the story of a 17-year-old high school student who built an app in just a few hours. This “wow factor” resonated with his audience and helped his launch spread, quickly amassing 300,000 views.
Rexon attributes his success to the power of documenting his journey on social media.
By sharing the process of building his own app publicly, he cultivated followers of like-minded people, which contributed to the initial success of the text behind the image. His transparency and relevance resonated with many people, further exacerbating the virality of his app.
One week later: Polish and launch the app
The initial virus position turned into a serious business opportunity.
After receiving positive feedback and seeing the potential of the application, Rexon spent a week polishing the application, improving the code and perfecting the user interface.
These improvements are essential to ensure a smooth user experience when the application is extended. A week after his initial release, the text behind the image was officially broadcast live, with users pouring into their apps.
Product hunting and attracting attention
Rexson knows that putting the app in front of more people is the key to its growth.
After perfecting his app, he turned to the product Hunt, a popular platform for discovering new products. With his previous experience in product hunting, Rexson launched his own app there and became the first product of the day in a few hours.
The success of product hunting can be attributed to several factors:
- Rexon built a follower on Twitter, which he used to gain initial traction.
- He used a virus demonstration video that highlights the unique features of the app.
- His age and the speed at which he built the app created an interesting story that caught people’s attention.
Thanks to his efforts on the platform, the app gained top 1,000 users in a few days, laying the foundation for further growth.
Organic Growth: Utilizing Influencers and Words
After the app was launched, Rexon focused on organic growth through its personal brand.
He continues to share his progress on Twitter, keeping listeners engaged while showing new features and updates. Additionally, the app has attracted influencers to platforms like Instagram and Tiktok, which helps push the app to new users.
By staying active on Twitter and providing value to listeners, Rexon continues to grow his apps and personal brand.
As the app became attractive and other influencers began to promote it, word of mouth marketing became a key factor in the text that images touched 300,000 users.
Monetization: From freedom to professionalism
Rexon initially launched the app as a free tool, but after receiving an unexpected server bill, he realized he needed to monetize the app. The solution is offered through a free value-added model, with its free plan allowing users to create up to two designs and professional plans, offering unlimited designs for just $4 per month.
The monetization strategy is simple but effective.
Additionally, Rexon has received sponsorship and advertising displays from other tech entrepreneurs looking to promote their products. This dual revenue stream (a combination of subscription fees and advertising) allows Rexon to start generating revenue from the app.
Overcome challenges and focus on the future
Despite initial success, Rexson faces challenges, especially when converting users into paid customers. He admits that many users hit the paywall instead of converting to a Pro plan, a common obstacle for many app creators. However, he is optimistic and has been learning and iterating his own approach.
Looking ahead, Rexson plans to continue to develop his own app, explore new monetization strategies and potentially sell it.
He also focuses on building his own personal brand, which is crucial to his growth. With its entrepreneurial spirit, Rexon also works on new projects such as Bulletpen, Bulletpen, Bulletpen, an AI-powered application that can help students write papers simply by speaking.
Key Points
Rexson’s journey proves creativity, perseverance and the power of harnessing social media. Here are some gains for those who want to follow in his footsteps:
- Start small, but want to be big:Rexon’s app stems from the simple problem he faces, but it quickly expanded as he focused on solving the problem effectively.
- Build a personal brand: Recording your journey and sharing your progress can help build an audience that supports your project.
- Take advantage of virus moments: Sometimes, your work will tell you. If you have an interesting story to tell, don’t be afraid to share.
- Learn from feedback: Whether it’s user feedback or advice from other entrepreneurs, it can always improve your products and strategies.
Rexon’s story is encouraging not only because he achieved something at such a young age, but also because it shows that through the right combination of skills, timing and effort, anyone can build some influence.
