[Journey] From $0 to… Hopefully Something – My OFM + AI Experiment

[DataPhreak]

happy to see a journey about AI ofm that is updated !

 

[Pavelll]

Что касается кармы на Reddit, на начальном этапе я в основном использовал обычные сабреддиты и какое-то время вел себя как обычный пользователь, прежде чем заниматься какой-либо рекламой. Ничего особенного, главная цель — сделать аккаунт естественным и старым, а не быстро набрать огромное количество кармы.
Честно говоря, что касается аккаунтов в Instagram, я бы посоветовал быть осторожнее с активным использованием ботов на ранних этапах. Instagram довольно хорошо распознает закономерности/связи, если все аккаунты ведут себя одинаково сразу после создания. По моему опыту, более медленная и естественная настройка обычно длится гораздо дольше, чем попытки массового создания и немедленного агрессивного использования аккаунтов.

For example, do you boost your karma for comments and posts in cat subreddits?

 

[shijin]

happy to see a journey about AI ofm that is updated !

Thanks Bro!

For example, do you boost your karma for comments and posts in cat subreddits?

Yeah, stuff like that can work.
The point isn’t really “cat subreddits” specifically, it’s just acting like a normal Reddit user before doing anything promotional. Comment on normal topics, build some history, don’t make the account look like it exists only to push links.
I’d rather build karma slowly and naturally than spam obvious karma-farming subs. That usually looks cleaner long term.

 

[Chronos Tech]

All the best for journey good luck..

 

[shijin]

All the best for journey good luck..

Thanks!!!

Day 174 Update

Another strong day. Revenue keeps climbing, but the most important part is how much more selective the system is becoming.

Revenue
• Total: $2,624
• Subscriptions: $574
• PPV: $1,617
• Tips: $433

Subscribers
• New subs: 166
• Rebill rate: ~91%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~36%
• Reddit: ~49%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 26
• IG Stories: 29

Operations
Chatter handled most conversations. I focused mainly on improving attention filtering and making sure high-value users get better timing and smoother experiences.

Observations (Important)

Big realization today:
Scaling is not about handling more people, it’s about handling the right people better.

At higher volume, trying to give everyone equal attention becomes a trap.
The users who actually move revenue need:
• Faster recognition
• Better pacing
• Cleaner offers
• More personalized follow-up

Another insight:
The best buyers don’t need the most pressure, they need the least friction.

High-value users usually already have intent.
If the experience feels smooth and natural, they spend without needing much convincing.

Also noticed:
Overworking low-intent users quietly destroys margins.

They may reply, ask questions, or engage casually, but if the buying signals aren’t there, too much manual time becomes expensive.

On the monetization side:
Post-purchase timing is becoming a major lever.

The best upsells today came shortly after the first purchase, while trust and excitement were still high.
Waiting too long made the second sale harder.

Traffic-wise:
Reddit is now clearly the dominant revenue source.

IG still brings discovery and scale, but Reddit continues to deliver better intent, stronger spenders, and less friction in conversion.

Another interesting point:
Simplifying the offer stack improved buyer speed.

Fewer options, cleaner positioning, and clearer next steps made users move faster.

New Focus / Tests
• Prioritize high-signal users earlier
• Improve post-purchase upsell timing
• Reduce manual effort on low-intent users
• Simplify offer structure even more

The system is becoming less about volume and more about precision.

 

[mangirdosas]

When you were finding your first models, how did you actually source leads? Were you using IG Explore/search, TikTok, X, Meta ads, referrals, or something else?

If it was mainly Instagram, how did you “train” the account/profile so Explore started showing the right type of creators, and what search/explore process did you use to find profiles worth contacting?

 

[Pavelll]

Thanks Bro!

Yeah, stuff like that can work.
The point isn’t really “cat subreddits” specifically, it’s just acting like a normal Reddit user before doing anything promotional. Comment on normal topics, build some history, don’t make the account look like it exists only to push links.
I’d rather build karma slowly and naturally than spam obvious karma-farming subs. That usually looks cleaner long term.

How do you deal with mean moderators?

 

[shijin]

When you were finding your first models, how did you actually source leads? Were you using IG Explore/search, TikTok, X, Meta ads, referrals, or something else?

If it was mainly Instagram, how did you “train” the account/profile so Explore started showing the right type of creators, and what search/explore process did you use to find profiles worth contacting?

Mainly Instagram and TikTok in the beginning. No ads, no complicated sourcing system.
For IG, I basically trained the account by only interacting with the type of creators I wanted to see. Follow a few relevant profiles, watch their reels fully, save posts, check suggested accounts, click similar profiles, avoid random content. After a few days Explore starts feeding you the right niche
Then I’d look for creators who already had some consistency but weren’t monetizing properly. Not huge influencers, more like smaller creators with decent content, some engagement, and clear potential.

TikTok was similar: watch, save, follow, and let the algorithm build the feed. Once your feed is trained, sourcing becomes much easier because the platforms basically start showing you leads all day.

How do you deal with mean moderators?

I don’t fight them. If a mod/sub doesn’t like the account or style of posting, I just move on. Arguing usually makes it worse and can burn the account faster.
Best approach is to read the rules, stay respectful, and treat each subreddit like its own little community. If they still don’t want you there, there are always other subs. Not worth wasting energy on ego battles with mods.

 

[shijin]

Day 175 Update

Another strong day and a nice continuation from the last few updates. Nothing too chaotic, just steady execution and better control.

Revenue
• Total: $2,711
• Subscriptions: $592
• PPV: $1,673
• Tips: $446

Subscribers
• New subs: 171
• Rebill rate: ~91%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~35%
• Reddit: ~50%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 26
• IG Stories: 30

Operations
Chatter handled most conversations. I focused mainly on cleaning up follow-up timing and making sure high-intent users were not getting lost in the volume.

Observations

Biggest thing today:
Volume without prioritization creates hidden losses.

The more users coming in, the easier it is to miss the ones that actually matter. A lot of revenue is not lost because the offer is bad, but because the right user does not get the right attention at the right time.

Another thing I noticed:
Follow-up timing matters more than follow-up wording.

Some users who ignored earlier messages converted later with very simple follow-ups. It was not because the message was genius, it was just sent at a better moment.

Also, Reddit continues to be the strongest channel in terms of buyer intent. IG still gives reach and discovery, but Reddit users are converting faster and spending with less resistance.

On the monetization side:
Repeat buyers are becoming easier to manage than new buyers.

Once trust is built, everything becomes smoother. Less explanation, less hesitation, and faster movement into higher-ticket offers.

Another interesting point:
Simpler conversations are converting better.

No overcomplicated scripts, no long explanations, just clean pacing and natural flow. The more human the chat feels, the better the results.

New Focus / Tests
• Improve prioritization of high-intent users
• Tighten follow-up timing
• Continue simplifying chat flows
• Keep scaling Reddit carefully without lowering quality

The system keeps growing, but the real work now is making sure growth does not create chaos.

 

[shijin]

Day 176 Update

Another solid day. Growth is still moving up, but today felt more like a systems check than a pure scaling day.

Revenue
• Total: $2,793
• Subscriptions: $608
• PPV: $1,729
• Tips: $456

Subscribers
• New subs: 176
• Rebill rate: ~92%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~34%
• Reddit: ~51%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 27
• IG Stories: 30

Operations
Chatter handled the majority of conversations. I spent most of my time checking where users drop off and where the flow gets too slow or too complicated.

Observations

Biggest takeaway today:
Most leaks are not obvious.

The system can look like it is working well from the outside, but small leaks add up:
• Slow replies to the wrong users
• Offers sent slightly too early
• Too much time spent on low-intent chats
• Follow-ups missed by a few hours

None of these look huge alone, but together they cost real money.

Another thing I noticed:
Better filtering makes the whole operation calmer.

When high-intent users are identified earlier, the chatter doesn’t need to treat every conversation like it has the same value. This makes the workflow easier and improves conversion quality.

On the monetization side:
The second and third purchases are becoming more important than the first.

First purchase proves trust. After that, the focus is experience, timing, and keeping momentum alive.

Reddit continues to be the strongest buyer source. It is not just driving more revenue now, it is also producing users who require less warming compared to IG.

Another interesting point:
Too much optimization can make chats feel robotic.

Whenever the flow became too perfect or too scripted, response quality dropped. Slightly more natural variation performed better.

New Focus / Tests
• Identify hidden leaks in the flow
• Improve high-intent user filtering
• Focus more on second/third purchase timing
• Keep chats natural while still structured

The system is growing, but the main goal now is making sure nothing breaks as volume increases.

 

[shijin]

Day 177 Update

Another solid day. Revenue is still moving up, but today was more about control and quality than just pushing harder.

Revenue
• Total: $2,872
• Subscriptions: $624
• PPV: $1,781
• Tips: $467

Subscribers
• New subs: 181
• Rebill rate: ~92%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~33%
• Reddit: ~52%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 27
• IG Stories: 31

Operations
Chatter handled most conversations. I focused mostly on reviewing how the current flows perform under higher volume and where quality starts dropping.

Observations

Biggest takeaway today:
Quality control becomes harder than growth.

Getting more traffic is not the difficult part anymore. The difficult part is keeping the same quality of:
• Conversations
• Follow-ups
• Offer timing
• User experience

…while volume increases.

Another thing I noticed:
Users can feel inconsistency immediately.

If tone, timing, or pacing changes too much, conversion quality drops. The system needs to feel smooth from first touch to repeat purchase.

On the monetization side:
Repeat spenders now deserve their own flow.

Treating them like new buyers wastes potential. Once someone has bought multiple times, the goal is less about convincing and more about maintaining the relationship.

Reddit continues to dominate buyer quality. IG still feeds the top of the funnel, but Reddit users are consistently converting faster and spending more per user.

Another interesting point:
Less manual chaos = better revenue.

The calmer and more structured the workflow is, the better the results. Random rushing creates missed follow-ups, weaker conversations, and lower spend.

New Focus / Tests
• Improve quality control as volume grows
• Build a separate flow for repeat spenders
• Keep tone and pacing more consistent
• Reduce manual chaos inside operations

Growth is still happening, but the real challenge now is keeping the machine clean while it scales.

 

[mangirdosas]

Hey bro, I saw you mentioned getting around 10-20 replies per 100 outreach messages, while my normal cold outreach reply rate is closer to 2-3%. I understand you said it’s mostly target + real-looking account + short respectful opener, not a magic script, but could you break down the actual outreach system a bit more?

Specifically, how do you avoid most DMs landing in spam/requests on IG or X/Twitter? Are you mainly replying to stories/comments first, warming the account, engaging before DMing, or sending direct cold DMs?

Also, what does your opener structure look like without revealing the exact copy? For example: compliment/context line → collab question → rev-share mention later? And how many follow-ups do you send before moving on?

I’m curious because I know outreach pretty well, but in this niche my response rate is much lower, so I’m trying to understand whether the difference is inbox placement, account trust, targeting, message angle, or follow-up timing.

 

[shijin]

Hey bro, I saw you mentioned getting around 10-20 replies per 100 outreach messages, while my normal cold outreach reply rate is closer to 2-3%. I understand you said it’s mostly target + real-looking account + short respectful opener, not a magic script, but could you break down the actual outreach system a bit more?

Specifically, how do you avoid most DMs landing in spam/requests on IG or X/Twitter? Are you mainly replying to stories/comments first, warming the account, engaging before DMing, or sending direct cold DMs?

Also, what does your opener structure look like without revealing the exact copy? For example: compliment/context line → collab question → rev-share mention later? And how many follow-ups do you send before moving on?

I’m curious because I know outreach pretty well, but in this niche my response rate is much lower, so I’m trying to understand whether the difference is inbox placement, account trust, targeting, message angle, or follow-up timing.

Yeah, from my experience the biggest difference is not the opener itself, it’s everything before the opener.
I don’t like pure cold blasting from a fresh-looking account. That’s usually where people get terrible reply rates. The account needs to look real first, and ideally there’s some light touch before the DM, watching stories, liking something relevant, maybe replying to a story if it feels natural. That already makes the message feel less random.
For the opener, I keep it very short and specific. Usually something like a real compliment or observation about their content, then a soft question around whether they’re open to growing/monetizing more seriously. I don’t lead with rev-share or a big pitch immediately because that makes it feel like spam. If they reply, then I explain more.

Follow-ups are also minimal. Usually one follow-up, maybe two max if the profile looks really promising. After that I move on. If someone needs to be chased too much before even starting, they’re usually not the best fit anyway.


So I’d say the difference is mostly targeting + account trust + message angle. Inbox placement matters, but if the profile looks fake, the message is too long, or the pitch feels copy-pasted, even good placement won’t save it.

 

[shijin]

Day 178 Update

Another strong day. Growth continues, but today made it clear that the real challenge is no longer getting attention, it’s managing attention correctly.

Revenue
• Total: $2,958
• Subscriptions: $641
• PPV: $1,836
• Tips: $481

Subscribers
• New subs: 187
• Rebill rate: ~92%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~32%
• Reddit: ~53%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 28
• IG Stories: 32

Operations
Chatter handled most conversations. I focused mainly on repeat buyer handling and checking whether high-value users were being moved into the right flow quickly enough.

Observations

Biggest takeaway today:
Repeat buyers need less selling, but better timing.

Once someone has already bought, the mistake is treating them like a fresh lead again. They do not need a long warmup. They need the right offer at the right moment, without making the conversation feel forced.

Another thing I noticed:
The best users are not always the loudest users.

Some high-value users do not message constantly, but when they do engage, they spend quickly. Earlier I probably gave too much attention to active low-intent users just because they were “present.”

On the monetization side:
Quiet spenders are becoming a very important segment.

These are users who do not ask many questions, do not need much convincing, but respond well to clean offers and smooth pacing. They are easy to miss if the chatter only focuses on the most active chats.

Reddit continues to outperform in buyer quality. IG still brings scale, but Reddit is now clearly the stronger monetization channel.

Another interesting point:
Too many touchpoints can reduce urgency.

If users feel like the offer or attention is always available, they delay. Slightly cleaner timing and less over-contacting improved response quality.

New Focus / Tests
• Build a clearer flow for repeat buyers
• Identify quiet high-value users earlier
• Reduce unnecessary touchpoints
• Keep improving offer timing without adding pressure

The system is still growing, but the biggest wins now are coming from cleaner user handling, not more volume.

 

[syk0z]

Day 178 Update

Another strong day. Growth continues, but today made it clear that the real challenge is no longer getting attention, it’s managing attention correctly.

Revenue
• Total: $2,958
• Subscriptions: $641
• PPV: $1,836
• Tips: $481

Subscribers
• New subs: 187
• Rebill rate: ~92%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~32%
• Reddit: ~53%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 28
• IG Stories: 32

Operations
Chatter handled most conversations. I focused mainly on repeat buyer handling and checking whether high-value users were being moved into the right flow quickly enough.

Observations

Biggest takeaway today:
Repeat buyers need less selling, but better timing.

Once someone has already bought, the mistake is treating them like a fresh lead again. They do not need a long warmup. They need the right offer at the right moment, without making the conversation feel forced.

Another thing I noticed:
The best users are not always the loudest users.

Some high-value users do not message constantly, but when they do engage, they spend quickly. Earlier I probably gave too much attention to active low-intent users just because they were “present.”

On the monetization side:
Quiet spenders are becoming a very important segment.

These are users who do not ask many questions, do not need much convincing, but respond well to clean offers and smooth pacing. They are easy to miss if the chatter only focuses on the most active chats.

Reddit continues to outperform in buyer quality. IG still brings scale, but Reddit is now clearly the stronger monetization channel.

Another interesting point:
Too many touchpoints can reduce urgency.

If users feel like the offer or attention is always available, they delay. Slightly cleaner timing and less over-contacting improved response quality.

New Focus / Tests
• Build a clearer flow for repeat buyers
• Identify quiet high-value users earlier
• Reduce unnecessary touchpoints
• Keep improving offer timing without adding pressure

The system is still growing, but the biggest wins now are coming from cleaner user handling, not more volume.

This might sound kinda dumb, but I just found this thread and got hooked.

When you post numbers like “Revenue: $684” or “Total: $2,116”, is that revenue for that specific day, or total revenue so far?

 

[redid]

Hi i saw that you dont post to much reels but for that you post a lot of IG Stories, can i ask what kind of stories you post and what the content is like?

 

[shijin]

This might sound kinda dumb, but I just found this thread and got hooked.

When you post numbers like “Revenue: $684” or “Total: $2,116”, is that revenue for that specific day, or total revenue so far?

Not dumb at all, totally fair question.
Those are daily numbers for that specific day, not total revenue so far. So when I write “Total: $2,116”, that means revenue made on that day only.

Hi i saw that you dont post to much reels but for that you post a lot of IG Stories, can i ask what kind of stories you post and what the content is like?

Yeah stories are honestly a big part of the funnel.
Reels bring new eyes, but stories warm people up. I mostly use stories for personality, soft teasing, polls/questions, casual “day in life” style stuff, and small curiosity hooks. Nothing too aggressive.
The goal is not to hard sell in every story. It’s more about getting replies and making the page feel alive. Story replies convert much better than random bio clicks because the person already engaged first.
So reels = reach, stories = trust + DMs + conversion. That’s why I post more stories than reels.

 

[shijin]

Day 179 Update

Another strong day. Revenue keeps climbing, but today was mostly about refining how we handle different user types instead of treating everyone the same.

Revenue
• Total: $3,041
• Subscriptions: $658
• PPV: $1,892
• Tips: $491

Subscribers
• New subs: 193
• Rebill rate: ~93%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~31%
• Reddit: ~54%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 28
• IG Stories: 33

Operations
Chatter handled most conversations. I focused mainly on separating repeat spenders, quiet buyers, and low-intent users into cleaner flows.

Observations

Biggest takeaway today:
Different users need different levels of attention.

Some users need quick, direct offers. Some need warming. Some should only get light touchpoints. Earlier in the journey, too much time was wasted trying to force every user through the same path.

Another thing I noticed:
Quiet buyers are still underrated.

They do not message a lot, but when the timing is right, they spend without much resistance. The mistake is overlooking them because they are not constantly active in chat.

On the monetization side:
The best upsells happen when the user already feels momentum.

Not too early, not too late. If the first purchase went smooth and the user is still engaged, the second offer lands much easier.

Reddit continues to be the strongest revenue source. IG still creates volume, but Reddit users are simply easier to monetize once they enter the funnel.

Another interesting point:
Too much “perfect scripting” lowers trust.

Slightly more human replies, small variations, and less robotic pacing performed better than overly polished messages.

New Focus / Tests
• Separate users into clearer flows
• Improve quiet buyer tracking
• Time upsells closer to high-engagement moments
• Keep conversations structured but natural

The system is growing, but the main advantage now is knowing who deserves what kind of attention.

 

[shijin]

Day 180 Update

Big milestone day. 180 days in, and the business feels completely different compared to the early stage. Less guessing, less chaos, and much more structure.

Revenue
• Total: $3,126
• Subscriptions: $674
• PPV: $1,948
• Tips: $504

Subscribers
• New subs: 198
• Rebill rate: ~93%

Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~30%
• Reddit: ~55%
• TikTok: ~10%
• Other: ~5%

Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 29
• IG Stories: 34

Operations
Chatter handled most of the volume. I focused mainly on reviewing repeat buyer flows and checking if the current system can keep quality stable as daily volume keeps increasing.

Observations

Biggest takeaway today:
At this stage, retention is more important than acquisition.

New traffic still matters, but the biggest revenue impact is coming from users who already know the ecosystem. Repeat spenders, reactivated users, and warm subscribers are much easier to monetize than completely fresh traffic.

Another thing I noticed:
The first purchase is no longer the main goal, it is the start of the real funnel.

Once someone buys once, the focus shifts to:
• keeping the experience smooth
• timing the next offer correctly
• avoiding too much pressure
• keeping emotional momentum alive

On the monetization side:
The best buyers do not need more options, they need clearer direction.

Too many choices slow people down. Simple offers with clean positioning are still outperforming complicated bundles.

Reddit continues to be the strongest platform for buyer intent. IG still brings attention and visibility, but Reddit users are now driving most of the revenue quality.

Another interesting point:
Growth creates new problems that only systems can fix.

What worked at $500/day does not automatically work at $3k/day. More volume means more chances to miss follow-ups, lose high-intent users, or let conversations become inconsistent.

New Focus / Tests
• Improve repeat buyer retention
• Simplify offer direction even more
• Keep Reddit quality high while scaling
• Build stronger systems for higher daily volume

180 days in, the biggest lesson is clear: getting attention is only the beginning. The real money comes from managing that attention properly.

 

[Kenshir0]

Damn look how far you've come, this is so inspirational