[Journey] From $0 to… Hopefully Something – My OFM + AI Experiment
- Thread starter shijin
- Start date
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Yeah bro, I can put something together when I get time. Personally, I’d start with one creator, keep costs as low as possible, and focus on organic traffic from IG/TikTok before spending on ads or a bunch of tools. Learn content, conversion and retention first, then scale what actually works. Biggest issues are finding a reliable creator, getting traffic that actually converts, and managing cash flow. Also, don’t expect quick money, there’s a lot of testing and shit that won’t work at first
Appreciate it bro, means a lot just trying to keep showing up and sharing the real process, even when things slow down a bit haha. Consistency is the whole game
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Day 268 Update
Another day around the same range
Revenue dipped a bit again, but nothing dramatic
I used to overthink every little drop, now I mostly look at what actually changed and whether it's something worth fixing
Revenue
• Total: $4,291
• Subscriptions: $1,073
• PPV: $2,537
• Tips: $681
Subscribers
• New subs: 279
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~38%
• Reddit: ~26%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 43
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations today. I spent some time reviewing the numbers from the last week and noticed we’ve been paying more attention to daily revenue than to where it actually comes from
That’s a mistake. Two days can bring almost the same amount of money, but one might come from repeat buyers while the other depends heavily on fresh traffic. Those aren't equally stable
So I’m separating the numbers a bit more and looking at new buyers, returning buyers, and reactivations individually. Nothing complicated, just enough to see what's holding up and what's getting weaker
TikTok is still bringing decent reach, but conversion quality is inconsistent. Some content attracts people who are interested in the creator, others just get views and disappear. Trying to figure out what those posts have in common is probably more useful than just posting more
Reddit is a little quieter lately, so I'm not forcing extra volume there just to make the stats look better. I'd rather keep the content relevant and see what actually brings people through
One more thing: the team is getting better at handling repeat buyers without needing me to check every conversation. Still some mistakes, obviously, but I don't want the whole operation depending on me being online all day
New Focus / Tests
• Track new and returning revenue separately
• Compare TikTok content by conversion quality
• Avoid forcing volume on quieter channels
• Keep improving repeat buyer workflows
• Let the team handle routine decisions without constant checking
Nothing especially exciting today. Just trying to understand the business a little better instead of reacting to every number on the dashboard
Another day around the same range
Revenue dipped a bit again, but nothing dramatic
I used to overthink every little drop, now I mostly look at what actually changed and whether it's something worth fixing
Revenue
• Total: $4,291
• Subscriptions: $1,073
• PPV: $2,537
• Tips: $681
Subscribers
• New subs: 279
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~38%
• Reddit: ~26%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 43
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations today. I spent some time reviewing the numbers from the last week and noticed we’ve been paying more attention to daily revenue than to where it actually comes from
That’s a mistake. Two days can bring almost the same amount of money, but one might come from repeat buyers while the other depends heavily on fresh traffic. Those aren't equally stable
So I’m separating the numbers a bit more and looking at new buyers, returning buyers, and reactivations individually. Nothing complicated, just enough to see what's holding up and what's getting weaker
TikTok is still bringing decent reach, but conversion quality is inconsistent. Some content attracts people who are interested in the creator, others just get views and disappear. Trying to figure out what those posts have in common is probably more useful than just posting more
Reddit is a little quieter lately, so I'm not forcing extra volume there just to make the stats look better. I'd rather keep the content relevant and see what actually brings people through
One more thing: the team is getting better at handling repeat buyers without needing me to check every conversation. Still some mistakes, obviously, but I don't want the whole operation depending on me being online all day
New Focus / Tests
• Track new and returning revenue separately
• Compare TikTok content by conversion quality
• Avoid forcing volume on quieter channels
• Keep improving repeat buyer workflows
• Let the team handle routine decisions without constant checking
Nothing especially exciting today. Just trying to understand the business a little better instead of reacting to every number on the dashboard
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Yeah, existing fans make up a pretty big part of revenue now, especially repeat buyers. But if all traffic stopped, revenue would slowly decline as people churn and new subs dry up. The existing base could keep things going for a while, but I wouldn’t rely on it forever lol. Retention is huge, but you still need fresh people coming in
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Day 269 Update
Revenue took another small step down today
Nothing too dramatic, but I'm noticing that holding a stable level takes more work than I expected
You can't just leave things running and assume last month's results will repeat forever
Revenue
• Total: $4,218
• Subscriptions: $1,056
• PPV: $2,492
• Tips: $670
Subscribers
• New subs: 273
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~39%
• Reddit: ~26%
• TikTok: ~29%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 44
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations again. I spent some time checking how much revenue comes from people who already know the creator versus completely new users
Repeat buyers are definitely important, but I don't want to fool myself into thinking they can carry the business forever. People cancel, spending habits change, and some just disappear. You still need new people coming in, even when retention is good
The tricky part is balancing both without throwing money and time at every traffic source
TikTok keeps bringing reach, but the results vary a lot. Reddit has been quieter, and IG is doing its usual thing. I'm trying not to panic and make five changes at once because then I won't even know what helped
Another thing I caught today was some overlap in the team's work. Two people were checking the same conversations while other tasks were waiting. Easy mistake, but it wastes paid hours. We're making responsibilities a bit clearer so everyone knows what they're actually handling
I'm also trying to stop treating every revenue dip like an emergency. Sometimes there's a real issue, sometimes it's just a weaker day. The important thing is spotting the difference before making random changes
New Focus
• Keep bringing in new users while improving retention
• Review traffic sources based on actual conversions
• Cut duplicated work between team members
• Avoid changing too many things at once
• Keep an eye on costs as revenue settles into a lower range
Still figuring things out. The peak was nice, obviously, but this phase is teaching me whether the business can hold up without constantly pushing harder
Revenue took another small step down today
Nothing too dramatic, but I'm noticing that holding a stable level takes more work than I expected
You can't just leave things running and assume last month's results will repeat forever
Revenue
• Total: $4,218
• Subscriptions: $1,056
• PPV: $2,492
• Tips: $670
Subscribers
• New subs: 273
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~39%
• Reddit: ~26%
• TikTok: ~29%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 44
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations again. I spent some time checking how much revenue comes from people who already know the creator versus completely new users
Repeat buyers are definitely important, but I don't want to fool myself into thinking they can carry the business forever. People cancel, spending habits change, and some just disappear. You still need new people coming in, even when retention is good
The tricky part is balancing both without throwing money and time at every traffic source
TikTok keeps bringing reach, but the results vary a lot. Reddit has been quieter, and IG is doing its usual thing. I'm trying not to panic and make five changes at once because then I won't even know what helped
Another thing I caught today was some overlap in the team's work. Two people were checking the same conversations while other tasks were waiting. Easy mistake, but it wastes paid hours. We're making responsibilities a bit clearer so everyone knows what they're actually handling
I'm also trying to stop treating every revenue dip like an emergency. Sometimes there's a real issue, sometimes it's just a weaker day. The important thing is spotting the difference before making random changes
New Focus
• Keep bringing in new users while improving retention
• Review traffic sources based on actual conversions
• Cut duplicated work between team members
• Avoid changing too many things at once
• Keep an eye on costs as revenue settles into a lower range
Still figuring things out. The peak was nice, obviously, but this phase is teaching me whether the business can hold up without constantly pushing harder
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Day 270 Update
Hit day 270 today
Kinda wild how different the business looks compared to the first few months
Back then, every increase felt huge
Now I'm spending more time figuring out why numbers move and what actually deserves my attention
Revenue
• Total: $4,276
• Subscriptions: $1,069
• PPV: $2,531
• Tips: $676
Subscribers
• New subs: 278
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~39%
• Reddit: ~25%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 31
• IG Stories: 44
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations today
I mostly looked at the numbers across the last couple of weeks and tried to separate actual problems from normal fluctuations
One thing that keeps coming up is how easy it is to confuse a busy team with a productive team. Lots of messages, lots of follow-ups, plenty of activity. But if the same revenue could be generated with less wasted effort, then all that extra work isn't really helping
We're still cleaning up the workflow. Nothing revolutionary, just clearer priorities and fewer unnecessary tasks. It's not the exciting part of the business, but it matters when you're paying people and trying to keep margins healthy
Traffic is still a mixed bag. TikTok is getting a bigger share of attention, but reach alone doesn't tell me much anymore. I want to know which content brings people who actually stick around and spend
Reddit has cooled off compared to its best period. I'm not writing it off, but I'm also not going to force it just because it used to be the strongest channel. Platforms change, audiences change, and sometimes an old approach stops working as well
Retention is still important, though I'm trying to be realistic about it. Existing fans help smooth out slower acquisition days, but they don't replace new traffic forever. People cancel, lose interest, or simply stop spending. Both sides need attention
Also had a small reminder today that adding another tool isn't always the answer. Sometimes the team just needs a clearer process. I've definitely overcomplicated things before by trying to solve every little issue with another system lol
New Focus
• Compare content by the quality of users it brings in
• Keep reducing wasted team hours
• Improve retention without ignoring acquisition
• Review older traffic strategies instead of blindly repeating them
• Keep costs under control while revenue stabilizes
270 days in, and I'm still learning. The biggest difference now is that I don't feel the need to change everything after one bad day. Check the data, fix what makes sense, and keep moving.
Hit day 270 today
Kinda wild how different the business looks compared to the first few months
Back then, every increase felt huge
Now I'm spending more time figuring out why numbers move and what actually deserves my attention
Revenue
• Total: $4,276
• Subscriptions: $1,069
• PPV: $2,531
• Tips: $676
Subscribers
• New subs: 278
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~39%
• Reddit: ~25%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 31
• IG Stories: 44
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations today
I mostly looked at the numbers across the last couple of weeks and tried to separate actual problems from normal fluctuations
One thing that keeps coming up is how easy it is to confuse a busy team with a productive team. Lots of messages, lots of follow-ups, plenty of activity. But if the same revenue could be generated with less wasted effort, then all that extra work isn't really helping
We're still cleaning up the workflow. Nothing revolutionary, just clearer priorities and fewer unnecessary tasks. It's not the exciting part of the business, but it matters when you're paying people and trying to keep margins healthy
Traffic is still a mixed bag. TikTok is getting a bigger share of attention, but reach alone doesn't tell me much anymore. I want to know which content brings people who actually stick around and spend
Reddit has cooled off compared to its best period. I'm not writing it off, but I'm also not going to force it just because it used to be the strongest channel. Platforms change, audiences change, and sometimes an old approach stops working as well
Retention is still important, though I'm trying to be realistic about it. Existing fans help smooth out slower acquisition days, but they don't replace new traffic forever. People cancel, lose interest, or simply stop spending. Both sides need attention
Also had a small reminder today that adding another tool isn't always the answer. Sometimes the team just needs a clearer process. I've definitely overcomplicated things before by trying to solve every little issue with another system lol
New Focus
• Compare content by the quality of users it brings in
• Keep reducing wasted team hours
• Improve retention without ignoring acquisition
• Review older traffic strategies instead of blindly repeating them
• Keep costs under control while revenue stabilizes
270 days in, and I'm still learning. The biggest difference now is that I don't feel the need to change everything after one bad day. Check the data, fix what makes sense, and keep moving.
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Day 271 Update
A slightly better day, nothing crazy
Revenue is still moving around the same range, and I'm starting to accept that this might be the new normal for a while
Not every phase needs to be about breaking records
Revenue
• Total: $4,331
• Subscriptions: $1,082
• PPV: $2,564
• Tips: $685
Subscribers
• New subs: 284
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~39%
• Reddit: ~25%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 45
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations again. I spent some time reviewing how we're dealing with users after they make their first purchase, because I think there's still room to improve that part
Getting the first sale is only one piece of it. Some buyers come back naturally, others need better content or a smoother experience, and some simply aren't interested in spending again. Treating all three groups the same doesn't make much sense
We're trying to keep the follow-up process useful without turning it into endless messages. If someone isn't interested, pushing harder usually just wastes everyone's time
Traffic-wise, TikTok is still bringing a decent amount of attention, but I'm looking more closely at what happens after people land on the profile. Views are nice, obviously, but they don't pay the bills on their own lol
Reddit is still below its stronger period. I'm reviewing which content formats used to bring better results and whether they're worth testing again. No point blindly repeating old posts just because they worked months ago
One thing I noticed with the team is that clearer instructions help more than constant checking. When people know what to prioritize, I don't need to jump into every small decision. Still working on it, but that's the direction I want
New Focus
• Improve the experience after the first purchase
• Keep follow-ups useful and natural
• Compare traffic by conversion quality
• Test older content formats selectively
• Make team decisions easier without adding more tools
The main lesson lately is that maintaining revenue takes its own kind of work. Growth got us here, but keeping things stable means paying attention to the small details and not wasting energy on stuff that doesn't move anything forward
A slightly better day, nothing crazy
Revenue is still moving around the same range, and I'm starting to accept that this might be the new normal for a while
Not every phase needs to be about breaking records
Revenue
• Total: $4,331
• Subscriptions: $1,082
• PPV: $2,564
• Tips: $685
Subscribers
• New subs: 284
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~39%
• Reddit: ~25%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 45
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations again. I spent some time reviewing how we're dealing with users after they make their first purchase, because I think there's still room to improve that part
Getting the first sale is only one piece of it. Some buyers come back naturally, others need better content or a smoother experience, and some simply aren't interested in spending again. Treating all three groups the same doesn't make much sense
We're trying to keep the follow-up process useful without turning it into endless messages. If someone isn't interested, pushing harder usually just wastes everyone's time
Traffic-wise, TikTok is still bringing a decent amount of attention, but I'm looking more closely at what happens after people land on the profile. Views are nice, obviously, but they don't pay the bills on their own lol
Reddit is still below its stronger period. I'm reviewing which content formats used to bring better results and whether they're worth testing again. No point blindly repeating old posts just because they worked months ago
One thing I noticed with the team is that clearer instructions help more than constant checking. When people know what to prioritize, I don't need to jump into every small decision. Still working on it, but that's the direction I want
New Focus
• Improve the experience after the first purchase
• Keep follow-ups useful and natural
• Compare traffic by conversion quality
• Test older content formats selectively
• Make team decisions easier without adding more tools
The main lesson lately is that maintaining revenue takes its own kind of work. Growth got us here, but keeping things stable means paying attention to the small details and not wasting energy on stuff that doesn't move anything forward
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Thanks bro!!
Day 272 Update
Another day in the same general range
Revenue dipped a little again, but honestly I'm not too bothered by it
The bigger question is whether we're actually improving the business or just working harder to keep the numbers where they are
Revenue
• Total: $4,267
• Subscriptions: $1,067
• PPV: $2,522
• Tips: $678
Subscribers
• New subs: 276
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~40%
• Reddit: ~24%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 4
• TikToks: 2
• Reddit posts: 29
• IG Stories: 44
Operations
Chatter handled most conversations today. I spent some time looking at the gap between people who subscribe and people who actually make a second purchase
That's one area where I think we're leaving money on the table. Not everyone will buy again, obviously, but some users seem to lose interest because the experience after the first purchase isn't consistent enough
We're reviewing that part of the flow now. Nothing about blasting people with offers. More about having decent content ready, making the next step clear, and not letting the conversation go cold because nobody knows what to do next
Traffic is still a bit uneven. TikTok brings attention, IG keeps things moving, and Reddit hasn't fully recovered to its earlier level. I'm trying to judge each source by the people it brings in, not just clicks or views
I also noticed that some of our older processes were built when the team was smaller. They worked fine back then, but now they create extra steps and confusion. So I'm cutting a few things out instead of adding another layer of automation
Funny how often the solution is removing something rather than building more stuff lol
New Focus
• Improve the transition from first purchase to repeat purchase
• Keep tracking traffic quality across platforms
• Remove outdated steps from team workflows
• Make sure content is ready before it's needed
• Keep costs sensible while revenue stabilizes
Still a quieter phase compared to the peak, but I'm fine with that. I'd rather build something that can handle a slower month than keep chasing numbers that aren't sustainable
- Aug 21, 2023
- 4,203
- 1,730
Day 273 Update
A bit of a bounce today, which is nice
Still nowhere near the old peak, but I'm not expecting every week to look better than the last one anymore
The focus is keeping things healthy without throwing more money and hours at every problem
Revenue
• Total: $4,342
• Subscriptions: $1,084
• PPV: $2,568
• Tips: $690
Subscribers
• New subs: 282
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~40%
• Reddit: ~24%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 45
Operations
Chatter handled most of the conversations again. I spent part of the day reviewing old numbers and comparing them with what's happening now
Something that stood out is how much our priorities have changed. Earlier, I was mostly thinking about getting more people into the funnel. Now I'm looking at what happens to those people after they arrive, and where we're losing them
We still have days with plenty of new subscribers but weaker spending afterward. That tells me acquisition alone isn't going to fix everything. The experience after subscribing matters too, and so does the content available at that moment
I'm also trying to get better at spotting when a strategy has simply run its course. Some content formats that worked really well a few months ago aren't doing much now. Doesn't mean they're useless forever, but copying the same thing over and over isn't a plan either
On the team side, things are getting a little smoother. There are still mistakes, but fewer situations where everything needs my attention. That's probably one of the most useful improvements we've made recently
Traffic is still spread across the main platforms. Reddit remains below its best days, while TikTok keeps bringing reach. I'm not making any major changes based on one day's results, though. Need a bit more data before deciding what's actually worth changing
New Focus
• Figure out where new subscribers lose interest
• Refresh content formats that have gone stale
• Keep improving team independence
• Track repeat purchases alongside new subscriptions
• Avoid making big decisions based on daily fluctuations
One thing I've learned over these 273 days is that growth can hide a lot of problems. When the numbers are climbing fast, it's easy to ignore inefficiencies. Slower periods make them much harder to miss, which isn't always fun, but it's useful
A bit of a bounce today, which is nice
Still nowhere near the old peak, but I'm not expecting every week to look better than the last one anymore
The focus is keeping things healthy without throwing more money and hours at every problem
Revenue
• Total: $4,342
• Subscriptions: $1,084
• PPV: $2,568
• Tips: $690
Subscribers
• New subs: 282
• Rebill rate: ~92%
Traffic Sources
• Instagram: ~40%
• Reddit: ~24%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Other: ~6%
Content Posted
• IG Reels: 3
• TikToks: 3
• Reddit posts: 30
• IG Stories: 45
Operations
Chatter handled most of the conversations again. I spent part of the day reviewing old numbers and comparing them with what's happening now
Something that stood out is how much our priorities have changed. Earlier, I was mostly thinking about getting more people into the funnel. Now I'm looking at what happens to those people after they arrive, and where we're losing them
We still have days with plenty of new subscribers but weaker spending afterward. That tells me acquisition alone isn't going to fix everything. The experience after subscribing matters too, and so does the content available at that moment
I'm also trying to get better at spotting when a strategy has simply run its course. Some content formats that worked really well a few months ago aren't doing much now. Doesn't mean they're useless forever, but copying the same thing over and over isn't a plan either
On the team side, things are getting a little smoother. There are still mistakes, but fewer situations where everything needs my attention. That's probably one of the most useful improvements we've made recently
Traffic is still spread across the main platforms. Reddit remains below its best days, while TikTok keeps bringing reach. I'm not making any major changes based on one day's results, though. Need a bit more data before deciding what's actually worth changing
New Focus
• Figure out where new subscribers lose interest
• Refresh content formats that have gone stale
• Keep improving team independence
• Track repeat purchases alongside new subscriptions
• Avoid making big decisions based on daily fluctuations
One thing I've learned over these 273 days is that growth can hide a lot of problems. When the numbers are climbing fast, it's easy to ignore inefficiencies. Slower periods make them much harder to miss, which isn't always fun, but it's useful