AI Note Taker App: 📈80M+ Views, 10M+ Likes, 300K MRR

How this AI note-taking app leveraged Reels to carve out its niche in a saturated market.

We all know this AI note taking marketing is super saturated, but it doesn't mean you still can't grab a slice of the pie. This is the story of how one founder doubled down on a niche, created a marketing strategy that felt like it was user generated, and is now making over 300K MRR with mobile iOS app.

Background 📓

Coconote launched in 2019 originally as a simple web app: paste a video link, and watch the transcript appear instantly. They knew they had to stand out in the growing market, so they focused on a niche target customer—lazy college students. By truly understanding their pain points, Coconote crafted a marketing strategy that left users wondering where this product had been all their lives.

Here are some of their most successful videos and how they did it 👇:

🎬 pov: my mom showed me how easy college can be: 24.3M Views, 521K Likes, 14K Shares

Hook: “My mom showed me how easy college can be”

Format: Classroom + app demo + caption overlay

Why this video worked:

• Clips syncing with song

• Feeding on emotional strings = mothers

• filmed in user setting = school

• strong claim = strong hook

🎬 Welcome to the new future of college education: 5.6M Views, 26.7K Likes, 720K Shares

Hook: “Welcome to the new future of college education…”

Format: Classroom + app demo + caption overlay

Why this video worked:

• Fast-paced cuts and transitions to keep the energy high

• Sets a large vision = “future of college education”

• Shows most of app features on <10 sec

🎬 This is what college looks like for this new generation: 7.5M Views, 124K Likes, 12K Shares

Hook: “This is what college looks like for this new generation”

Format: Classroom pan + app demo + caption overlay

Why this video worked:

• Trending song

• highlights "productivity hacks" moments

• Creating a narrative of the “new” generation

Key takeaways from CocoNote 💡

• Hyper targeted their customer.

  They knew the AI note taker market was too saturated, so they chose a niche within a niche.

• Created a grandiose vision of the future.

  People love to follow people. Create some hot takes and watch the sheep come flocking in.

• Touching on emotional chords.

  Who is the one person every kid will listen to? Their motha!

What you can replicate from this format 💰

• Market your product in its natural environment.

  What is the setting you would imagine your customers using your app? Film there.

• Make it feel like the content is organically user generated.

  Think about how your users would tell their friends about this app. Use that language.

• Find some trending sounds and practice syncing.

  Use the build up of the song to address a question or a statement and the drop to show your solution.

• Reusing content is ok!!
  If you notice most of their videos start with the same clip. No one really cares as long as you change up the hooks and story.

  
  

Know a founder that could use some help creating content? Feel free to share!

That’s all I got for this one. If you have any other viral consumer products you want me to break down my DM’s are always open.

Cheers!

Nick 🤝