A soulmate drawing app quietly hit $1M in monthly revenue – in just 90 days.

No App Store feature. No big budget launch.

Just smart growth loops built around TikTok, emotion-rich hooks, and intentional App Store flywheel design.

The app? Starla.

Here’s how they built one of the fastest-growing apps.

TikTok Was the Ignition Point

Starla’s breakout moment came from viral UGC on TikTok.

Creators posted content like:

“This soulmate portrait looks exactly like my boyfriend.”

It wasn’t a bland endorsement. It was a relatable emotional trigger – a hook backed by visible “proof” (the drawing).

One such video hit 11.2 million views.

The genius? These weren’t paid influencer campaigns. They felt organic, believable, and created emotional curiosity.

But Virality Alone Wasn’t Enough

Instead of waiting for viewers to figure things out, Starla engineered the next step.

Some TikToks were literal tutorials on how to search for ‘Starla’ in the App Store.

🔎 “Go to the App Store, type in ‘Starla soulmate drawing’, and download this.”

This isn’t a generic CTA – it’s intent hijacking.

Every view → adds search volume
Every search → improves ASO relevance
Every install → strengthens app ranking signals

They turned social reach into App Store dominance.

300+ Keywords in Top 3 Positions

Thanks to the TikTok-led search push, Starla ranks high for:

• “soulmate tester”

• “zodiac soulmate”

• “find my love”

• “soulmate drawing real”

They effectively crowdsourced keyword demand and then rode that wave to ASO visibility.

Apple Search Ads to Catch Overflow

Starla isn’t just leaning on organic.

They’re also running Apple Search Ads across 2,600+ keywords – like:

• “planetary times app”

• “cosmos life advice”

• “love direction story games”

This strategy ensures they capture both high-intent users and broader discovery traffic.

ASA fills the gaps TikTok can’t – like users who don’t search the exact keyword, but are still curious.

Growth Hacks That Powered the Rise of Starla

What makes Starla special is the hybrid flywheel they’ve built:

✅ TikTok UGC → Drives emotional curiosity
✅ Users search → App Store gets intent signals
✅ ASA ads → Capture overflow and near-intent
✅ Installs + Ratings → Push ASO rankings
✅ Visibility → Drives even more installs

This loop runs 24/7 – and no part of it relies on luck.

In just 3 months, Starla turned storytelling and search into a $1M/month machine.

It’s a masterclass in building emotional pull – and then converting that into App Store dominance.