From Burnout to Breakthrough: How Max Turned a Time-Sucking Task into a Scalable Business with AutoMemes.ai

Not every business starts with a big idea. Some start with a frustrating task you can’t keep doing the same way.

That’s exactly how AutoMemes.ai came to life—an AI-powered tool that helps creators and brands generate viral video memes in seconds. What started as manual labor on Fiverr turned into a streamlined SaaS product now generating $2,000/month and growing.

Here’s how it all unfolded 👇

🧠 How did Max come up with the idea for AutoMemes.ai?

Max was working as a freelancer on Fiverr, creating video memes for brands and content creators. The work was creative—but also repetitive.

Each meme meant finding trending videos, crafting clever captions, manually editing inside CapCut, and delivering on time. It wasn’t sustainable.

Around that time, AI tools were rapidly evolving—writing blog posts, coding apps, even making music. And that’s when a question hit him:

“If AI can do all that… why not memes too?”

He started experimenting by automating just parts of his process, quietly testing it while still fulfilling orders on Fiverr. Clients didn’t just like the results—they loved them.

The quality stayed the same (sometimes better), and turnaround was faster.

That’s when Max knew this wasn’t just a tool for himself—it could help others too.

He didn’t have a technical background, so he taught himself using ChatGPT and no-code tools. The first version of AutoMemes.ai was raw, but it worked. And the first users? His Fiverr clients—who are still using the platform today.

Unlike past projects he had started, this one was rooted in a real pain point. That made all the difference.

🚀 How did Max launch AutoMemes.ai and get his first users?

The launch was intentionally simple.

Max started with people who already trusted him—his existing Fiverr clients. He let them test the tool and offer feedback. Their response was clear: “This is faster and better than before.”

From there, he posted about the product on Twitter and submitted it to startup directories like Product Hunt, 10words.io, and uneed.best.

A single tweet about the launch brought in early traction, including paying customers. The first one? A repeat Fiverr client.

What worked best wasn’t the directories. It was warm audiences and storytelling. He shared his journey, his wins, his bugs, and even memes made using the tool. People connected with the realness of the process—not just the tool.

One early insight stuck with him:

“Not all traffic is good traffic.”

Max learned quickly that volume doesn’t equal conversion. Warm, engaged audiences—especially those who had seen the journey—converted far better than cold traffic from directories.

📈 What was the growth strategy and how did Max scale?

Growth has been a continuous experiment.

Outside of Twitter, Max expanded by creating value-driven content on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and through his website—publishing daily meme templates to attract organic traffic and show what the tool can do.

He also launched niche TikTok meme accounts that use AutoMemes.ai to create content. Each post includes a watermark from the tool, creating curiosity and driving clicks.

He introduced free green screen templates as a lead magnet—perfect for creators looking for hooks and easy meme-building formats.

Reddit became another key space. Instead of cold-pitching, Max participated in niche communities where creators share meme ideas, templates, and feedback. His presence built trust.

He experimented with cold outreach too—DMing creators and indie hackers on WhatsApp. That didn’t go so well.

“I even got kicked out of a group for being too spammy.”

Lesson learned: warm relationships work better than cold DMs. He shifted his focus from pushing to sharing.

He also started a newsletter, offering meme marketing tips, case studies, and short-form content growth strategies. It’s still early, but engagement is rising and it’s becoming another solid traffic source.

One of the newest strategies he’s testing? Sponsoring green screen creators to embed AutoMemes.ai in viral content.

His core strategy now? Create valuable, shareable content—and make sure people know where it came from.

💡 What were Max’s biggest lessons from building AutoMemes.ai?

Mistakes? He made plenty.

The biggest? Trying to grow too fast with cold outreach instead of nurturing the audience that already existed.

The best decision? Building in public.

Sharing the process, showing the behind-the-scenes, and being honest about the wins and the mess-ups gave the product a human edge.

Max also credits timing—launching when AI was trending made it easier for people to understand the product fast. But trends didn’t build the product. Execution did.

He developed a habit of shipping quickly and learning in public. Instead of overthinking, he shipped small ideas, watched what people liked, and doubled down on what worked.

His advice to other builders?

“Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for perfection. Just show up and help people.”

That’s how you build trust. And that’s how real businesses start.