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Hey friend,
I’m gonna be straight up.
This week was 90% about one thing: solving the API problem.
If you’ve been following my newsletter, you know social media APIs are expensive. $100 for the Twitter API. The others are free, but you have to register a company, which as you know, has associated costs.
Basically: money I don’t want to burn right now.
So what do you do when the “official” way is blocked?
You do what every scrappy builder does: duct tape and dreams.
The planner ≤ scheduler case
Here’s the hack. Letterly doesn’t post for you (yet). Instead, I built a planner.
You schedule content inside Letterly.
Then, at the scheduled time, you get an email reminder with a link.
Click → it takes you to a page with your post card → one button copy → paste straight into the platform.
Not fully automatic. But semi-fast.
No $100 API bill. No company registration. Just shipping.
Honestly, I’m kinda proud of this workaround. It’s not perfect, but it works, and that’s what matters right now.
It’s the same with analytics, although this one is a bit too messy, and not providing much value at all.
Right now, it shows activity patterns, conversion history, time saved, and more. Not exactly what my customers ideally need/want, but it’s something I can ship today.
How the content planner is looking atm.
Where the link inside the email takes you. Demo post.
Gamification (experimental)
I’ve also been experimenting with gamification features in Letterly.
The idea is simple: make the app a bit more engaging and fun, without overcomplicating things.
Right now, I’m testing things like:
Conversion streaks → see how many days in a row you create content
Achievements → small milestones for hitting usage or productivity goals
Nudges & feedback → gentle reminders to keep users motivated
This is just a test for now.
I don’t know yet what will stick, what feels motivating, or what users will actually enjoy.
The main goal is to gather feedback, see what works, and slowly figure out how to make Letterly more addictive in a helpful way, not annoying.
Uni started 😕
On top of that, uni kicked off this week.
Which means 5:40am alarms, catching the 6:55am bus, and being in class by 8. Crying inside? Kinda.
But it comes with a silver lining:
Most days, I’m done by lunch because my classes are crammed in the morning, leaving afternoons for Letterly.
The routine helps me build consistency and work deeper in each coding session.
Weightlifting and running are more consistent, because I have an actual routine (running twice a week, gym four times a week - Push, Pull, Legs, Sharms).
Those workouts are the only hours I’m not thinking about work, and they make me sleep like a baby, giving my brain a real reset.
Having this structure makes everything else click into place and keeps me productive across uni, Letterly, and exercise.
Also, shoutout to uni machine espresso for only being 35 cents. My wallet and my sleep schedule both approve.
In-Flight Lesson
This week reminded me that building and learning isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about shipping, experimenting, and creating real value.
A few key takeaways:
Solve problems with what you have, not what you wish you had. API too expensive? Build a workaround. Time too tight? Rework your schedule.
Experiment and gather feedback. Gamification, analytics, or any new feature should start small. Let users show you what works.
Balance is a force multiplier. Structuring uni, work, and workouts helps you focus deeper and get more done in less time.
Keep building. Keep testing. Keep giving your users something that actually helps them.
That's the latest from the hangar. Thanks for riding shotgun with me on this.
If you’re curious, want to test Letterly Beta, or just wanna say hi, reply to this. I read every one.
One last favor: if you see the ad underneath, give it a click. It costs you nothing and supports me more than you can imagine.
Talk soon,
Vicente
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