App Showcase: Cameo

What it does

Cameo is a marketplace that connects fans with celebrities, athletes, and creators. Its primary function is allowing users to purchase personalized video shoutouts for special occasions. The app also includes features for following creators, joining fan clubs for exclusive content, and sending paid direct messages to talent.

Where it shines

Cameo excels at making the discovery process feel rich and engaging. The main feed (00:41) is a vibrant grid showcasing a wide variety of talent, with clear pricing and categories like "Trending" and "Featured." The celebrity profile pages (00:56) are also effective, combining sample videos, user reviews with star ratings, and a follower count to build trust and give a clear sense of what a user will get for their money.

UX highlights

• Fast Onboarding: The sign-up flow is incredibly quick, requiring only an email and birthday to get started (00:12 - 00:36). This minimizes friction and gets users to the core browsing experience almost instantly.
• Layered Social Proof: Celebrity profiles effectively use a combination of star ratings, review counts, and follower numbers (00:57) to establish credibility and help users make purchase decisions.
• Implicit Fan Clubs: Following a creator (01:38) automatically grants access to their fan club feed. This cleverly reframes a standard social media action into a more exclusive-feeling experience, enhancing user retention.
• Clear Filtering: The filter options (01:21) are straightforward and useful, allowing users to quickly narrow down the vast selection of talent by price, delivery time, and other criteria.
• Deferred Data Requests: Optional information like a phone number is requested in a dismissible modal after sign-up is complete (00:37), respecting the user's initial goal of just getting into the app.

Monetization & growth

Cameo's monetization strategy is multi-faceted and built directly into the user experience. The primary revenue driver is the booking of personal videos, with prices clearly displayed on each profile (e.g., $25.00 at 00:52). In addition, the app has introduced a lower-priced monetization tier with paid direct messaging. For example, at 02:22, a user can "Say hi" to a creator for $2.99. This creates an accessible entry point for fan engagement and provides an additional, recurring revenue stream for the platform and its talent.

Who it’s for

This app is primarily for fans looking for a unique way to connect with their favorite public figures or for people searching for a highly personalized and memorable gift. Use cases range from birthday shoutouts and graduation congratulations to sending a roast from a favorite comedian. It serves a broad audience, from fans of reality TV stars and musicians to followers of niche internet creators.

Notes & opportunities

While the browsing experience is strong, the distinction between a 'follow' and a 'fan club' could be made even clearer upfront. The toast notification at 01:49 explains the benefit after the fact, but there's an opportunity to message this value proposition earlier. Additionally, the user profile section (03:26) is quite barebones. Adding more features for personalization or showcasing past orders could increase user investment in their own identity on the platform.