Quickstart

This walk-through gets a single-app project to a live optimized state. If you're running an agency, see the agency topology guide instead.

Prerequisites

• A Meta Business Manager (for Meta and Instagram).
• A TikTok Business account (for TikTok organic + ads).
• An App Store Connect or Google Play app you control (for SDK install).
• An ad spend budget you're comfortable starting with — Layers' minimum recommended is $50/day per platform during the learning phase.

1. Create an account

Go to layers.com and click Sign up. Use your work email so teammates can be invited later. After verifying your email you'll be prompted to complete your profile — name, role, and an optional avatar.

If your email domain is associated with an existing organization, you'll be prompted to request to join. Otherwise you'll create a new organization.

2. Create your first project

A project maps to one app or one brand. Multiple projects per organization is normal (an agency typically has one per client). The create-project wizard walks through:

1. Pick a source — GitHub repo, App Store listing, or website URL. Layers will analyze whichever you provide to seed the brand brief.
2. Confirm details — name, description, app IDs, primary website.
3. Connect social accounts — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.
4. Generate first content — pick a remix style (video, slideshow, UGC).
5. Activate — your project goes live and the scheduler begins planning.

The whole flow takes 5–15 minutes depending on how many sources you connect.

3. Install the SDK

Even if you only plan to run organic, install the SDK now. It powers attribution, conversion-event ingestion, and the Apple Search Ads attribution token. See the SDK quickstart for your platform — every SDK is a 5-minute drop-in:

import Layers

Layers.configure(appId: "app_xxx")
Layers.track(event: "purchase", revenue: 9.99, currency: "USD")

Layers.init(this, appId = "app_xxx")
Layers.track("purchase", mapOf("revenue" to 9.99, "currency" to "USD"))

Validate events flowing in the Events page of your project.

4. Pick your delivery model

Layers offers two models for ad accounts and social accounts:

• Agency mode — Layers manages ad accounts via Business Center and bills ad spend through the Layers wallet. One-click setup, no platform billing.
• BYO (Bring Your Own) — you OAuth your existing accounts. You retain full control and pay platforms directly. No platform fee, no wallet.

See Agency vs BYO for the tradeoffs. You can mix per platform.

5. Install your first Layers

A Layer is a capability module — Social Distribution, Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, Apple Search Ads, UGC, Revenue, etc. Visit Project → Layers → Browse and install the ones you want. Each layer has its own configuration screen.

For most apps, install:

1. Social Distribution — automated organic posting.
2. Meta Ads Manager — Facebook + Instagram ad campaigns.
3. TikTok Ads Manager — TikTok ad campaigns.
4. Apple Search Ads (iOS apps only) — App Store Search Ads.
5. App Machina (if developing the app) — AI app development assistance.

6. Approve the first generations

Within an hour the generated content tab will show your first batch of posts. The creative library will show the first batch of ads. Review, edit captions/hooks if needed, and approve.

By default Layers will hold ad spend until you've approved at least three creatives — there's no risk of wasted budget while you're getting comfortable.

7. Watch the dashboard

The project dashboard is your day-to-day home. It surfaces:

• KPIs across organic + paid (views, engagement, CPA, ROAS).
• Daily trend charts.
• Posts published in the last 30 days.
• Tasks the platform needs you to handle.

For a deeper read on what to monitor, see the performance marketer runbook.

What's next

• Read How the optimizer works before scaling spend.
• Configure brand voice and banned words.
• Review the notification center.
• Invite teammates to the project.