Growth Hacking 101: 3 Ideas For Boosting Business

If you do a lot of work in the digital sphere, you’re probably familiar with the idea of “growth hacking.” In 2010, entrepreneur Sean Ellis (known for his work with Dropbox and Eventbrite) coined the term, which incorporates a dash of coding, a dash of analytics, and a heavy pour of marketing and ingenuity. So, what does “growth hacking” actually mean, and – when it comes to brass tacks – how can you use this strategy to build your business?

Growth Hacking In A Nutshell

Perhaps one of the most comprehensive definitions of “growth hacking” comes from writer and entrepreneur Andrew Chen:

Growth hackers are a hybrid of marketer and coder, one who looks at the traditional question of “How do I get customers for my product?” and answers with A/B tests, landing pages, viral factor, email deliverability, and Open Graph. On top of this, they layer the discipline of direct marketing, with its emphasis on quantitative measurement, scenario modeling via spreadsheets, and a lot of database queries. If a startup is pre-product/market fit, growth hackers can make sure virality is embedded at the core of a product. After product/market fit, they can help run up the score on what’s already working.

If you’re a business owner or marketing professional, how can that approach be anything but winsome? Ready to get started? Check out a few of our favorite BuzzPlant growth hacking tips below.

3 Growth Hacking Tips

1. Be a pioneer. Andrew Chen tells us that the first-ever banner ad had a 78% click-through rate. Today, a banner ad on Facebook has about a 07% CTR! Why? The medium is dated. People are so used to seeing (and being disappointed by) banner ads that no one clicks. Another banner ad? Who cares? Do something different. A well-known “textbook” growth-hacking story is how AirBnB leveraged Craigslist for fast growth in its early days. Think outside the box.


2. Give your audience tools. Real growth happens when your audience shares your message for For example: don’t just ask them to Tweet about your product. Provide them with a great piece of media and embedded click-to-Tweet functionality. Websites like One.org are jam-packed with CTAs and easy-to-use interfaces that promote sharing.


3. Always think “automation.” Forms, drip emails, lists, aggressive remarketing… these are all crucial aspects of automation, which is essential for growth hacking. If you’re seriously pursuing growth, act like you expect it to happen, and automate everything in your CRM system and online processes.

What Are Your Personal Top Growth Hacking Ideas?

Have some other growth hacking tips of your own? Let’s talk.

Growth Hacking 101: 3 Ideas For Boosting Business