What Is Growth Hacking?

Growth hacking is a marketing strategy focused on rapid growth within a short period. 

It originated in the tech startup world—where budgets are often tight and the focus is on quick scalability. 

The aim? 

To acquire as many users or customers as possible while spending as little as possible. 

Growth hacking is as much a mindset as a toolbox of techniques. It’s about experimentation and using low-cost strategies to grow a business. 

It often involves cross-disciplinary skills that merge insights from marketing, product development, and data analysis.

Interesting fact: GrowthHackers founder Sean Ellis coined the term “growth hacking.” To describe the unique way high-growth startups were driving massive customer adoption.

Who Is a Growth Hacker?

A growth hacker specializes in implementing and analyzing high-impact strategies for business growth. 

This role isn’t just confined to marketers. It can include product managers, developers, and engineers focused on growth.

Traditional marketers have a broad focus, ranging from brand building to growth marketing to advertising and sales. 

A growth hacker, on the other hand, is singularly focused on growth. That could mean anything from customer acquisition to customer retention. Plus all the metrics in between, like engagement and conversion rates. 

A growth hacker’s primary goal? 

To find scalable and repeatable methods for growth (like the growth hacking examples we’ll look at in this article). Using metrics and data analysis to measure their success.

Further reading: 9 Ultimate Growth Hacking Strategies + Examples 

10 Growth Hacking Examples & Success Stories

Case studies can provide invaluable insights into effective growth hacking techniques. 

Here are ten successful growth hacking examples and the strategies behind them to inspire you. 

1. Dropbox: Referral Marketing

Referral marketing is when a company rewards people for bringing in new customers and growing its user base. 

This common marketing tactic can be a great way to grow your business quickly.

People trust recommendations from friends and family more than random ads. A study from Nielsen showed that 89% of people consider recommendations from people they know as the most trusted form of advertising.

Take Dropbox as an example.

The file hosting service boosted its growth by offering a referral deal. The deal was simple: If customers told someone about Dropbox and they signed up, both the customer and the friend got an extra 500 MB of free storage space. 

Customers could keep doing this, earning more and more space, up to a limit of 16 GB.

Image Source: Viral Loops

Double-sided referral programs like this one make the sharing cycle even stronger. Both the person sharing and the new user get a reward, so it’s a win-win for everyone. 

Dropbox also included the referral program as part of the onboarding process. During signup, new users could increase their storage space by sharing a link immediately.

Dropbox made it super easy to invite friends through social sharing with unique referral links. 

Instead of having to dig through menus, new customers saw the option to refer friends and earn extra space front and center. 

So what happened? 

After implementing the referral incentive, Dropbox achieved virality. User numbers shot up by 3,900%.

Dropbox nailed its double-sided referral program by making it easy, rewarding, and part of the initial user experience (UX). 

2. Airbnb: A/B Testing

A/B testing is a method where you compare two versions of something (like an email marketing campaign or a landing page) to see which one performs better. 

According to research by Harvard Business School, startups that use A/B testing scale more quickly, launch more products, and attract more venture capital. 

Interesting, right?

Let’s take a look at how Airbnb improved its search page with A/B testing.

For this company, A/B testing isn’t just an occasional strategy. But a core part of its product development and marketing strategy. 

The company uses controlled experiments to make decisions at every stage. These include:

• Tweaking the design of the website
• Improving search algorithms
• Deciding what kinds of homes it should feature 

This approach helps it constantly refine the user experience. 

In 2013, Airbnb revamped its search page to focus on enhanced visuals and map features. 

Image Source: The Airbnb Tech Blog on Medium

It then conducted qualitative user studies to test the page. The studies showed a positive response from users.

User feedback is crucial—it adds a human element to decision-making. You get firsthand feedback from actual users. Which provides insights that data points and algorithms can’t capture.

Despite the results, Airbnb insisted on further quantitative testing. 

It ran data-driven tests focused on performance metrics. Including key performance indicators (KPIs) like click-through rates, time spent on the search page, and conversion rates for bookings.

The results showed that the new page had a neutral impact on its effectiveness. 

Upon further investigation, Airbnb discovered that the change was performing fine most of the time. But the new design wasn’t completely compatible with older versions of Internet Explorer. This affected the click-through rate (CTR), which skewed overall results.

The company was able to fix the issue and boost the page’s performance.

What does this show?

Thorough testing reduces the risk of rolling out marketing efforts that may not be effective.

Plus, the dual approach of qualitative and quantitative evaluation gives greater insight into how changes affect user engagement and business metrics.

3. Duolingo: Gamified User Experience

Gamification adds game-like elements such as points, badges, or challenges to a non-game activity. It aims to make these activities more engaging and enjoyable. 

Gamification taps into people’s natural desires for competition and achievement. 

What does this practice achieve exactly? 

It sparks intrinsic motivations to complete tasks, solve problems, and interact with the system or app in a more meaningful way. 

Take Duolingo, the language learning app. It offers users rewards like virtual coins, streak counts, and competitive leaderboards. 

When users see points adding up or unlock a new badge, it triggers a sense of achievement. 

Users can complete bite-sized lessons, earn points, and compete against friends. Making the learning process feel like less of a chore and more of a fun challenge. 

These emotional rewards can become addictive in a positive way. They encourage users to keep going, complete just one more challenge, or achieve just one more milestone.

The benefits? 

Higher user engagement, more time spent in the system or app, and a deeper emotional connection to the product. 

4. Slack: Optimized Onboarding

A smooth, intuitive onboarding process helps new customers understand how to navigate and use your product or service. It also sets the tone for their entire experience with your brand. 

When users can effortlessly navigate through onboarding, you reduce friction and build trust. Customers are more likely to continue using your service and even recommend it to others.

Slack is a great growth hacking example of optimized onboarding done right. 

Clean, user-friendly interface? Check.

The design is so intuitive that teams can start using it right away. They don’t have to wade through a complex setup or a long list of instructions.

When you sign up, all you need to do is enter your email address. 

Slack then emails you a code to log in. No need to create a password.

This speeds up the onboarding process. Which in turn reduces the chance of users dropping off frustrated or confused.

The faster a user gets to experience the platform’s utility, the more likely they’ll stick around. And become loyal advocates for the service.

5. Spotify: Freemium and Free Trial Models

Freemium pricing is a business model where you offer a free basic version of your product or service. While premium features come at a cost. 

Free trials let users try out all your features for free before committing to a purchase or subscription. 

Both models create a low barrier to entry. They encourage more people to try the product by giving them a taste of its value with zero risk. 

With a freemium model, once users are hooked on the free version, they may want the additional features that come with a paid subscription. 

Increasing the chances of them converting into paying customers. 

Both tactics can boost your product exposure and spur growth. Interestingly, though, one study found that freemium products convert customers without sales 25% more often than a free trial model.

Spotify is a prime example of successful freemium pricing. 

Users get access to a library of music with the free plan. But they have to listen to ads and can’t download songs for offline listening. 

To remove these limitations, you need to opt for the premium version. 

So what’s working for Spotify?

First, it offers enough value in the free version to keep users engaged. Reserving certain irresistible features for the premium subscription. Which creates a compelling reason for users to upgrade.

Plus, the app often displays calls to action that explain Spotify Premium benefits. 

Moreover, the transition from a free account is seamless. Multiple payment options make it easy to choose a method you’re comfortable with.

Spotify also occasionally offers free trials of its premium service. 

This “try-before-you-buy” strategy allows users to experience the added benefits temporarily. Encouraging them to become permanent premium members once the trial period is over.

6. HubSpot: Content Marketing

Content marketing focuses on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content. To attract and retain a clearly defined target audience and drive profitable customer action.

Unlike traditional advertising, content marketing doesn’t just promote a product or service. Its main focus is to provide useful information or entertainment to the audience. 

Take CRM platform HubSpot’s exhaustive content marketing strategy.

First, it educates its audience to understand the nuances of inbound marketing. This knowledge establishes HubSpot as a thought leader in the industry.

HubSpot also employs a mix of video marketing, blogs, podcasts, and webinars. 

A diverse range of content types ensures you reach your audience in the format that’s most comfortable and accessible for them.

Another key to HubSpot’s success is its commitment to search engine optimization (SEO). As a result, its content ranks well on Google and other search engines. 

SEO improves organic visibility. Which draws a larger and more targeted audience. 

Lastly, each piece of HubSpot content serves a purpose within the larger customer journey. 

Clear calls to action (CTAs) and strategically placed conversion paths guide the audience toward the desired actions. 

HubSpot integrates different steps into its content. Like signing up for a newsletter, downloading a tool, or purchasing a service. This seamless journey ensures the user isn’t just informed but also inspired to take action.

The CRM platform also uses resources as lead magnets to capture potential customers’ information. Like this one:

HubSpot’s approach to content isn't just about quantity, but quality. 

It invests in understanding its audience’s pain points. Then curates its content to address their specific challenges. The content isn’t just general information but actionable insights that businesses can implement immediately.

7. Uber: Surge Pricing

Surge pricing is often referred to as dynamic pricing. It’s a strategy where prices fluctuate based on real-time demand and supply. 

When demand is high and supply is limited, prices go up. Similarly, prices may drop with low demand. 

This approach can maximize revenue, optimize supply, and balance market dynamics.

Uber is a textbook example of surge pricing in action.

When demand for rides spikes—say, during rush hour, bad weather, or big events—Uber raises its prices. This encourages more drivers to get on the road. 

Better supply improves service availability and reliability. Meaning more satisfied passengers.

Image Source: Global News

Be completely transparent with your customers if you’re going to use surge pricing. Surprises can lead to mistrust. For instance, Uber notifies people about surge prices before they confirm a ride.

Also, for surge pricing to be effective, your algorithm needs to be top-notch. Uber uses real-time data and algorithms to set surge pricing. 

This ensures that the surge is reflective of actual demand and supply conditions. And not a money-making tactic inviting backlash from unhappy customers.

8. PayPal: Early Adoption Incentives

Offer customers incentives to begin using a new product or service soon after launch. You’ll speed up growth.

These early adopters are crucial. They provide valuable feedback, build credibility, and will advertise your product through word-of-mouth.

PayPal used a growth hacking tactic to build its initial user base. In his book “Zero to One,” co-founder Peter Thiel says the company turned to referral marketing, quickly reaching a “critical mass” of 1 million users. 

Traditional advertising was just too expensive and not as effective. So PayPal offered $10 to new users. And another $10 for every friend they referred. 

The result was jaw-dropping: a daily growth rate of 7 to 10%.

The key to encouraging early adoption is to offer generous incentives. You can add other incentives like loyalty points, exclusive access, swag, time-limited bonuses, or “early adopter pricing.” 

That said, you don’t want to do generous incentives indefinitely. 

It can get expensive. And attract users who are more interested in the incentive than the actual product. Which would dilute the quality of your customer base.

Set clear parameters, like the number of users or a specific time frame. Then phase out the incentive or modify it. 

9. Zapier: Launching on Product Hunt

Product Hunt is an online platform where tech enthusiasts, venture capitalists, and journalists discover, upvote, and discuss new tech products from SaaS companies. A go-to destination for those looking to keep their fingers on the pulse of innovation. 

It’s also great for creators who want to showcase their latest offerings to a highly engaged audience eager to try new things.

Product Hunt has a large and active community. Industry influencers and investors can notice your product right from its launch day.

For instance, the workflow automation tool Zapier made a notable impact when it launched on Product Hunt.

The company tapped into Product Hunt’s community to generate buzz, attract early adopters, and gather real-time feedback.

Here are five effective strategies to launch on Product Hunt:

• Participate in pre-launch engagement: Enter discussions, follow relevant topics, and even upvote other products that interest you. The community will recognize you when you launch, which can boost engagement
• Choose the right Hunter: The person who submits your product to Product Hunt is the “Hunter.” Find Hunters on the platform to promote your product. Opt for one with a solid reputation to give your product instant credibility and attract more upvotes.
• Include exclusive offers: Extended free trials, discounted rates, or special features will entice people to try out your product. Communicate offers in your product description.
• Interact in real time: Be prepared for an influx of comments, questions, and feedback on your Product Hunt page once you launch. Ensure that a team monitors the page, responds to queries, and engages with the community in real time. This will boost confidence in your company.
• Follow up post launch: Answer user questions, announce new features or fixes based on Product Hunt feedback, and remain active in the community. It will keep interest in your product alive and growing.

10. Jasper: Social Media Community Building

Create dedicated social media spaces for users, fans, and curious onlookers to discuss, share, and learn about your product. Use them to showcase your brand values and magnify the reach and impact of your product. 

Communities on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn encourage customer engagement, feedback, support, and even innovation. 

AI-powered writing assistant Jasper is a compelling example of how community building can improve a tech product. 

Jasper found product market fit and made the complex GPT3 technology available on its simplified platform. Then, it focused on educating people on how to utilize it.

Its Facebook group serves as a great resource for Jasper AI users. Here, they can share clever prompts that return optimal results. 

It’s also a forum for conversation and new thinking, creating a real sense of community around the product.

Communities on social networks aren’t just for users to learn from each other. They offer your company invaluable insights, too. 

For instance, Jasper’s founder likes to ask for feedback from users.

Encouraging user discussions around prompts and use cases informs updates and feature releases.

Plus, the Jasper Facebook group is full of testimonials, screen captures, and real-world examples of how people use the tool for different writing projects. Including ones from top contributors.

Jasper can use this user-generated content (UGC) as social proof to validate the product’s efficacy. And to beef up its (influencer) marketing campaigns.

Maintaining an active and engaged Facebook group helps Jasper create a vibrant ecosystem. 

Users get more value from the product. And they actively contribute to its ongoing development and improvement. 

You can encourage participation from your social media community by

• Periodically inviting experts to host helpful “ask me anything” (AMA) sessions 
• Highlighting a unique feature and asking community members how they’ve used it
• Acknowledging and rewarding active contributors. Making them feel valued and encouraging more participation.

From Knowhow to Action: Your Next Steps in Growth Hacking

Knowing the best growth hacking examples is only the first step. The real game-changer: applying these ideas to actionable plans for your growth strategy.

Use analytic tools like Semrush’s SEO Toolkit or Google Analytics to track how well your growth hacking works. Then make tweaks based on real data, not gut feeling.

Analyzing website traffic is one way to assess your strategy’s effectiveness. 

Log in to Semrush’s SEO Dashboard. See if you’re generating more visits and where they come from. Analyze, adjust, and repeat.