Top Growth Hacking Techniques Every Startup Must Know

Growth hacking techniques involve finding unique ways to acquire new customers at scale. They often cost next to nothing which makes them the perfect strategy for early stage startups. 

Launching a growth hacking strategy is one of the best things you can do for your startup. Successful techniques in growth hacking rely on creativity and the ability to think way outside the box. Really it would be better if you threw the box away for this. 

So keep an open mind and receive these tactics for growing your startup. Learn from the examples we provide and implement effective strategies for growth hacking. 

Best Growth Hacking Techniques for Explosive Startup Growth

Growth hacking has the power to turn even the most unknown startup into a globally successful brand. But this only happens if you do it right.

In this section, we’ll cover some of the best growth hacking techniques out there, and throw in examples from brands who have used this strategy to level up their business.

1. Leverage Social Proof and Viral Loops

In today’s world, nothing sparks engagement quicker than a viral post. Brands like Duolingo have used this strategy many times over the years. It’s actually the secret behind their success. A post that went viral before the app launched led to over 300,000 sign ups by the time it hit app stores.

Social proof is one of the best growth hacking techniques and it works well with virality. Think back to what happened when that one TikTok mom displayed the mind-blowing durability of a Stanley cup. That one video of the cup surviving a car fire led to a 10-fold revenue increase in just four years, the company’s annual revenue soared from $70-75 million in 2019 to $750 million in 2023.

2. Build Scalable Referral Systems

Referral systems are a technique as old as time. There’s no better way to reach people than through their friends, family, and loved ones. 

Dropbox knew this when they launched their referral campaign, and this strategy would go on to bring in 3900% user growth in just 15 months, they went from 100,000 to over 4,000,000 users. Let’s cover how they achieved this:

First, they started by solving a real problem. The platform made it easy to sync and share files, but they just weren’t attracting users. They’d tried paid ads but the results just didn’t match the money they were spending.

Then they stumbled upon the bright idea to turn their current users into marketers. They offered free storage space as rewards for referring friends. They also:

• Included the referral link as part of the onboarding process, 
• Gamified the experience by using terms like “unlock” and allowed users to track their progress, making it feel like video game levels
• Made it super easy for users to share their referral link across various platforms

This growth hacking technique helped the company see explosive growth in just a little over a year. And the best part is, they didn’t have to spend a dime to make it happen.

3. Offer Freemium or Limited-Time Incentives

A freemium model is the perfect growth hacking technique if you’re trying to market a SaaS product. It helps you reel people in, get them hooked on your product, and then leave them wanting more. 

Here’s how it works: The freemium model gives users access to limited premium features for free. This allows you to gain a bunch of leads right off the bat. 

And while, there’s no guarantee that these leads will become paying customers, it still doesn’t hurt to have thousands of users who can be nurtured into conversion. 

4. Gamify the Onboarding Experience

There’s an inner child in all of us, and we’re all looking for the opportunity to let it out. A gamified interface is a great way to attract users who want a small taste of the good old days. 

Let’s take a look at how the productivity app, Opal handles this. Right from the moment users launch the app, it feels like something straight out of a video game. The gem unlock process comes with a very real phone vibration, like you’re actually discovering something lost to time. 

Plus the more you use the app, the more gems you unlock. This encourages users to keep going and discover new gems.

Opal also uses conversational language to take their users on a personalized onboarding experience. They provide a breakdown of just how many hours you’re wasting on social media apps everyday and calculate how much that is in years. This shows users just why they need the app. 

5. Digital Growth Hacking Techniques 

Some growth hacking techniques can be physical, like attending a local event to rapidly onboard users. Etsy leveraged this strategy to gain their users, with the company’s founders hitting up craft fairs to onboard users. 

Then there are digital growth hacking techniques which happen strictly on the web. Here’s a compilation of the best ones for your startup:

• Use Landing Page Optimization Tools

It’s one thing to create a landing page and a whole other to create a landing page that works. Optimization tools like Unbounce, Optimizely, and Hotjar help you ensure your landing pages are actually doing the work you need them to do. 

• Run A/B Tests on CTAs and Headlines

A/B tests are the best way to find out what part of the digital strategy is actually converting and what part makes readers scroll away. Use tools VWO, Kameleoon, AB Tasty, Adobe Target, and Optimizely to run tests and optimize your content. 

• Implement Smart Pop-ups and Exit-Intent Triggers

An exit intent trigger detects when a user is about to leave your website and it responds with a pop up to keep them engaged. This is a great way to keep people on your site longer, giving you more time to potentially convert them with your content. 

• Build Targeted Email Campaigns from User Behavior

A target email drip campaign allows you to segment your audience and create emails that feel personalized and relevant to their needs. You can use software like MailChimp, ActiveCampaign, or GetResponse to segment your email list and automate your emails.

Growth hacking techniques in digital marketing also include:

• Reverse engineering competitor strategies
• Implementing cold email outreach with personalization
• Use retargeting ads for abandoned carts or leads
• Track KPIs with growth funnels and heatmaps

7. SEO Growth Hacking Techniques 

SEO isn’t just one of the best digital marketing strategies out there, it’s also one of the best growth hacking techniques available. These are the strategies to make it work for you:

• Optimize for long-tail and semantic keywords
• Repurpose blog posts into video or infographics
• Leverage programmatic SEO for landing pages 
• Use internal linking to improve dwell time

8. Growth Hacking Social Media Techniques

Social media is the bedrock of some of the most successful growth hacking techniques. From Dollar Shave Club’s viral YouTube video that turned it into the billion dollar company it is today to Dunkin’ Donuts’ influencer marketing strategy that launched on Instagram.

But enough about them, here’s how you can use growth hacking social media techniques: 

• Create platform-specific micro-content
• Try out social media platforms that your competitors aren’t using 
• Use Twitter/X and LinkedIn for thought leadership
• Collaborate with micro-Influencers in your niche
• Automate and schedule posts for consistency