Steal These 20 Growth Hacking Tactics to Scale Your Business Like a Pro

Growth hacking is the art of using creative, low-cost strategies to drive rapid business growth. In this blog, we’ve compiled 20 proven examples from top brands to help you discover practical tactics you can apply to scale your business quickly and effectively. Let’s get started!

Puma	Puma asked Pele to tie his shoes before kickoff, and the cameras focused on Pele's Puma shoes, showcasing the brand. Pele was reportedly paid $120,000 for this act.	Ask yourself: Who can introduce your product to your audience best? When and where can you maximize exposure?
Unsplash	Unsplash features "Collections" curated by influencers, promoting them across platforms. Influencers share these collections with their audiences, giving Unsplash free exposure and user-generated content.	People love being praised. Leverage others' audiences by highlighting them.
Vitaly Uncensored	Kinsey Wolanski promoted Vitaly Uncensored during the 2019 Champions League Final by streaking with a branded swimsuit. This stunt brought millions of users and generated significant advertising revenue.	Growth hacking sometimes involves breaking norms. Be bold but aware of potential risks.
Ahrefs	Ahrefs distributed branded coffee cups at Brighton SEO, gaining significant attention without using traditional tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel.	Explore conferences and events to creatively initiate brand-related conversations.
Gmail	Gmail's invite-only account creation method created exclusivity and FOMO. This, coupled with superior features, made it viral.	Use psychology like exclusivity and FOMO to fuel growth strategies.
Please Don’t Tell	Crif Dogs featured a secret bar accessed through a vintage phone booth. This word-of-mouth strategy transformed the bar into one of New York City's busiest.	Create exclusivity and a sense of discovery to build loyal advocates.
Zynga	Zynga games like FarmVille used the grind-spam-pay tactic to grow virally, though Facebook eventually curtailed excessive spamming.	Reinvent popular marketing tactics to create unique strategies.
CD Baby	CD Baby sent an unconventional order confirmation email that went viral, earning backlinks and customers.	Differentiate email marketing with creative, delightful content.
Tiger King	Joe Exotic used a competitor’s name (Big Cat Rescue) in his branding, gaining visibility but leading to legal disputes.	Consider creative (but ethical) branding strategies tied to popular search terms.
Fortnite	Fortnite retained users through free gameplay, regular updates ("Seasons"), and limited-time game modes while monetizing through in-game items.	Focus on customer retention and continuously offer new experiences.
Crimibox	Crimibox created a targeted FB chatbot quiz to attract users to its Kickstarter campaign, increasing subscribers from 2K to 10K in 15 days.	Engage users with targeted, interactive content like personality quizzes.
Shazam	Shazam’s design encouraged users to lift their phones to speakers, sparking curiosity and word-of-mouth.	Subtle design features can drive curiosity and organic growth.
Uber	Uber tackled traditional taxi flaws, focusing on ease, affordability, and offering free rides for new users.	Analyze competitors and target specific pain points to craft your growth strategy.
Hotmail	Hotmail added a sign-off in emails inviting recipients to sign up, sparking viral growth.	Embed viral calls-to-action into your product's usage.
HubSpot	HubSpot created a free website grading tool that went viral, growing its user base significantly.	Offer free, useful tools to attract and engage your target audience.
Airbnb	Airbnb cross-posted on Craigslist and offered professional photos to hosts, leveraging competitor platforms and improving user experience.	Find where your audience already exists and provide value to convert them.
Dollar Shave Club	Dollar Shave Club’s viral video challenged the razor industry’s high costs with humor and wit, gaining millions of views.	Use video content to creatively highlight problems and solutions in your industry.
Dropbox	Dropbox gamified onboarding and used a double-sided referral program, offering free storage to both referrer and referee.	Reward users and make onboarding engaging with gamification.
Spotify Wrapped	Every year, Spotify releases "Wrapped," a personalized summary of each user's listening habits, including favorite artists, songs, and genres. Users are encouraged to share their Wrapped results on social media, creating a massive viral effect. This annual campaign not only strengthens user engagement but also brings in new users through organic word-of-mouth.	Personalized content and shareable experiences can amplify your brand’s reach and build customer loyalty.
Tesla Referral Program	Tesla's referral program offers exclusive perks like free Supercharger miles or invitations to VIP events for referring new customers. By gamifying referrals with unique rewards, Tesla turned its customers into passionate brand advocates without traditional advertising.	Create a referral program with rewards that resonate deeply with your audience, encouraging organic growth through loyal customers.