Originally published November 22, 2017 , updated on September 11, 2024
Have you heard people speaking badly about growth hacking? It happens more than some people realise. It’s a great approach to building a loyal following for your brand. Unfortunately, it can go horribly wrong if you forget the one most important part of the puzzle!
The actual reason your brand exists in the first place?
The core of your entire existence as a business?
It’s often overlooked because people get their priorities all wrong over time.
The most important thing in your business: Your clients!
More Than Actions
Sure, growth hackers measure everything. We know that the more you try, the more you learn. The way you interpret the numbers matters. Each data point is relevant. The problem is, that you’re actually learning from people. Data points can’t interact with you. Numbers won’t buy your product or care about your message. Don’t lose the individuals in a spreadsheet. They’ll notice and lose interest in you.
How To Ruin It
Being impersonal is a real turn-off. If the messages you send out to people aren’t in some way personal and relevant, you’ll lose your audience. They will stop caring if you obviously don’t care about them. Never spam anyone, and never bore your audience.
Test The Water for Growth Hacking
Jumping right into the deep end isn’t the best approach. You don’t know what could be under there! Make sure you try every idea and approach for growth hacking on a small scale. If it fails in the worst way, you won’t lose your entire customer base with one poor decision. You should really be able to test ideas on a small scale without losing any clients. It’s all about how you do it.
When Hacks Attack
Great ideas can go wrong fast when you alienate your audience. If you have an annoying sign-up process, they won’t sign up. If you make canceling a free trial overly complicated, they’ll never try anything of yours again. You want people to like you, right? Never mislead your clients!
Don’t Be Dull
You always want to be remembered by your clients. You need them to think of you at the right time. Constant live notifications, posting too frequently, and irrelevant topics will hurt you. A fly trapped in your office while you are working is also memorable, but for the wrong reasons! If you overdo your communication, people begin to switch off.
A Time & A Place for Growth Hacking
You have to know when to use growth hacking, and when to chill. You can figure out how to judge this by doing small-scale tests. You’ll notice that copying someone else’s tactics will only work if it translates into your business. Play with some ideas and engage your audience. They’ll love you for it.
Care Or Lose Growth Hacking
It’s easy to use a ton of hacks to get a list of subscribers, followers, or fans. If you want to keep them and get even more? Keep your heart engaged, and show them you care. Your care directly translates to your client numbers and sales. Keep them close, and always deliver value!