It’s launch day. Your SaaS product is making headlines, and featured on major tech sites like TechCrunch and ProductHunt. Three months in, you’ve only attracted a few hundred non-paying users and just five paying customers. Then, the momentum suddenly drops. Panic sets in.
What went wrong? Is it you, or is it the product? The initial buzz is fading fast, and now it’s clear—if you don’t act quickly, your promising new product could be dead in the water.
You’re not alone. This is a familiar stage for most startup founders. Attracting your first 100 customers is one thing, but growing and sustaining your customer base requires different tactics and strategies. There’s more to building your brand than just the first few months after launch. Product launch is just the beginning.
Post-launch is where the heaving lifting begins—it’s about listening to your customers, offering solid support, and using their feedback to fine-tune your offering and setting up your product for success. And that’s where growth hacking comes in.
What is Growth Hacking?
1. Focus on Niche Communities
Instead of trying to reach everyone, zero in on niche communities that align more with what your product or service offers. These groups are usually more passionate and engaged than larger audiences, giving you a chance to build a loyal customer base quickly. Whether it’s a subreddit, specialized forum, or a Facebook group, becoming an active participant can significantly boost your visibility, credibility, and trust within that niche.
For example, a vegan supplement startup could directly engage with vegan athlete communities on Reddit or Discord, offering tailored content and exclusive member deals.
Another approach is to identify products earning $100 million+ per year. Then go on Reddit, and search for “alternative to
?” Find unsatisfied users, and what they dislike, then reach out to them, and pitch your product as a better, more cost-effective option. Since these users are familiar with the alternative product, you need to differentiate your product without engaging in a price war. Remember, racing to the bottom on price is a lose-lose game.2. Turn Criticism into Opportunity
You’ve probably heard many horror stories of businesses being sunk by negative customer feedback. But negative feedback isn’t something to shy away from—in fact, it can be a valuable tool for product growth. As a founder, openly address criticisms in a constructive way to build trust with your audience. Use the feedback to make product improvements and then share those changes with the community. This approach not only shows that you’re listening but can also turn critics into advocates.
Example: A software company might tackle critical reviews by breaking down how they’re addressing each issue. Following up with customers who provided the feedback can often turn them into loyal users.
3. Create a Viral Waitlist with Perks
A viral waitlist is a powerful way to generate buzz for your product before it even launches. By offering exclusive perks such as early access, discounts, or special features, you create anticipation and drive demand. Make the waitlist appealing by incentivizing users to refer others, turning each sign-up into a potential growth opportunity.
Example: A fintech startup might offer early adopters a lower transaction fee or priority support, while also rewarding top referrers who bring in the most sign-ups with a free premium subscription.
4. Make Product Teardown Videos
Behind-the-scenes content is always popular, especially when it provides real value. Create teardown videos analyzing popular products or services in your industry, breaking down what works and what doesn’t. This not only positions your startup as an industry expert but also attracts potential customers who are already interested in the products you’re dissecting.
Example: A SaaS company might produce videos analyzing the user experience of leading tools in their space, offering insights that potential customers can apply—while subtly highlighting how their product addresses these issues better.
5. Host Challenges or Contests
Interactive content like challenges or contests can create buzz and engage your community. By hosting a challenge that aligns with your product, you can encourage participants to try your service, share their experiences, and invite others to join. This method spreads awareness and builds a sense of community among your users.
Example: A project management tool could host a productivity challenge, urging participants to use the tool for managing tasks over a week, with participants sharing their results on social media. The most successful users could win a free year of the software.
6. Collaborate with Micro-Influencers
Instead of targeting high-profile influencers, consider teaming up with micro-influencers who have smaller but highly engaged audiences, typically ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 followers. These influencers are often more budget-friendly and offer more genuine endorsements. By collaborating with several micro-influencers, you can effectively tap into diverse segments of your target market and build a more authentic connection with potential customers.
Example: A beauty startup could work with micro-influencers who focus on eco-friendly products, reaching followers who are likely to be interested in sustainable beauty solutions.
7. Form Unusual Partnerships
Consider teaming up with businesses that serve a similar audience but aren’t direct competitors. By offering joint promotions or creating a co-branded product, you can tap into each other’s customer bases and create a win-win situation.
Example: A meal prep service could partner with a fitness app, offering a discount on meal plans to app users, while the app promotes its service as a way to boost fitness results.
Another approach is to offer users the chance to become affiliates, where they earn a commission for every sale made through their platform.
For SaaS startups, partnering with a platform like AppSumo can be a game changer. AppSumo, with nearly a million subscribers, specializes in lifetime deals on software and is known for its ability to effectively promote new SaaS products.
By listing your product on AppSumo, you can tap into their extensive audience and kickstart your sales and user base. This partnership can help you gain traction and revenue quickly, leveraging AppSumo’s established marketing power to boost your startup’s visibility.
8. Encourage User-Generated Content
Invite your customers to create content about your product. User-generated content (UGC) not only acts as social proof but also extends your brand’s reach organically. Run campaigns that invite users to share their experiences, offering them the chance to be featured on your social channels or website.
Example: A travel startup could ask users to share photos from trips booked through the platform, with the best ones featured on the company’s Instagram page or blog.
9. Hack Events
Industry events are great for connecting with potential customers or partners, but don’t stop there. Host unofficial meetups, happy hours, or workshops around the event to create opportunities for deeper engagement. This helps you stand out and make meaningful connections.
Example: A tech startup might host an off-site event during a major industry conference, offering free drinks and a short demo of their product to draw in attendees who are looking for networking opportunities outside the official agenda.
10. Use Data to Spark FOMO
Use your product usage data to create urgency or FOMO (fear of missing out). Share statistics like the number of sign-ups, active users, or customer satisfaction rates to show momentum and encourage others to join in.
Example: A new productivity app might send out emails highlighting how many users have signed up in the last month, coupled with testimonials about how it’s improved their work processes, pushing those on the fence to finally sign up.
11. Product Integration
Why build a user base from scratch when you can tap into an already thriving community on a popular platform? This strategy, known as the platform integration hack, can turbocharge your growth by leveraging an established audience.
Take Airbnb, for example. When it first launched, Airbnb had a more advanced and secure platform than Craigslist, but it lacked Craigslist’s massive user base. To bridge this gap, Airbnb executed the platform integration hack by automatically posting its listings on Craigslist to boost its viral growth. This move put Airbnb’s offerings in front of millions of Craigslist users actively searching for vacation rentals, with each listing prominently displaying Airbnb’s brand and encouraging clicks through to their site.
But that wasn’t all. Airbnb also ran an email campaign targeting Craigslist users, showcasing how much easier and more reliable it was to post on Airbnb. This dual strategy not only drew new users in but also established Airbnb as a superior alternative to Craigslist, rapidly expanding its user base.
By connecting with a well-established platform, startups can gain quick exposure, build credibility, and grow their audience with minimal costs. Just be sure your product truly adds value and that you follow the platform’s rules to keep everything on track.
12. Implement Gamification to Boost Product Engagement
Adding gamification elements can significantly boost user engagement and retention. For example, using tools like Vyper to create a points system can motivate users to interact more with your brand. Users earn points for actions like signing up for newsletters or following social media channels, which they can then redeem for rewards. This not only increases engagement but also encourages users to promote your brand.
Gamification—like scoring points, ranking users, or setting up friendly competitions—is often overlooked but can be a powerful growth hack. People are naturally competitive, and introducing game-like elements with rewards can lead to impressive spikes in user interaction.
A great example of gamification in action is LinkedIn. The platform uses a gamified approach to encourage users to complete their profiles. As users add more information, they unlock various achievement levels like “All-Star” or “Expert,” which act as social proof in their professional networks.
Another successful gamification tactic on LinkedIn is the endorsement feature. Users can endorse each other’s skills, with each endorsement displayed alongside the user’s profile picture. Profiles with these endorsements receive 13 times more views, demonstrating the effectiveness of gamified elements in increasing user engagement.
Conclusion
These unconventional growth hacks can supercharge your startup’s growth strategy. By approaching challenges with creativity and taking strategic risks, you can discover innovative ways to expand and set your startup on a path to long-term success. From tapping into niche communities and turning feedback into valuable insights to forming unexpected partnerships, these hacks are all about making the most of your current resources to drive growth in exciting new directions.
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