Growth Hacking

A marketing approach focused on rapid experimentation across channels and product development to identify the most efficient ways to grow a business, typically with limited budgets. Growth hacking emphasises creativity, analytical thinking, and leveraging technology to achieve exponential growth rather than relying on traditional marketing. Famous growth hacks include Dropbox's referral program (giving free storage for referrals), Airbnb's Craigslist integration, and Hotmail's email signature ('Get your free email at Hotmail'). Growth hackers use data analysis, A/B testing, viral mechanics, automation, and unconventional strategies to achieve outsized results. The approach originated in startups but is now used by companies of all sizes.

Why it matters

Growth hacking mindset helps resource-constrained entrepreneurs compete with established players by finding clever, cost-effective growth strategies. AI enables rapid experimentation and automation that were previously impossible for small teams.