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There is a growing cottage industry out there of so-called 'growth hackers,' offering all sorts of tricks and miracle grow solutions for your startup. We thought it was important to get back to basics and list off the tried and true tactics that work and should be a considered part of your startup's growth strategy.
1) Prominently display opportunities to subscribe, download or sign up
To acquire members, get app downloads or sign up newsletter subscribers you need to make sure your users have opportunities to sign up. Pay close attention to your homepage by making sure it is clutter free and drives users’ eyes towards sign up opportunities.
2) Buy ‘em off
It’s not sexy and it doesn’t fit tech’s ‘we just built it and they came’ mantra but many times the best way to gain sign ups is via old fashion paid advertising. Whether that is Google Ad words, retargeted banner ads or even Facebook sponsored posts (which is about the only way to gain followers and engagement on Facebook now), paid advertising if done right can be highly effective.
3) Force sign up to get to content
You’re an expert on your startup’s little section of the universe and you’ve decided you’re going to use that expertise to content market: don’t give away your content for free. If people really are interested ask them to sign up for your newsletter, become a member, or at least give you basic contact information.
4) Tap into your member’s networks
Linkedin does a great job of this. The professional network has an option to “See Who You Already Know on LinkedIn” and gives you the ability to download your email contacts, then invite new members, but also to look around at contacts that you’re not Linkedin with yet. Not only does this email grow Linkedin’s user base, but it gives members all the more reason to engage with people they might already know.
5 ) Remind people of all the great activity that is happening on your site or app
Twitter is always pinging my cell phone and telling me what people I follow are tweeting, re-tweeting, favoriting and following. I’d turn it off except every once and a while I discover something really interesting and then join in myself. If you can remind users of interesting activity going on in your app or website, they are all the more likely to increase engagement.
6) Referral rewards.
Giving users a discount, points, or additional features for referring your app, website or newsletter to a set number of people can be highly effective. Recommendations from friends tend to be more influencial than a cold email or banner advertisement. Referrals also cost a lot less than more traditional marketing methods.
7) Automated, yet personalized emails.
Automatically send a personalized email from a member of your team asking users how they like your app or website, and be ready to interact. Many users are flattered that you’d interact with them and often offer up useful advice or insight. The experience tends to give people positive feelings and can help with engagement too.
