By Nick Borelli – October, 2016
The lines between what is currently considered marketing best practice and growth hacking
get blurred every few months. Usually growth hacking marketing is defined as a form
that emphasizes more experimental campaigns focused on fast results, especially in the
areas of growing audiences. Growth hackers A&B test and pivot quickly in order to show
momentum building results. The reason growth hacking is featured in our trends is because
the marketing landscape is moving so quickly that only through result driven trials can you
determine the right formula for success.
Strategies
Social media follower growth hacking
Rapid unsustainable practices are the product of poor growth hacking techniques. Buying
followers in order to trick people into thinking you are credible and most forms of content
automation will hurt rather than help any strategies that are based on long term success.
Web-based applications such as Tweepi allow you to target the followers of competitors
or influencers in order to rapidly build your audience. Targeted automation of post liking on
platforms like Twitter and Instagram also often result in fast follower gains without being
seen as a spamming technique (as with post commenting automation).
Tease to convert
If your main goal is website conversion, social media posts geared at reeling people in for
the full story on their site is key. Steer clear of clickbait schemes by focusing on value in your
post with additional value on your site. Enticing graphics will help convert clicks and variations
of images with different takes on the calls to action will also stretch out a campaign. For
example, if you are sending them to a list, give them one of the items in your post and have
the rest located on your site.
Sharing strategies
Social media tactics are the best forms of growth hacking because you have the opportunity
for impressions you don’t pay for through social sharing. Social media posts designed to
entice followers to share them takes precision. Self-promotion and ads are rarely shared
or retweeted unless you have something that is ending very soon and exclusive. Timely
posts that leverage moments everyone’s talking about are overwhelmingly the most
shared content with instructional content being second. Direct your tweets at influencers
with unique messages to them (but please space out requests so they feel special and not
blasted at). Don’t forget the easiest way to get a share or retweet – ask for one!
