Growth hacking: definition
A growth approach built on rapid experimentation: test many levers, measure, keep what works, drop the rest.
Definition
Growth hacking is less a bag of tricks than a method: form hypotheses about what could grow the product, test them fast and cheap, and only industrialize what proves its effect. It covers the whole cycle, from acquisition to retention. The mindset matters more than the tactics: measure rather than believe.
Why it matters
This approach keeps you from betting big on an unverified hunch: you risk little on each test and only scale what has proven itself. It is what lets a small team find its growth levers without an outsized budget.
When to use it
You use it continuously, keeping a backlog of prioritized experiments. In practice, each week you run a few low-cost tests, measure one clear metric, and quickly stop anything that does not move the needle.
Example
Testing three landing page headlines in one week on a small budget to see which converts best before putting volume behind it.
Common mistakes
- Copying 'hacks' outside their original context.
- Launching tests without a clear metric.
- Scaling an experiment before it has proven itself.
Don't confuse it with
- cac: Growth hacking is the experimentation method; CAC is one of the metrics that tells you whether an experiment was worth it.
What our data says
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Frequently asked questions
- Is growth hacking just miracle tricks?
- No: it is a discipline of measured experimentation. The 'hacks' that circulate rarely work outside their original context.