Growth Hacking Guide for Beginners

You might be compelled to believe that ‘Growth Hacking’ is relevant to unconstitutional activity. But you are wrong. 

Growth hacking is entirely different and focuses much on growing the revenue of a business. 

How – by actively experimenting and monitoring the existing marketing tactics to attain more revenue for your business. 

This guide serves as a starting point and will take you through some compelling examples of growth hacking witnessed in recent years. 

What is meant by growth hacking?

Growth hacking is a creative, fast-paced approach to marketing focused on rapid business growth. 

Unlike traditional marketing, which might rely heavily on ads and budgets, growth hacking is about finding smart, often unconventional methods to attract and retain customers. 

The goal is to achieve massive growth without breaking the bank.

Unlike traditional marketing, growth hacking focuses on fast, cost-effective methods to attract and keep customers. 

Growth hackers mix data analysis, user psychology, and constant experimentation to find what works for a specific audience. 

A great example is Dropbox's referral program, which rewards users with extra storage for inviting friends. This approach helped Dropbox grow rapidly while keeping users engaged. You may want to check out What is Performance Marketing? If you’re interested in that field. 

Examples of Growth Hacking

Airbnb

Let’s look at two powerful examples of growth hacking in action: Airbnb’s integration with Craigslist and Hotmail’s email signature.

Starting with Airbnb—back in 2009, Airbnb was a small startup competing with hotel giants. They needed rapid growth to survive. So, they found an untapped source of potential users on Craigslist, which was hugely popular at the time for housing listings. 

By building a tool to automatically cross-post Airbnb listings onto Craigslist, they expanded their visibility instantly. Suddenly, thousands of Craigslist users, looking for affordable accommodations, saw Airbnb listings, bringing them to Airbnb’s platform. 

This integration was responsible for their user base doubling within a year! Today, Airbnb is valued at over $80 billion, but it was this growth hack that gave them a significant early boost. We have a blog titled What is Synthetic Data? Make sure you explore that!

 

Hotmail’s email signature

Now, onto Hotmail’s email signature—one of the simplest yet most effective growth hacks. Back in 1996, Hotmail was one of the first free web-based email providers. 

With a limited marketing budget, they added a line to the bottom of each outgoing email that read: ‘Get your free email at Hotmail.’ Every email sent became a free ad, encouraging recipients to sign up. The result was astonishing. 

Within just 18 months, Hotmail grew from zero to 12 million users, acquiring thousands of new users daily with virtually no advertising cost. By the end of 1997, Microsoft acquired Hotmail for an estimated $400 million, recognizing the incredible value of its viral growth.

These examples show that growth hacking isn’t always about having a huge budget—it’s about finding the right angle to reach users where they are and providing value that turns them into loyal customers. 

Both Airbnb and Hotmail grew exponentially by tapping into existing networks creatively and efficiently.

 

What is the salary of a growth hacker?

One of the big questions I often hear is, ‘What’s the salary of a growth hacker in India in 2024?’ Let’s break it down with some recent stats and industry insights.

As of 2024, a growth hacker in India typically earns between INR 7–12 lakhs annually at the entry to mid-level. 

For senior roles, particularly in fast-growing fields like tech, SaaS, and e-commerce, salaries can go up to INR 15–20 lakhs or even more. These industries are keen on driving user acquisition, engagement, and revenue growth through innovative methods. 

 

For beginners looking to enter growth hacking, these industries offer significant opportunities. For example, tech companies are constantly experimenting with data-driven campaigns and require growth hackers to scale rapidly. 

Similarly, e-commerce giants, like Amazon and Flipkart, are prime employers, often seeking individuals who can maximize user engagement through unique marketing strategies. 

SaaS companies like Zoho and Freshworks are also top destinations, especially given their focus on recurring revenue and customer retention. To understand your customers, you may want to explore What are Consumer Insights

 

To reach these companies as a beginner, start by building a foundation in digital marketing, data analysis, and user psychology. Joining online communities, contributing to case studies on platforms like Medium, and showcasing successful projects on LinkedIn can help you get noticed. Internships and entry-level roles in digital marketing or product management are great stepping stones, as they offer exposure to the core strategies growth hackers use.

 

Growth hacking tools for beginners

Each of these tools is straightforward to use and provides real value as you look to build and scale a business.

1. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is like the Swiss Army knife of tracking. It’s free, accessible, and incredibly detailed, giving insights into traffic, user behaviour, and conversion rates. 

With over 29 million websites using it worldwide, Google Analytics is the go-to for tracking almost every metric that matters. You can see where users are coming from, how they interact with your site, and what’s driving conversions. 

For example, when Sony used Google Analytics to study behaviour, they managed to reduce bounce rates by 15% on key product pages.

 

2. Mailchimp

Next up is Mailchimp, a powerful tool for email marketing and automation. It’s beginner-friendly and helps you reach potential and current users with targeted automated email campaigns. You can explore the meaning and examples of successful market research to understand the overall strengths of your business competitors. 

Mailchimp reports show that personalized emails can boost click-through rates by 14% and conversions by 10%. Whether it’s sending out newsletters, promotions, or onboarding emails, Mailchimp makes it easy to stay engaged with your users and is used by over 14 million businesses today.

 

3. Canva

Canva is a design tool that’s made graphic creation accessible for non-designers. For social media posts, infographics, or ad graphics, Canvas templates and intuitive interface make it a growth hacker’s favourite for content that converts. 

According to Canva, businesses using eye-catching graphics can increase engagement on social media by up to 200%. With over 100 million monthly users creating visually appealing content, Canva is essential for building brand identity without a big budget.

 

4. Buffer

For social media management, Buffer is a great starting tool. It helps schedule posts across platforms and offers insights into engagement metrics, making it easier to grow a brand’s presence online. 

Studies show that consistent posting can boost engagement rates by up to 30%. Many startups and small businesses use Buffer to manage multiple accounts seamlessly, helping them stay consistent without needing a full-time social media manager.

 

5. Ahrefs

Finally, Ahrefs is a powerful SEO tool that gives you insights into keyword performance, competitor strategies, and backlink analysis. SEO is a crucial part of growth, and Ahrefs is a top tool for beginners and experts alike. 

A study from Ahrefs found that 91% of web pages get zero traffic from Google, meaning that a strong SEO strategy is essential. With its user-friendly dashboard, Ahrefs helps businesses find keywords that rank and drive organic traffic, which is critical for long-term growth.

These five tools cover essential areas for growth hacking—from analytics and email marketing to social media, design, and SEO. Starting with these tools gives you a reliable foundation to grow a brand without needing an advanced tech background.

 

What are some growth hacks for B2B SaaS companies?

As we wrap up, let's discuss some practical growth hacks specifically for B2B SaaS companies. These strategies have been tested across the industry and can be effective for driving customer acquisition, improving retention, and boosting revenue. Here are a few actionable steps:

 

1. Free Trial and Demo Experience

For B2B SaaS, the trial period is crucial. Studies show that 40-60% of free trial users never convert because they don’t experience enough value. 

Ensure your onboarding is seamless by guiding new users through the platform with a personalized experience. 

Consider tools like Appcues or Userpilot for in-app onboarding, and follow up with automated emails to highlight core features that align with their business needs. Giving users a true "aha moment" in their first experience can make all the difference.

 

2. Content Marketing for Inbound Leads 

B2B buyers want solutions, not just products, so focusing on valuable content is key. Creating in-depth blog posts, eBooks, case studies, and even hosting webinars on industry pain points helps attract potential clients. 

A study by the Content Marketing Institute found that 91% of B2B marketers consider content marketing essential. Use SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to research high-impact keywords in your niche, and publish content that establishes your company as an expert.

 

3. Focus on Customer Success to Drive Retention

With B2B SaaS, revenue relies heavily on renewals and upsells. A 5% increase in retention can increase profits by 25-95%. Create a customer success program where dedicated reps can guide clients and offer proactive support. 

Tools like Intercom and Gainsight can help monitor customer health scores, making it easier to reach out to clients before they even consider churning.

 

4. Run Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Campaigns

ABM targets high-value accounts with personalized marketing, and it has become a proven growth hack for B2B SaaS. In fact, companies using ABM generate 208% more revenue from marketing. 

Start by identifying your top potential clients and developing personalized outreach, content, and campaigns just for them. LinkedIn Ads and email marketing work especially well for ABM since you can target specific companies and roles within your niche.

 

5. Use Referral Programs and Incentivize Sharing

Referral programs aren’t just for B2C—B2B SaaS companies like Dropbox and Slack have also leveraged them effectively. 

Incentivize current users to refer others by offering a discount on the next renewal or access to exclusive features. 

Referral programs can lower customer acquisition costs significantly, and SaaS companies see referral programs drive around 13% of new customers on average.

These growth hacks are highly actionable and well-suited to the B2B SaaS space. By focusing on these hacks, your SaaS company can unlock retention and achieve long-term customer satisfaction.