Growth hacking often sounds like a trend, but at its core, it is about using smart and efficient strategies to grow your business intentionally.
Online businesses face real competition. There are no shortcuts. The better path is a more focused, strategic approach to growth. Some brands struggle to acquire a few new customers each month, while others unlock strategies that turn browsers into loyal buyers overnight. That’s the edge growth hacking brings.
Here’s why this matters.
As per PwC, about 63% of shoppers now purchase directly from a brand’s website. So, you can’t simply rely on marketplaces and third-party retailers. Instead, you’d need growth hacking strategies to help build customer relationships and grow your business naturally.
Here are five ways online businesses use growth hacking.
1. Leverage Product Personalization to Boost Quick Conversions
You must have noticed how people are drawn to things that feel like they “were made just for them.”
That’s personalization, a powerful nudge when it comes to impulse buying.
In fact, 81% of shoppers in a research study conducted by Kickflip stated that they would be willing to pay more for customized clothing. When people feel they have control over a product’s design, they’re far more emotionally invested. And of course, emotional investment leads to quicker purchasing decisions.
For anyone in the lifestyle and retail eCommerce business, this means going beyond the monogrammed T-shirts. You can consider selling custom flip-flops, which are becoming a fashion statement in their own right. They are light, practical, customizable, and perfect for vacations, events, or even brand promotions.
Do you want to tie this idea to your brand? Then, think about “Explore how custom flip flops add a personal touch to your accessory line.” It’ll come out as a natural way to introduce the product while keeping the conversation inherent to growth.
2. Create a Referral Program People Want to Share
What was once called word of mouth is now referred to as referral marketing. It still works when your product or service solves a real need and leaves a lasting impression. When people have a good experience, they tend to share it with others. That creates a natural network effect.
The product should be such that it must create a feeling of something worth passing along.
That’s why you need a product that fits into their life, reflects what they value, and feels worth sharing. Think of a product like custom-designed underwear. If it is created with a focus on comfort, sustainability, or self-expression, it becomes more than just apparel.
Referrals take it a step further since people trust recommendations from their network more than any ad. They tend to refer to products that make them feel good or reflect their values.
According to a Harvard Business Review study, referred customers are 30% to 57% more likely to bring in new buyers. That’s compounding growth on autopilot.
Here’s what makes products like custom underwear a perfect fit for this strategy:
• Exceptional comfort or design that sparks conversation.
• Commitment to sustainability or ethical sourcing.
• Products that feel like a personal upgrade. People love sharing what makes them feel good.
3. Build a Scalable Customer Support System Using Knowledge Automation
Repetitive customer questions can overwhelm your team and slow response times. A strong support system combines human help with automation to stay efficient.
This is precisely where you can benefit from the knowledge that automation enters the picture for customer service. It is to ensure that your team has access to reliable resources where they can learn through interactive guides, searchable FAQs, and chatbot-driven workflows.
Here’s a bonus: this mindset works inside your company, too. Equip your team with internal tools, such as searchable FAQs and a learning content management system, so they can solve problems more efficiently and stay focused on higher-value work.
It ensures that your teams are not stuck handling repetitive training but learning to handle nuance and scale your service quality.
Give your support structure some breathing room, and it starts to move faster.
4. Maximize Social Media Impact with Strategic Content Scheduling
You have many social media channels to drive growth, but it’s about timing and consistency. Otherwise, the visibility will drop. This is why you need planned content calendars.
Scheduling tools help simplify this. You can batch-create your posts, map out your calendar, and automate publishing while staying focused on engagement.
Brands that plan are 3x times more likely to hit their goals. The goal differs based on your business type and target audience.
For instance, a B2B brand looking to build credibility can benefit from automated LinkedIn post scheduling. It’s an effective way to maintain a steady voice on the platform that decision-makers check.
If you’re trying to reach decision-makers or nurture B2B leads, use the post scheduler to stay visible without becoming a content machine.
Create a week’s worth of content, schedule it in advance, and maintain consistency without losing sight of your long-term goals. This is how you stay visible without burning out and overcoming the digital transformation obstacles and challenges.
5. Use Data-Driven Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
A lot happens between when someone lands on your site and when they hit ‘Buy.’
Maybe they scroll past your offer. Maybe the call-to-action isn’t clear. Or maybe the layout feels off on mobile. In any case, you need conversion rate optimization because it is not just about vague fixes but tracking, testing, and adjusting based on what the data shows.
Start with heatmaps and highlight what users tend to focus on. Conducting A/B tests can help clarify which headline, button color, or page layout results in more clicks. With funnel tracking, you can exactly identify where drop-offs happen.
Utilize tools like Google Optimize, Hotjar, or Crazy Egg, where even minor tweaks can convert casual visitors into buyers.
Key Takeaways
No single growth strategy works for every business. What matters is how quickly you can test ideas, track the data, and focus on what delivers results. Businesses that grow tend to act more quickly and with greater clarity than those that stagnate.