What if everything you know about growth hacking is completely wrong?
In this raw, unfiltered episode, Chris Franks, Stephanie Hayes, and Anthony Franco tear apart the Silicon Valley mythology around growth hacking and reveal what actually moves the needle. Forget the overnight viral dreams—73% of startups fail because they can't find product-market fit, not because they lack clever tactics. The trio challenges conventional wisdom, shares battle-tested strategies that work in the real world, and explains why the best "growth hacks" are often just old-school marketing tactics disguised with tech jargon. From building partnerships that actually matter to using AI as your secret weapon, this episode cuts through the noise to deliver actionable insights you can implement immediately.
Most founders treat growth like a numbers game, chasing viral moments and overnight success stories. But here's the uncomfortable truth: real growth comes from understanding your customers so deeply that you can reach them in ways others haven't thought of. The most effective "growth hacks" aren't shortcuts—they're the result of hard work to find tactics that resonate with your specific audience.
Build Partnerships, Not Just Ads
The fastest way to grow isn't through expensive ad campaigns that drain your budget. It's borrowing other people's audiences through strategic partnerships. When you build genuine collaborations, you gain instant credibility and access to engaged audiences who already trust your partner. This isn't about finding shortcuts—it's about recognizing that someone else has already done the hard work of building trust with your ideal customers.
Solve the Timing Problem
Perfect products fail when they reach customers at the wrong time. The most innovative growth strategies focus on identifying indicators that signal when someone is ready to buy. This might mean following carpet installers to find businesses ready for office equipment, or partnering with funeral directors to reach people who need grief counseling. The key is thinking creatively about your customer's journey and intercepting them at the right moment.
Leverage AI for Deep Customer Understanding
ChatGPT and other AI tools have fundamentally changed marketing because they're trained on the entire internet—which is essentially all marketing content. Use AI to build detailed customer personas, test messaging, and generate creative approaches to reach your audience. Create chatbot agents that represent your ideal customers, then ask them questions about your product, messaging, and strategy.
The best growth tactics aren't new—they're timeless principles applied in creative ways. Real growth hacking means going back to fundamentals: understanding your customer, crafting compelling messages, and finding unconventional ways to reach them. Stop chasing viral dreams and start building sustainable systems that create lasting connections with the people who need what you're offering.
Watch the Full Episode on The Growth Hacks That Actually Work below:
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