Summary
The post details how 15 successful startups (unicorns) acquired their first users. Tactics include: TikTok's App Store name optimization, Strava's friend network expansion, Pinterest's guerrilla marketing in Apple Stores, Etsy's craft show attendance, Cameo's intern outreach, Lyft's personal email invites, Tinder's launch party requirement, WhatsApp's community targeting, Udemy's manual course creation, DoorDash's door-to-door recruitment, Discord's Reddit partnership, Behance's designer interviews, Uber's street teams, Netflix's niche community focus, and Superhuman's PR strategy. The author also shares a GitHub repo with actionable guides for user acquisition.
Opinion
Mainstream opinion: The post is highly valued for compiling rare growth hacking tactics from successful companies. Users appreciate the actionable insights and creative approaches. u/Evangelina_Hotalen specifically praises the TikTok and Pinterest examples as 'legendary'.
Conflicting opinions: No significant conflicts in comments. The only other comment (u/belgooga) is a simple thank you, indicating broad appreciation but limited debate.
Analysis: The discussion lacks controversy as all examples are presented as successful case studies. The primary value is in the aggregation of diverse user acquisition strategies rather than critical analysis. The GitHub link suggests readers seek more systematic implementation guides beyond anecdotal examples.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/ | Social Media | Used long app name for App Store SEO |
| Strava | https://www.strava.com/ | Fitness Tracking | Word-of-mouth growth |
| https://www.pinterest.com/ | Visual Discovery | Guerrilla marketing at Apple Stores | |
| Etsy | https://www.etsy.com/ | E-commerce | Offline outreach at craft shows |
| Cameo | https://www.cameo.com/ | Celebrity Messaging | Hired interns to DM talent |
| Lyft | https://www.lyft.com/ | Ride-Sharing | Personal email invites to friends |
| Tinder | https://tinder.com/ | Dating | Launch party requiring app download |
| https://www.whatsapp.com/ | Messaging | Targeted Russian emigrant community | |
| Udemy | https://www.udemy.com/ | Online Learning | Manual course creation to attract experts |
| DoorDash | https://www.doordash.com/ | Food Delivery | Door-to-door restaurant recruitment |
| Discord | https://discord.com/ | Communication | Leveraged Reddit community |
| Behance | https://www.behance.net/ | Design Portfolio | Interviewed artists to build portfolios |
| Uber | https://www.uber.com/ | Ride-Sharing | Street teams with referral codes |
| Netflix | https://www.netflix.com/ | Streaming | Targeted niche online communities |
| Superhuman | https://superhuman.com/ | Email Client | PR in major tech publications |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Difficulty acquiring initial users for new SaaS products
- Lack of resources for expensive marketing campaigns
- Need for creative, low-cost user acquisition strategies
- Challenges in proving product value to attract experts or partners
Problems to Solve:
- How to get first users without a marketing budget
- How to leverage existing communities for growth
- How to demonstrate product value to early adopters
- How to scale from zero to initial traction
Potential Solutions:
- App Store Optimization (ASO) tricks like long app names
- Word-of-mouth referrals through personal networks
- Guerrilla marketing tactics (e.g., Apple Store hijacking)
- Offline outreach at relevant events
- Manual recruitment of partners/experts
- Leveraging niche online communities
- PR in industry publications
- Offering free services/interviews to build credibility
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Creative, scrappy user acquisition methods
- Leveraging personal networks for initial traction
- Targeting niche communities for early adopters
- Offline and grassroots marketing efforts
Marketing & Acquisition:
- App Store Optimization (ASO)
- Word-of-mouth referrals
- Guerrilla marketing tactics
- Street teams with referral codes
- Launch parties requiring app download
- Direct outreach to influencers/experts
- Community engagement (e.g., Reddit)
- PR in tech publications
Monetization & Product:
- Manual creation of content to prove value (Udemy)
- Building portfolios for artists to showcase platform (Behance)
- Free services to attract high-profile users
User Engagement:
- Personal invites to build initial user base
- Interviewing admired users to build relationships
- Attending events to connect with potential users
- Community building through targeted outreach