Spoiler alert – Growing an eCommerce business is hard. If anyone (including me) tells you that there’s a single eCommerce growth hack that will magically fix all your problems and skyrocket your business, they probably haven’t spent enough time in the industry.
After 12+ years of working with thousands of eCommerce businesses, I can tell you one thing for sure — there are no free meals in eCommerce. I have rarely seen growth come easy and overnight.
That’s why It bothers me that the term “growth hack” gets thrown around like it’s some magic wand. That’s not us and that’s not what this article is about.
So, why stick around and read this long article about eCommerce growth hacks? Because while there aren’t any instant fixes, there are success stories, strategies, and case studies that can help you see real results in your business. What you’ll find here are ecommerce growth hacking strategies proven to work for an ecommerce brand just like you.
Do you want to call them “hacks”? Sure, go ahead.
But it’s important that we’re clear on what growth hacking means in eCommerce.
Key Takeaways
- Experimentation is key: Growth hacking requires testing, data-driven decisions, and constant optimization for long-term success.
- Small changes, big results: Simple adjustments like improving pop-ups or CTAs can significantly boost conversions.
- AI boosts efficiency: Using AI for tasks like product photography helps scale operations while saving time and costs.
- Low-cost growth: Pop-up stores and micro-influencers provide affordable ways to expand and increase brand visibility.
- Urgency converts: Creating urgency through cart messaging or limited-time offers can drive immediate purchases.
What is Growth Hacking for Ecommerce
Growth hacking in e-commerce is about getting smart with your strategy—leveraging data, experimenting, and constantly tweaking things to drive faster growth.
It’s about figuring out what works, optimizing it, and scaling it. You’re looking at your business from different angles and playing with different tactics — like testing your website, playing around with your messaging, or using viral campaigns to see what clicks with your customers and makes them buy.
The idea isn’t to find one trick that changes everything. It’s about using data to inform decisions, testing everything (A/B testing is your best friend), and making sure every step of the customer journey—from the moment someone lands on your page to the second they hit “buy”—is fine-tuned for maximum impact. You turn small tweaks into big wins and real growth that sticks.
Think of it as experimenting with mini-strategies that, when combined with broader business strategies, create a bigger, scalable system to drive your sales and keep your customers coming back.
Now that we’re aligned, let’s dive into 25 real-world examples of brands that have nailed growth hacking through CRO, viral marketing, and smart messaging—battle-tested tactics that have helped some of the best eCommerce brands grow faster and smarter.
1. A/B Split Test Popup Images
A common mistake e-commerce businesses make is underestimating the role that image pop-ups play in influencing customer decisions. They fail to optimize the user interface of these pop-ups, leading to clunky navigation and missed conversion opportunities. Poorly designed pop-ups can create unnecessary friction in the shopping process, driving users away rather than encouraging them to make a purchase.
Growth Hack 📈
Improve the navigation and usability of your image pop-ups to create a seamless experience for users.
In the case of Leroy Merlin, optimizing the pop-up interface on their product detail pages led to significant improvements in user experience and conversion rates. Leroy Merlin tested optimized pop-ups that included navigation arrows, enhanced visibility for product titles, and a direct “Add to Cart” button within the pop-up. These changes reduced friction and made it easier for customers to browse and purchase products.
After implementing these optimizations, Leroy Merlin saw a 5.91% increase in conversion rates and a 4.97% boost in revenue per user. The small yet impactful changes helped create a more intuitive shopping experience, making it easier for customers to move from browsing to buying.
Key Takeaway 💡
Small improvements to image pop-ups, such as adding better navigation and clear action buttons, can have a substantial impact on conversions. Testing and optimizing the design of these pop-ups should be part of your CRO strategy. With tools like Omniconvert Explore, you can easily experiment with different design elements to improve user experience and drive more sales
2. Use AI-Driven Product Photography for Scalable Growth
If you’re running an e-commerce store with a large inventory, you know how expensive and time-consuming it can be to keep up with product photography. Constantly doing photoshoots for every new item—switching up models, lighting, and angles—can drain your budget fast.
That’s where AI is shaking things up. Brands are now simplifying this whole process by standardizing their shoots: they use the same model and setup, and they just swap the outfits. Then, they use AI-driven tools to handle the post-production work, so everything looks polished and consistent across thousands of product photos—without blowing up your time and costs.
Growth Hack 📈
Implement standardized product photography by fixing lighting, model poses, and camera angles for your entire product range. Then, AI tools can be used to automate post-production editing. This ensures every photo meets your brand’s visual standard while cutting down on production time and costs.
Revolve uses this approach to quickly create product images for their massive catalog. By maintaining visual consistency across all images, they provide a seamless user experience while minimizing production costs. AI further enhances their efficiency, allowing the brand to scale without a corresponding increase in operational overhead.
Key Takeaway 💡
Standardizing product photography with the help of AI ensures efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. This growth hack allows you to streamline your workflow, maintaining a professional look while keeping operational costs low as you scale your e-commerce business.
3. Utilize Strategic Pop-Up Stores to Discover New Markets
Expanding into new markets can be risky, but strategic pop-up stores offer a smart way to test the waters with minimal investment. Rather than committing to a permanent location, pop-ups give you the flexibility to trial different regions, engage with local customers, and assess demand in real time.
This approach allows brands to explore untapped demographics, adapt their product offerings, and adjust their messaging based on localized preferences—all while building brand visibility.
Growth Hack 📈
Open short-term pop-up stores in promising but untested locations. Use these pop-ups to observe consumer behavior, experiment with region-specific marketing, and collect direct feedback from visitors. This allows you to refine your strategy and validate market demand before committing to larger investments.
Margaux has successfully used pop-up stores to test new markets and gather insights from customers. By opening short-term pop-ups in various cities, Margaux engages directly with shoppers, tests product preferences, and gauges interest in different regions. This method has enabled them to expand thoughtfully and fine-tune their market approach before scaling up.
Key Takeaway 💡
Pop-up stores offer a low-risk way to explore new markets, build brand awareness, and gain valuable insights into customer preferences. They enable brands to test demand and make data-driven decisions, helping ensure a successful and targeted market expansion.
4. Leverage Micro-Influencer Marketing for Cost-Effective Growth
When budgets are tight, running expensive paid ads may not be the best option to grow your brand. Instead, micro-influencer marketing can be an effective, affordable strategy to drive awareness and generate sales. By sending products to micro-influencers—those with small but highly engaged audiences—you can create organic buzz around your brand.
The key is that the cost of gifting products is minimal compared to the potential ROI. If even a few sales come through, you’re already covering your costs, and anything beyond that is pure growth.
Growth Hack 📈
Work with micro-influencers who have around 10,000 followers and align with your brand’s values. Send them products without requiring them to post, unless it’s a paid partnership, and focus on creating authentic connections. Consistency is key; keep reaching out to influencers who reflect your buyer persona, and the organic reach will follow.
Doe Lashes used this strategy to their advantage. By sending their lashes to micro-influencers, they managed to turn a small investment into big returns. Within just one month, this approach helped them generate $2.6K in daily sales without spending a dime on paid ads.
Key Takeaway 💡
Micro-influencer marketing is a low-cost, high-reward strategy that doesn’t require massive budgets. With careful planning and consistent outreach, you can drive growth and brand awareness through authentic influencer connections, turning minimal investments into significant sales.
5. Turn Social Media Inquiries Into Sales
Many eCommerce brands receive tons of social media inquiries but lack a process to convert them into paying customers—especially for high-ticket items. This mistake is costly. Every unanswered lead is potential revenue lost to competitors who are quicker to respond and better equipped to handle inquiries.
Without a clear follow-up system, these brands miss out on significant sales opportunities. Over time, the financial impact adds up, especially when it comes to premium products with high margins. It’s not just about losing one sale; it’s about consistently losing business that could have been captured with the right processes in place.
Growth hack 📈
Build a dedicated sales team focused on turning social media inquiries into customers. This team should have sales CRO strategies to qualify leads, nurture them through direct engagement, and close the sale. Combining sales expertise with conversion rate optimization (CRO) ensures that every inquiry is treated like a valuable lead, especially for higher-priced items.
Casper, the popular mattress eCommerce brand, leverages a sales team that actively engages with social media inquiries. They answer questions about mattresses and sleep accessories, guiding potential customers toward making a purchase, especially for their pricier product lines like mattresses and bedroom furniture.
Key Takeaway 💡
High-ticket items deserve special attention. A proactive sales team can help bridge the gap between social interest and actual conversion, driving more sales for products that require customer reassurance.
6. Leverage Influencers and UGC for Authentic Brand Growth
Many brands rely too heavily on traditional ads, which often feel impersonal and fail to build real trust. Customers today crave authenticity, which is why influencers and user-generated content (UGC) are so powerful. Local micro-influencers, in particular, offer a cost-effective way to create authentic connections with your audience.
Though their audiences may be smaller, their followers are highly engaged and trust their recommendations. By partnering with these influencers, you can generate relatable content that feels genuine and builds trust—something polished ads often lack.
Growth Hack 📈
Work with local micro-influencers to create UGC that showcases your products in a real-world context. Host product launch parties or in-person events where influencers can experience your product firsthand. These interactions generate organic social media buzz and authentic content that resonates with their audiences.
Glossier frequently partners with local influencers by inviting them to pop-up events and studio launches for new products. These curated experiences allow influencers to engage deeply with the brand, resulting in a flood of authentic UGC that drives social proof and builds lasting connections with their followers.
Key Takeaway 💡
Leveraging local influencers for UGC provides an affordable, scalable way to boost your brand’s credibility and foster authentic relationships with your audience. In-person events strengthen these connections, turning influencers into powerful advocates who help your brand grow organically.
7. Use High-Quality Demo Videos
When selling functional products, many eCommerce brands miss a crucial opportunity by failing to demonstrate how their products actually work. They rely too heavily on static images or text descriptions, which often fall short in conveying the true value and benefits of the product.
This approach leaves customers uncertain about whether the product will meet their needs, causing hesitation and ultimately preventing them from completing a purchase. In a digital world where customers can’t physically interact with products, showing the functionality through videos, interactive demos, or even detailed tutorials can make all the difference.
By neglecting this, brands risk losing potential sales simply because customers lack the confidence that the product will deliver on its promises.
Growth hack 📈
Create high-quality demo videos that show your product in action, especially for functional or complex items. Use these videos not only on product pages but also in retargeting ads to engage potential customers who may need that extra visual nudge to buy.
BlendJet, an eCommerce brand selling portable blenders, uses high-quality demo videos on their product pages to show exactly how their product works. These videos are also featured in their retargeting ads, helping to bring back potential buyers who previously hesitated.
Key Takeaway 💡
A well-made demo video can be the final push customers need to purchase functional products. Use these videos across your product pages and in retargeting campaigns to demonstrate value and boost conversions.
8. Expand Internationally with Localized Content
Expanding internationally can be tricky, especially if you just translate your website and call it a day. Instead of taking a blanket approach, dive deeper into what resonates with specific regions.
Localization is more than language—it’s about tapping into local culture, preferences, and even influencers to create a stronger connection with new markets. When your content speaks directly to each region, your brand feels more familiar and trustworthy, making it easier to win over new customers.
Growth Hack 📈
Tailor your content to specific regions by not only translating your website but also creating localized promotions and partnering with local influencers. Tools like Shopify’s built-in localization features or apps like Langify can help automate this process, allowing you to connect with international customers on a more personal level.
Doe Lashes expanded successfully by creating localized content for each region they targeted, including region-specific promotions and partnerships with local influencers. This strategy helped them resonate with local cultures and preferences, boosting traction in new markets.
Key Takeaway 💡
Localized content allows you to connect authentically with international customers, making your brand feel more relevant and personal, which ultimately leads to faster and stronger market penetration.
9. Showcase Customer Feedback for Social Proof
Many eCommerce brands overlook customer reviews, but they’re critical for building trust with new visitors. Without them, potential buyers are left wondering if your product delivers what it promises.
Social proof, like reviews, gives shoppers confidence that others have had positive experiences. When reviews are missing, it’s harder to convince customers that your product is worth their time and money. Featuring honest, detailed reviews across your product pages isn’t just a nice to have—it’s essential for increasing credibility and boosting conversions.
Growth hack 📈
Actively gather and highlight customer reviews across your site. Social proof, like user reviews and ratings, builds trust and gives hesitant buyers the push they need to convert.
Glossier highlights real customer reviews and before-and-after photos across their product pages. This authentic user feedback has become a cornerstone of the growth strategy for their ecommerce business.
Key Takeaway 💡
Reviews aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential for building credibility and increasing conversions. Make sure you’re collecting and prominently showcasing customer feedback.
10. Use Storytelling to Engage Customers
Product descriptions that are bland and overly technical often push potential buyers away. If you’re only listing features or specs, customers may lose interest or struggle to connect with how the product fits into their lives.
People don’t just want to know what the product is—they want to know how it solves a problem, makes life easier, or enhances their experience. Engaging descriptions that tell a story can grab attention and create an emotional connection, making it far more likely that a customer will hit the buy button.
Growth hack 📈
Use storytelling to make your product descriptions more engaging. Instead of just listing features, paint a picture of how the product will fit into the customer’s life and solve their problem.
Patagonia excels at this. Their product descriptions are written like stories, with a focus on how the gear will perform in real-life situations. This connects with customers on a deeper level and makes them more likely to buy.
Key Takeaway 💡
Don’t just list features—tell a story. Engage your audience with descriptions that make them imagine themselves using your product, and you’ll increase conversions.
11. Offer Financing Options
When customers encounter high-priced items, even if they’re drawn to the product, hesitation often creeps in. The price can feel like a significant barrier, especially if the value isn’t immediately clear or if they’re unsure about their investment.
This hesitation is common and can slow down purchasing decisions. To overcome this, it’s crucial to address the perceived value, offering solutions like flexible payment options or emphasizing the long-term benefits. The goal is to make the price feel less overwhelming and more justified in the customer’s mind.
Growth hack 📈
Offer financing options to break large purchases into smaller, manageable payments. Services like Afterpay, Klarna, and Affirm let customers pay in installments, making it easier for them to say yes.
Peloton offers financing for their bikes, allowing customers to pay monthly instead of upfront. This has significantly boosted sales, as customers are more likely to make a purchase when they can spread the cost over time.
Key Takeaway 💡
High-ticket items can feel more accessible when customers have flexible payment options. Offering financing can reduce friction and increase conversions.
12. Launch Limited-Edition Products
When you offer the same products over and over, it can create buyer fatigue, causing customers to lose interest. People love variety and are always looking for something new and exciting to engage with.
Introducing fresh or limited-edition products can re-energize their interest, creating a sense of novelty and urgency. This approach can help rekindle excitement and motivate them to make a purchase, breaking the monotony and avoiding the ‘same old’ effect that stalls conversions.
Growth hack 📈
Create limited-edition products to drive urgency and increase demand. These exclusive items give customers a reason to buy now before they miss out.
Supreme is famous for its limited-edition product drops, which create massive hype and sell out within minutes. This strategy has helped them maintain high demand and a loyal customer base.
Key Takeaway 💡
Limited-edition products generate urgency and exclusivity. Use them to reignite customer excitement and drive fast sales.
13. Use Interactive Product Comparisons
Most eCommerce stores settle for static product descriptions, expecting customers to make decisions based on a long list of features. But here’s the thing: the average shopper doesn’t have the time or energy to sift through product specs to figure out which item best suits their needs.
This is where interactive product comparisons come into play. Instead of forcing customers to do the mental math, why not offer a tool that lays it all out for them—side by side?
Growth Hack 📈
Implement an interactive comparison tool on your product pages, allowing customers to compare items based on features, benefits, and pricing. This boosts engagement and helps customers make faster, informed decisions.
B&H Photo Video does this effectively by allowing customers to compare cameras side by side, breaking down the differences in specs, features, and pricing. This simplifies decision-making for customers who may not be tech experts but want to find the best option quickly.
Key Takeaway 💡
Interactive product comparison tools reduce decision fatigue by giving customers an easy way to evaluate multiple options at once, leading to faster conversions and higher satisfaction.
14. Create Personalized Packaging for VIP Customers
Let’s be real—unboxing can be a make-or-break moment in the customer journey. Generic packaging? It might get the job done, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impression. On the flip side, personalized packaging transforms a routine order into an experience that customers remember.
In a competitive market, where everyone’s offering the same products, a thoughtful touch like a handwritten note or custom packaging for your repeat buyers can make all the difference.
Growth Hack 📈
Offer customized packaging for your repeat or VIP customers. Include personalized thank-you notes, exclusive product samples, or even custom packaging designs tailored to their preferences. It’s these small gestures that elevate your brand and strengthen customer loyalty.
Tatcha, a luxury skincare brand, nails this by including personalized notes and product samples for its most loyal customers. Their attention to detail creates a premium unboxing experience that makes customers feel valued and appreciated, encouraging repeat purchases.
Key Takeaway 💡
Personalized packaging isn’t just about presentation—it’s about building emotional connections with your customers. When they feel appreciated, they’re more likely to come back, fostering long-term loyalty and brand advocacy.
15. Virtual Try-Ons Eliminate Guesswork and Reduce Returns
It’s one thing to offer clear product images, but even with all the right angles, there’s still a gap between what customers see online and what they’ll get in real life. For items like clothing, glasses, or makeup, that gap often leads to hesitation—or worse—returns.
Enter augmented reality (AR), where virtual try-ons bridge this gap by allowing customers to see exactly how a product will look on them before they buy. This makes the online shopping experience much more interactive and cuts down on those costly returns.
Growth Hack 📈
Implement AR technology to enable virtual try-ons for your products. Let customers “try on” items like glasses, clothes, or makeup digitally. This not only helps them visualize the product but also builds confidence in their purchase decision, leading to fewer returns and higher satisfaction rates.
Warby Parker, the eyewear brand, nailed this by offering a virtual try-on feature in their app. Customers can see how different glasses frames will look on their face, which helps them pick the right fit and style without stepping into a store. The result? Reduced hesitation and a boost in sales.
Key Takeaway 💡
Virtual try-ons eliminate friction, build confidence, and reduce uncertainty, especially for products where fit or appearance is key. By offering a way for customers to experience the product virtually, you not only improve the buying experience but also significantly lower return rates.
16. Build Urgency and Exclusivity with Timed Flash Sales
Continuous discounts are great, but they often lose their charm over time. If you want to capture attention and foster a sense of exclusivity, running flash sales targeted specifically at returning customers can work wonders.
These sales, with their limited availability, create urgency and make customers feel like they’re part of a special group—motivating them to act fast. Plus, for repeat customers, flash sales reinforce loyalty by rewarding them with something exclusive.
Growth Hack 📈
Organize time-sensitive flash sales that are only accessible to returning or loyal customers. These sales should feature personalized discounts, creating a sense of exclusivity and urgency, which can drive immediate repeat purchases.
Huckberry, an outdoor gear and lifestyle brand, regularly runs exclusive flash sales for its most loyal customers. By creating urgency through short time windows and making these sales feel special, they keep repeat customers coming back for more, driving both urgency and repeat business.
Key Takeaway 💡
Timed flash sales aren’t just about discounts—they’re about creating an exclusive experience that builds customer loyalty. By running these events for repeat customers, you’re encouraging them to act quickly while fostering a deeper connection with your brand.
17. Create a VIP Subscription Model for Limited-Edition Drops
Let’s face it—subscriptions are everywhere, and most customers have seen it all. But what if you could create something truly special for your most loyal customers? That’s where a VIP subscription model comes in. By offering exclusive access to limited-edition drops, you give your best customers something they can’t find anywhere else, creating anticipation and excitement around each new product.
This builds a sense of exclusivity that keeps your customers engaged and coming back, all while driving repeat business and increasing customer lifetime value.
Growth Hack 📈
Launch a VIP subscription model that gives members access to limited-edition, early-release products. Offer perks like early shopping windows, exclusive product lines, or even behind-the-scenes content to make your VIP customers feel like insiders.
Lululemon’s Sweat Collective membership is a prime example. Members get early access to limited-edition products before they’re released to the general public, which not only builds loyalty but also increases engagement and excitement surrounding each new drop. This exclusive access incentivizes VIP customers to stay subscribed and make frequent purchases, ensuring they don’t miss out on what’s next.
Key Takeaway 💡
Offering VIP access to exclusive products doesn’t just drive repeat business—it creates a deeper emotional connection between your brand and your most valuable customers. That sense of exclusivity builds excitement, loyalty, and a long-term customer relationship.
18. Leverage User-Generated Product How-To Videos
Creating your own polished product tutorials is great, but nothing beats the authenticity of real customers showcasing how they use your product. User-generated how-to videos add credibility and a sense of relatability that brand-produced content sometimes lacks.
When customers see actual users demonstrating your product in action, it builds trust, generates social proof, and helps potential buyers envision themselves using the product. Plus, these videos tend to be more engaging because they’re perceived as genuine, not as polished or staged marketing.
Growth Hack 📈
Encourage customers to submit their own how-to videos using your products and feature these prominently on product pages, email campaigns, and social media. Offer incentives like discounts or shout-outs to motivate submissions.
GoPro is the gold standard here. They’ve built an entire content strategy around user-generated videos of customers using their action cameras in all kinds of extreme conditions. By letting users take the stage, GoPro has created an endless stream of relatable content that serves as powerful social proof, driving engagement and building community loyalty.
Key Takeaway 💡
User-generated how-to videos create trust and provide real-world examples of how your product is used. They offer authenticity that traditional ads can’t, ultimately encouraging hesitant buyers to make a purchase.
19. Create Exclusive Product Drops via SMS
Most brands use SMS marketing for generic promotions or updates, but why not take it a step further? By offering exclusive product drops directly via SMS, you tap into the power of immediacy and exclusivity. Loyal customers love to feel like they’re part of an inner circle, and SMS gives you the ability to make them feel exactly that.
When you notify them of limited-edition products available only to your most engaged customers, you create a VIP experience that drives urgency. Plus, SMS is more personal and direct than email, which means you can expect higher engagement.
Growth Hack 📈
Implement exclusive product drops through SMS marketing, targeting only your most loyal customers. Send direct purchase links and exclusive offers that are unavailable through any other channel, creating a sense of VIP access and urgency.
Fashion Nova has mastered this tactic by sending exclusive, time-sensitive offers to its SMS subscribers. Their strategy of alerting VIP customers about limited-edition, fast-selling products via text has driven urgency, boosted sales, and kept their customer base feeling valued.
Key Takeaway 💡
SMS-exclusive product drops create a VIP experience that increases urgency, boosts conversions, and builds brand loyalty by offering a direct and personalized purchase channel.
20. Incorporate Product Badging to Highlight New or Trending Items
When your eCommerce site offers dozens or even hundreds of products, customers can quickly feel overwhelmed by the options. Product badging can be a game-changer, especially when you’re trying to highlight new arrivals or popular items.
Simple visual cues like “New,” “Trending,” or “Limited Edition” create an instant sense of excitement and urgency. It’s not about tricking customers—it’s about guiding them to items they’re likely to be interested in, helping them make quicker decisions while boosting conversions.
Growth Hack 📈
Incorporate product badges to call attention to new, trending, or limited-stock items. These visual markers act like micro-CTAs, making products stand out, especially when customers are scrolling through pages of options.
ASOS is a prime example of how product badging can influence customer behavior. Their “Selling Fast” badges highlight popular items and new arrivals, helping customers quickly spot the most relevant items and motivating them to make faster purchasing decisions before stocks run out.
Key Takeaway 💡
Product badging not only makes it easier for customers to find items they’re interested in, but it also builds urgency, particularly around limited-time or high-demand products. This subtle nudge can drive faster conversions and reduce decision fatigue by guiding customers toward what’s hot or fresh.
21. Host Live Shopping Events
Most brands are still relying on static product listings and pre-recorded content, but that’s where live shopping events can set you apart. It’s not just about showcasing products—it’s about creating real-time interaction with your audience.
Customers can see demonstrations, ask questions on the spot, and make purchases instantly. This live, dynamic shopping experience builds excitement, urgency, and engagement in ways that static product pages just can’t compete with.
Growth Hack 📈
Host live shopping events where your customers can engage with your brand in real-time, watch product demonstrations, get their questions answered live, and make immediate purchases. It’s a powerful way to recreate the in-store shopping experience digitally.
Boohoo runs regular live shopping events on Instagram, showcasing their newest collections. Followers can interact directly during the live event, watching models wear the products while purchasing them in real-time. The result? A surge in engagement and a sense of immediacy that drives impulse buying.
Key Takeaway 💡
Live shopping isn’t just about showing products; it’s about real-time interaction that makes customers feel connected. By hosting live events, you can drive immediate sales while building stronger relationships with your audience.
22. Leverage Viral Video Marketing for Explosive Brand Growth
Many brands struggle to crack the code of viral video marketing. They either overcomplicate the message or focus too much on flashy production without understanding what truly resonates with their audience. The key mistakes? Trying to make the video too “corporate,” not connecting emotionally with viewers, or being afraid to take risks in their messaging.
Successful viral videos are often simple, relatable, and sometimes even quirky. They tell a story that people want to share—whether it’s because it’s funny, heartwarming, or surprising. That’s what makes them spread like wildfire.
Growth Hack 📈
Create a bold, memorable video that clearly communicates your product’s unique value proposition. Focus on a simple, engaging message that will resonate with your target audience, even if it means pushing boundaries. Humor, personality, and relatability are often the elements that drive virality. Once you’ve nailed the concept, promote your video across all your social channels, and run small ad campaigns to boost initial engagement.
Dollar Shave Club did just that—taking a bold, simple message and delivering it with humor and personality. Their now-iconic video went viral, quickly racking up millions of views and transforming the brand into a household name. It eventually reached over 25 million views and helped Dollar Shave Club generate $20 million in revenue within just two years of launch.
Key Takeaway 💡
The viral video marketing hack is about delivering an engaging, shareable message that resonates emotionally with your audience. By creating content that is bold, relatable, and worth talking about, you can rapidly grow your brand without needing a massive advertising budget.
23. Create a Waitlist for Sold-Out Products
Too often, eCommerce brands treat out-of-stock products as dead ends, leaving customers with no reason to return. But instead of losing potential sales, why not turn that “sold-out” message into an opportunity? A waitlist keeps the conversation going, keeps your customers engaged, and most importantly, it gives you a solid indication of demand for your next restock.
Growth Hack 📈
Implement a waitlist feature for sold-out products. Allow customers to sign up for notifications when the item is back in stock. This keeps interested buyers from slipping away, while also giving you insight into which products are in high demand and worth restocking quickly.
Everlane, known for its transparency and ethical fashion, offers a waitlist for items that sell out. Customers can easily sign up to be notified when their favorite items are back, which not only keeps Everlane top of mind but also increases the likelihood of an immediate purchase when restocked.
Key Takeaway 💡
A waitlist transforms a sold-out product into an ongoing sales opportunity. It keeps customers engaged, captures valuable demand data, and drives immediate conversions once the product is back in stock.
24. Use Shoppable UGC in Emails
User-generated content (UGC) has become a powerful trust-builder for eCommerce brands. But beyond using UGC on social media, why not integrate it directly into your email campaigns? Shoppable UGC emails take authentic customer content and combine it with a clear path to purchase, creating an engaging and frictionless buying experience. When customers see real people enjoying your products, it builds trust and makes them more likely to convert.
Growth Hack 📈
Embed shoppable UGC directly into your email campaigns. Use real customer photos that link back to the corresponding product pages, allowing subscribers to shop based on authentic user experiences.
Glossier consistently includes UGC in their email marketing, showcasing customer photos that highlight how their products are used in real life. Each image links directly to the product page, making it easy for subscribers to replicate the look or experience.
Key Takeaway 💡
Shoppable UGC in emails not only builds trust but also creates a seamless path from engagement to conversion. Customers are more likely to buy when they see real people using and loving your products.
25. Add Urgency to the Cart Page for Higher Conversions
A common mistake that e-commerce businesses make is underestimating the importance of urgency on the cart page. Often, they believe that customers with items in their cart are ready to purchase and need no further persuasion.
However, many users still hesitate and abandon their carts, which is why nudging them with urgency or scarcity can make a big difference. In Orange Romania’s case, adding an urgency statement to the cart page created a sense of urgency that encouraged users to complete their purchases, leading to impressive results.
Growth Hack 📈
Implement urgency tactics on your cart page. Orange Romania experimented by adding an urgency statement that informed users their basket was reserved for a limited time and that stock was running low. This subtle nudge encouraged users to proceed to checkout faster.
Orange Romania tested three variations of urgency messaging on their cart page, with the most effective design stating, “Your basket is reserved for 10 minutes. The stock’s limited, finalize your order now!” This simple statement led to a 7.65% increase in conversion rates and an 11.53% increase in revenue per user, proving how effective urgency can be when used appropriately.
Key Takeaway 💡
Urgency and scarcity are powerful psychological triggers that can help reduce cart abandonment and drive conversions. Use time-sensitive messaging on your cart page to nudge hesitant users to complete their purchases. A/B test variations of urgency statements to find the most effective wording and placement. With Omniconvert, you can easily experiment with these tactics to maximize results.
Closing lines
Thank you for sticking with us through this comprehensive look at 25 eCommerce growth hacks. While growing an eCommerce business is no easy feat, the strategies we’ve explored show that success comes from persistence, creativity, and smart experimentation. There may not be one-size-fits-all solutions, but there are plenty of actionable tactics that can move the needle for your business.
We hope these examples inspire you to try something new, fine-tune your approach, and find what works best for your unique brand. Remember, growth is a journey, and every step forward counts. Thanks again for taking the time to read, and here’s to scaling your eCommerce business faster and smarter!
If you’re ready to take these growth hacks to the next level, tools like Omniconvert can help streamline your testing and optimization.
And if you’re looking for a data-driven way to turn insights into action, give Omniconvert Explore a FREE try. With our powerful suite of tools for A/B testing, CRO, and customer journey optimization, we’re here to help you get more from every visitor and make smarter decisions to grow your business.
Thanks again for reading, and we sincerely hope you found this article helpful. Let’s keep hustling forward together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key differences between growth hacking and traditional marketing in eCommerce?
Growth hacking focuses on rapid experimentation across marketing channels and product development to find efficient ways to scale, while traditional marketing often relies on more established, long-term strategies.
How do I determine the right moment to implement growth hacking strategies in my eCommerce business?
Growth hacking is most effective when your eCommerce business has a stable customer base and product-market fit, and you’re looking to accelerate growth or overcome growth plateaus.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when starting with growth hacking in eCommerce?
Over-reliance on one strategy, neglecting data-driven decisions, and implementing too many experiments at once without focusing on what drives measurable results.
How can I measure the effectiveness of a growth hacking strategy?
Effectiveness can be measured by tracking metrics like customer acquisition cost (CAC), conversion rate, customer lifetime value (CLV), and engagement metrics to ensure sustainable growth.
How do I integrate growth hacking with other business strategies like SEO, content marketing, and paid advertising?
Growth hacking should complement these strategies by using data-driven insights from experiments to enhance SEO rankings, improve content targeting, and optimize the return on investment (ROI) from paid ads.
