How do you prioritize and test your growth hacking ideas in a lean and agile way?

I actually use the *R*ICE framework with my team. Having a dimension for Reach is a necessary addition. Reach scores on: How many people will this impact within a defined time period? 1. Define reachable audience criteria 2. Calculate rough sizing for your TAM 3. Make an assessment based on how many of those people you think you can reach via each idea. Tip: I like to use a 1-5 ranking for each letter in RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Ease), and then sum up those scores to quickly see which ideas bubble to the top of the list.

Few tips on this topic to succeed with this framework: 📊 Simplify ICE Data: Use clear charts for Impact, Confidence, Ease. 📖 Narrate Choices: Tell the story of how ICE scores guide strategy. 🎯 Focus on High Scores: Highlight top-scoring ideas visually. 🔍 Clarify Methods: Briefly explain how scores are determined. 🔄 Show Evolution: Regularly update on strategy impacts. 💡 Ensure Transparency: Make strategic decisions understandable.

Here's how to be a lean, agile growth hacker ninja: ICE It Baby! (Yes, cooler than it sounds). Use the ICE framework: Impact (how big a win could it be?), Confidence (how sure are you it'll work?), and Ease (how easy is it to test?). High ICE scores get tested first!

Here are some tips for implementing the ICE framework in a more organized manner: - Ensure that your experiments can be easily measured. - Limit the duration of each experiment to 1-2 weeks, where possible. - Keep a record of all experiment results, as you may need them in the future. - Stick to the experiments listed on the sheet until the next brainstorming session. - Score each experiment individually to avoid being influenced by others' opinions. - Be prepared to explain why you gave a high or low score.

ICE works well in an agile environment for quick product tests where fast feedback matters. But depending on where your stage, using RICE could give you better results. ICE is good for simple projects with just one team. However, when things get more complicated, RICE scoring gives much more precise results.

To prioritize and test growth hacking ideas in a lean and agile manner - ✔️First step is to brainstorm and identify potential strategies that align with your goals. ✔️Next, you should evaluate and prioritize these ideas based on factors such as potential impact, resources required, and alignment with your overall strategy. ✔️Once you have selected the most promising ideas, create a structured testing plan to gather data and validate their effectiveness. Implementing an iterative approach will allow you to quickly test, learn, and adapt your strategies based on real-world results. Through this methodical process, you can efficiently drive growth and optimize your approach for maximum impact.

Prioritisation of ideas happens with the understanding that not all ideas are created equal. Beyond frameworks like ICE or RICE, I like to focus on what I call "Opportunity Windows". This is where timing, market trends, and customer behaviour come together to reveal an idea's true potential. A great growth hack doesn’t just solve a problem—it capitalises on an opportunity. Once identified, score ideas on how well they align with current market conditions and customer demand. This ensures that you’re not only being efficient but also strategic about when and how you execute.

Quick Tip: Score each idea on a scale of 1 to 10 for each criterion, then calculate the ICE score. Focus on high-impact, high-confidence, and easy-to-implement ideas first.

Here's a streamlined approach to prioritizing and testing growth ideas: Prioritize using ICE scoring: Impact (potential gains) Confidence (likelihood of success) Ease (resource requirements) Score each 1-10, prioritize highest total Quick testing framework: Start with 24-48 hour tests Maximum budget $100-200 Test one variable at a time Set clear success metrics Lean testing methods: Landing page smoke tests 5-day social ad sprints Email subject line tests Small audience segments Pop-up surveys Track & iterate: Document all test results Kill failing tests quickly Double down on winners Share learnings weekly Build on what works

I find the Lean Canvas essential for growth hacking. It clarifies key business aspects: problem, target audience, value proposition, and success metrics. This tool effectively maps and prioritizes growth ideas, pinpointing those needing testing. Airbnb used Lean Canvas to identify its core problem (affordable lodging) and target audience (budget travelers). This guided their strategies like the cereal box campaign and Craigslist integration, focusing on impactful, testable assumptions. Lean Canvas streamlines growth efforts, aligning them with business goals.

One way to enhance lean canvas is to integrate that with the customer journey. We’ll add to the what” and the “who,” the “how” and “why” customers engage with the product, leading to more targeted improvements and innovative growth strategies.

Before diving into testing, sketch out your idea with a Lean Canvas. This one-page template helps you clarify: - Problem: What problem are you solving? - Customer Segments: Who is your target audience? - Value Proposition: What unique value are you offering? - Channels: How will you deliver your solution? - Metrics: How will you measure success? Use this canvas to identify the riskiest assumptions and focus your testing efforts there.

I would do these: - Define a clear hypothesis: Identify the problem, target audience, value proposition, and success metrics. - Utilize a lean canvas: A one-page template that summarizes your business model's key elements. - Map out growth hacking ideas: Organize and visualize your strategies in a structured way. - Validate assumptions: Use the lean canvas to identify and challenge the riskiest elements. - Focus on testing: Prioritize the ideas that need validation to ensure your efforts drive real growth.

Lean testing isn’t just about speed—it’s about precision. Instead of rushing to execute every growth idea, I focus on testing the most critical assumption behind each idea. Whether you’re A/B testing a landing page or experimenting with email subject lines, ensure your test validates the core hypothesis that underpins the idea. Tools like Google Optimise or Unbounce are great, but the key is having a clear hypothesis that drives meaningful results. The goal isn’t just to test fast but to test smart.

Though I don't use Agile Sprints, I've seen their effectiveness in projects. They involve short cycles to test hypotheses through Minimum Viable Experiments (MVEs), using tools like Google Optimize. Example: For an e-commerce site, Agile Sprints tested website layouts. Each sprint led to rapid layout iterations, significantly boosting conversions through continuous learning and adaptation. This approach proves valuable for dynamic, data-driven decision-making in growth hacking.

Create a minimum viable experiment (MVE) that tests your hypothesis. Keep it simple but impactful. Try using tools like Google Optimize, Unbounce, or Mailchimp for running experiments.

The beauty of agile growth hacking lies in the feedback loop—a continuous process of building, measuring, and learning. Instead of waiting for a "perfect" experiment, I encourage running Minimum Viable Experiments (MVEs) with a short time horizon. With each iteration, gather feedback, assess the impact using Pirate Metrics (AARRR), and refine the strategy. The quicker the feedback loop, the faster you can adapt and scale. It’s not just about hitting targets; it’s about learning faster than your competition.

Google's 'messy middle' concept stresses the importance of context in these metrics. For instance, in a project using Google Analytics, tracking website design changes showed its impact on Retention and Referral, providing deeper customer behavior insights. Understanding the non-linear paths of customers enhances the utility of AARRR in growth strategies.

It also involves creating an MVE, measuring results (using metrics like AARRR), and learning to adapt. Example: A digital marketing campaign iteratively refined using this loop showed how building, measuring, and learning from each iteration can significantly enhance campaign effectiveness. Decisions to pivot, persevere, or kill an idea are based on these insights, demonstrating the loop's importance in data-driven growth strategies.

Successfully prioritizing and testing growth hacking ideas in a lean and agile way requires adopting a growth-oriented mindset. This involves fostering a culture of experimentation, making data-informed choices, staying customer-centric, and focusing on ongoing improvement. By following this mindset, you can continuously generate creative ideas, execute rapid tests, accurately evaluate results, and apply lessons learned effectively, ensuring that your growth hacking efforts are both nimble and impactful.