How I Learned to Stop Growth Hacking and Build a Real Following
I used to think social media growth was a game you could win with the right cheat codes. Follow-for-follow, join an engagement pod, master the “perfect” thread template. For years, I watched smart founders chase these tricks, convinced they were just one viral post away from success.
Then I realized something: we were all doing it wrong.
The Problem with "Growth Hacks"
Most advice about growing a following reads like a get-rich-quick scheme. "10x your engagement!" "Leverage these 7 viral formulas!" "Automate your authority!" It's no wonder so many accounts sound completely lifeless, like they’re run by a particularly ambitious robot.
The real issue isn't that building an audience is hard—it's that we're obsessed with tactics instead of foundations. And when your "authentic" thread follows a script you bought in a $199 course, people can smell it from a mile away. It’s the empty calories of marketing: a quick rush of vanity metrics followed by the inevitable crash.
What Actually Works: Two Paths Nobody Talks About
So, if the hacks are garbage, what actually works? I’ve seen two approaches that don't suck. One is a taboo shortcut, and the other is a slow, deliberate craft. Neither involves a 12-step playbook.
1. The Unthinkable Shortcut: Buy Your Foundation
Let’s be honest, it sounds sketchy. Buying a social media account feels like cheating.
But I saw a founder, just 30 days from an investor demo with 47 followers, do exactly that. Out of desperation, he started looking at marketplaces for established, niche-aligned accounts. He found one with 4,200 organic followers in his space, with a history of real conversations.
He didn't just throw money at it. He did his homework:
He checked for bots. The account had a 92% real-follower score. (Anything under 85% is a ghost town).
He read the old posts. The comments were from real people asking smart questions, not just a sea of "GM" and "Great post!"
He made sure the audience fit. The account was about his industry. Buying a meme account to sell B2B software is just lighting money on fire.
The result? His first post from the new account got 50,000 impressions. By demo day, he’d grown to 8,500 engaged followers. He closed his seed round.
The key: Sometimes, a credible head start is better than starting from zero.
2. The Artisan's Path: Build a Foundation That Lasts
But there’s a huge catch to the shortcut. As another builder wisely pointed out, "The problem with a bought account is you're talking to someone else's audience."
You didn't earn their trust. You don't know their inside jokes. You've inherited a house, but you have no idea where the creaky floorboards are. This is the risk of a borrowed audience.
The alternative is the artisan’s path. It's not about speed; it's about depth.
Listen first, talk later. For the first month, you don't post. At all. You just listen. Create a private list of 100 people who represent your ideal customer and become a student of their conversations.
Become an expert on their problems. What do they complain about? What questions do they ask over and over? What are their real goals? You’re not guessing what they want; you’re building a blueprint of their world.
Answer the questions they’re already asking. Your first posts shouldn’t be about you. They should be direct answers to the pains you uncovered. A recurring complaint becomes a post. A common question becomes a tutorial.
The growth is slower, but the engagement is real from day one. Why? Because you’re not a stranger shouting into the void. You’re the person who finally gets it.
The Real Question: Are You a Raider or a Farmer?
So which path is right? The raider who seizes an asset for a quick victory, or the farmer who patiently cultivates their land for a long-term harvest?
There's no "good" or "bad" answer—only the right one for your context. It’s a trade-off between speed and substance.
You might be a raider (and buy an account) if:
You're against a hard deadline, like a launch or fundraiser.
You have more money than time.
You need an immediate foothold in a crowded market.
You're probably a farmer (and should build from scratch) if:
You're building a long-term, brand-driven business.
Your reputation and community are your most valuable assets.
You're bootstrapped and have more time than money.
Getting Started (Without the Playbooks)
Stop chasing silver bullets. The only "hack" is to stop thinking about tactics and start thinking about your foundation. Whether you build it or buy it, this is where you should start.
Pick one platform where your potential customers actually hang out.
Find 20 people who are your ideal customers. Add them to a private list.
For one week, just read. Don't post. Your only job is to listen.
Open a blank document and write down every question, complaint, and goal you see.
At the end of the week, look at your notes. That’s your new strategy.
That's it. No "viral frameworks." No "engagement pods." Just showing up and listening first.
The Bottom Line
Growth hacking fails when it feels like hacking. Real growth happens when you have a foundation of trust and understanding.
Whether you acquire that foundation for a speed advantage or build it slowly for long-term stability is a strategic choice. But make no mistake—the foundation is the only thing that actually matters.
The best social media strategy doesn't feel like a strategy at all. It feels like getting to know someone who actually understands your world. And that’s not something you can fake—it’s something you have to earn.