Trends are tempting. Everyone talks about PLG. Everyone pushes sales-led. Everyone recommends partnerships.
Most businesses follow trends. They ignore fit. They waste resources. They fail.
Fit matters more than trends. Right strategy for your business. Right model for your stage.
This guide shows how to choose a growth strategy that fits your business, not just trends.
Key Takeaways
- Understand strategies—learn different models
- Assess fit—match to your business
- Ignore trends—focus on fit
- Choose strategically—select right model
- Implement properly—execute correctly
Table of Contents
Strategy Overview
Growth strategies are models. Each model works differently. Each fits different businesses.
Strategies are frameworks: They guide decisions. They shape approach. They determine focus.
Fit determines success: Right strategy for your business succeeds. Wrong strategy fails.
Why this matters: Strategy understanding enables selection. If you understand strategies, selection improves.
Common Strategies
Several growth strategies exist. Each has strengths. Each has requirements.
Product-Led Growth (PLG)
What it is: Product drives growth. Users discover value. Product sells itself.
When it fits: Product has clear value. Users can self-serve. Product demonstrates value quickly.
Why this matters: PLG understanding enables evaluation. If you understand PLG, evaluation improves.
Sales-Led Growth
What it is: Sales team drives growth. Personal relationships matter. Sales process is key.
When it fits: Complex products. High-touch sales needed. Relationships are critical.
Why this matters: Sales-led understanding enables evaluation. If you understand sales-led, evaluation improves.
Partnership-Led Growth
What it is: Partnerships drive growth. Partner channels expand reach. Partnerships provide access.
When it fits: Partner ecosystem exists. Partner channels are strong. Partnerships add value.
Why this matters: Partnership-led understanding enables evaluation. If you understand partnership-led, evaluation improves.
Marketing-Led Growth
What it is: Marketing drives growth. Content attracts customers. Marketing generates leads.
When it fits: Content can demonstrate value. Marketing channels are effective. Leads convert well.
Why this matters: Marketing-led understanding enables evaluation. If you understand marketing-led, evaluation improves.
Pro tip: Use our TAM Calculator to evaluate market opportunity and inform growth strategy. Calculate market size to understand potential.
Matching to Business
Match strategy to business model. Match to product. Match to market.
Business Model Fit
Assess your model:
- Revenue model
- Customer model
- Value delivery
- Competitive position
Why this matters: Model assessment enables matching. If you assess model, matching improves.
Product Fit
Assess your product:
- Product complexity
- Value demonstration
- Self-service potential
- Support requirements
Why this matters: Product assessment enables matching. If you assess product, matching improves.
Market Fit
Assess your market:
- Market characteristics
- Customer behavior
- Competitive landscape
- Channel availability
Why this matters: Market assessment enables matching. If you assess market, matching improves.
Matching to Stage
Match strategy to business stage. Early stage needs different approach. Later stage needs different approach.
Early Stage
Early stage characteristics:
- Limited resources
- Unproven product
- Small team
- Need validation
Early stage strategies:
- Focus on product-market fit
- Use low-cost channels
- Leverage personal networks
- Test and iterate
Why this matters: Stage matching enables success. If you match to stage, success improves.
Growth Stage
Growth stage characteristics:
- Proven product
- Growing team
- More resources
- Need scaling
Growth stage strategies:
- Scale proven channels
- Build systems
- Expand reach
- Optimize processes
Why this matters: Stage matching enables scaling. If you match to stage, scaling becomes possible.
Mature Stage
Mature stage characteristics:
- Established product
- Large team
- Significant resources
- Need optimization
Mature stage strategies:
- Optimize efficiency
- Expand offerings
- Enter new markets
- Build partnerships
Why this matters: Stage matching enables optimization. If you match to stage, optimization improves.
Pro tip: Use our TAM Calculator to evaluate market opportunity and inform growth strategy. Calculate market size to understand potential.
Your Next Steps
Choosing growth strategy requires matching to business and stage. Understand strategies, assess fit, ignore trends, choose strategically, then implement properly to execute correctly.
This Week:
- Begin understanding growth strategies using our TAM Calculator
- Start assessing your business model
- Begin evaluating strategy fit
- Start choosing strategy
This Month:
- Complete strategy assessment
- Choose growth strategy
- Begin implementing strategy
- Start measuring results
Going Forward:
- Continuously evaluate fit
- Adjust as needed
- Focus on what works
- Ignore trends
Need help? Check out our TAM Calculator for market evaluation, our starter kit for levers, our experiments hub for testing, and our scaling guide for growth.
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Sources & Additional Information
This guide provides general information about growth strategy selection. Your specific situation may require different considerations.
For market size analysis, see our TAM Calculator.
Consult with professionals for advice specific to your situation.
