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Explosive Growth: A Few Things I Learned While Growing To 100 Million Users - And Losing $78 Million Paperback – November 7, 2017

by Cliff Lerner (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 598 ratings
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'BEST STARTUP BOOKS OF ALL TIME' by Benzinga
'TOP GROWTH-HACKING BUSINESS BOOK' by Entrepreneur Mag

This compelling and inspiring narrative gives entrepreneurs a rare behind-the-scenes look inside this fast-growing startup that created the first online dating app and grew to 100 million users.

Best-Seller Explosive Growth combines lively and often hilarious storytelling, revealing genius growth tactics, numerous case-studies, and its step-by-step playbook to help your startup grow massively.

Due to its raw storytelling style, practical lessons, compelling content, and fast-paced read, Explosive Growth is a one-of-a-kind business book that transcends the narrow entrepreneurial audience to also appeal to readers and business students looking to learn about startup life and entrepreneurship. It holds nothing back while detailing the highest highs and lowest lows of what it's really like to run a startup.

Cliff Lerner's online dating startup, Snap Interactive, was running out of money when he bet the company's fortunes on a then-unknown platform called Facebook. The app suddenly began to acquire 100,000 new users daily for free, and soon after the stock price skyrocketed 2,000 percent, setting off an extraordinary chain of events filled with sudden success and painful lessons.

You will learn how to:

* IGNITE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH by creating a remarkable product
* Identify the ONLY 3 METRICS THAT MATTER
* Explore valuable VIRAL GROWTH strategies to grow rapidly
* Execute the GENIUS MEDIA HACKS that helped us acquire 100 million users
* Create a thriving culture of PASSIONATE EMPLOYEES and CONSTANT INNOVATION

PRAISE:

"An incredible and entertaining story with invaluable lessons for Startups and CEOs on growth hacking, marketing, management, and innovation from one of the smartest founders I know." -Andrew Weinreich, Inventor of Social Networking

"A must read for founders and CEOs who want to achieve rapid growth while also building a great product and company." -Payal Kadakia, Founder & Executive Chairman of ClassPass

"Running a startup is filled with highs and lows. Most don't succeed - and those that do encounter numerous potholes along the way. In 'Explosive Growth,' Cliff Lerner takes you along on the journey of one of the biggest early success stories in the Facebook App ecosystem." -Michael Lazerow, Founder of Buddy Media, Sold to Salesforce for $700m+. Over $2 billion in exits.

"Explosive Growth is without question one of the most useful and entertaining business books I have ever read. Cliff gives you a roadmap to massively grow your startup with specific tactical lessons made memorable through engaging stories. This book is a must-read." -David Perry, Digital Sales & Business Development Expert at Google, Adobe, Amazon, Startup Advisor

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    10 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    306 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.69 x 8.5 inches
  5. Publication date
    November 7, 2017
  6. ISBN-10
    1619617692
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1619617698
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An incredible story with powerful lessons for startups and CEOs on growth hacking, marketing, and innovation from one of the smartest founders I know."- Andrew Weinreich, Inventor of Social Networking
"Explosive Growth is without question one of the most useful and entertaining business books I have ever read. Cliff gives you a roadmap to massively grow your startup with specific tactical lessons made memorable through engaging stories. This book is a must-read."- David Perry, Digital Sales & Business Development Expert at Google, Adobe, and Amazon, Startup Advisor
"Cliff has lived the rollercoaster of viral apps and startups. His first hand account is both insightful and entertaining at the same time. Amazing read!"- Brian Balfour, Founder/CEO @ Reforge, Former VP Growth of HubSpot, Recognized Growth Expert
"A must read for founders and CEOs who want to achieve rapid growth while also building a great product and company." - Payal Kadakia, Founder & Executive Chairman of ClassPass

Want to know how to grow your startup to 100 million users? Then this is the book for you. Explosive Growth, by Cliff Lerner is a book that gives step-by-step instructions, case studies and proven tactics on how to explode your growth. You'll learn how to ignite explosive growth by creating a superb product, explore viral growth strategies and master how to implement the genius media hacks that helped Lerner's Facebook dating app, AreYouInterested, gain 100 million users. - Entrepreneur.com by Syed Balkhi, "Want to Be a Growth-Hacker? You Need to Read These Growth-Hacking Business Books.
"Brilliantly crafted Explosive Growth by Cliff Lerner, founder and CEO of SNAP Interactive,Inc., is essential reading for every entrepreneur and leader seeking innovative solutions for their industry...Lerner strikes his target with the skill and mastery required of a tech entrepreneur all the while riding the waves of the stock market, the nature of business, and the unknown territory of successfully translating digital users into revenue."
-Keri Douglas, 9MuseNews.com

From the Inside Flap

Foreward Excerpt:
Imagine waking up one morning to find your previously unknown start-up all over the news. After years of hard work and unsuccessful investor pitches, your valuation has increased tenfold overnight and investors are suddenly acknowledging your success and banging down your door to throw money at you. Within a few weeks, you've raised nearly $10 million on the basis of just a few phone calls, and every media outlet in the world wants to talk to you.

Sounds like something out of a dream or a movie, right? Well, this crazy story is entirely true. As SNAP Interactive's cofounder and Cliff 's brother, I was fortunate enough to be there for nearly all of it.

Explosive Growth isn't about an uninterrupted rise to success, and it isn't a book that simply lists a bunch of growth strategies without context or practical application--anyone can do that. The marketing strategies, PR hacks, and viral expertise that helped us accumulate 100 million users are all in here.

But what's perhaps more valuable are the lessons learned from hard times and a real-time window into the decision making as things were exploding.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clifford Ventures Corporation (November 7, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1619617692
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1619617698
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 18 years
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.53 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.69 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 598 ratings

About the author

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Cliff Lerner

Cliff Lerner

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Cliff gave up a lucrative Wall Street career to launch an online dating start-up called SNAP Interactive. With little funding, Snap established itself as the leader and pioneers in the online dating industry, becoming the first social media company to become publicly traded in 2006.

SNAP’s dating apps have attracted over 100 million users and pioneered numerous online dating innovations including being the first dating site to integrate Facebook’s social features into the online dating experience. SNAP’s revenue grew 4,412 percent from 2007 to 2011, making it the 9th fastest growing internet company in the US.

Cliff served as Snap's CEO for 11 years until 2016 when it was acquired. Since, Cliff has focused on publishing his first book called, "Explosive Growth: A Few Things I Learned While Growing To 100 Million Users - And Losing $78 Million." Explosive Growth has been described as a business book like no other, giving real-time insights into the lessons learned of growing Snap's apps to 100 million users, all told through hilarious stories and case-studies.

Cliff is a leading social media and online dating visionary and spokesperson. He has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg, Fortune TV, and many other top tier media outlets, while his products have been featured in the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

He grew up in long island, lives in Manhattan, and enjoys a good steak, karaoke, traveling, and playing basketball where you can usually find him working on his 3-point shot. Cliff can be contacted at: www.explosive-growth.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
598 global ratings
Best Business Growth Hacking Book in 2019!
5 Stars
Best Business Growth Hacking Book in 2019!
This book is by far the best growth hacking book I've read in 2018/2019 (I've read over 20+ of the most popular ones this year already). Actionable tips, engaging storyline, this book covers all aspects of running a successful company. Cliff is one of the best writers and I can't wait for his other books. Make sure you read this!I will use this to grow my two companies! Buying copies for all my employees too!
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Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible story and a MUST-READ for all entrepreneurs!
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2023
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I absolutely loved reading this book! It's very well-written and easy to follow. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop! It's packed with great advice and tips that all entrepreneurs should be aware of to avoid costly mistakes. The author shares his inspiring and truly impressive story with valuable lessons learned that are revealed throughout the journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in business and entrepreneurship!
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Explosive Growth
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2020
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Good read for startups. Very practical tips contained in this book. I would definitely recommend this to start up entrepreneurs.
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Howard Nevins
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for insight into the startup world
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
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Great read for those in or thinking about getting into the start up world. This book takes you into the first hand perspective of young entrepreneurs working to build their business from the ground up. This is not just your run of the mill…story of starting from nothing, hitting stride and selling. This book depicts the real and often times raw experiences of what it takes to lead a company. It was fun to think back to a time where Facebook was still a start up and certain technology like adding images to an app were not developed yet. If you want a window into what it is like living through start up mode, the necessity of having to make decisions in real time with real consequences…good…bad…and everything in between…give this book a read.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A worthwhile read to understand why it is so important to think of your product or service from your customers point of view and why it will benefit him.
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
A superb book to read for anyone interested in witnessing the impact on a company's fortunes of truly understanding the troubles/ difficulties a customer is having in his or her life and solving that problem quickly and efficiently and 10x better than your competition.. The book gives you essential lessons to learn and take away and apply in your business. It will also give you a very clear understanding of how incredibly difficult it is to stay at the top of your game and be the number 1 performing business in your industry. You have to constantly be innovating, constantly asking customers what they think of your product and how you can improve it.

An extremely worthwhile read with many great lessons to remember for yourself in business
13 people found this helpful
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Ardhendu Patri
3.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting reading
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2018
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Realistic advice on cashing out on opportunities when possible while maintaining a longer term view. Nice advice for agile businesses to innovate and cultivate a culture of innovation and customer centricity.
One person found this helpful
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Jane
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read - no BS crap
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2017
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Explosive Growth dives into the truths of dating apps - one of the most honest reads I've leafed through in a long time! Def worth a read; dives into the BS of the apps we're all on, gives you stats about apps you'd never thought you'd care about (you do) and is an overall easy and entertaining read. Next time you're on your 7th glass of wine at happy hour, you'll be spewing out random (yet relevant!) dating app facts faster than Kim K
married Chris Humphries.
3 people found this helpful
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Ryan Hilliard
4.0 out of 5 stars Easy read but a couple thoughts.
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2019
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A number of the strategies outlined are really clever but user reviews (and there impact) and the magnifiying glass pointed at privacy that didn't really exist 5 years back may limit the explosivity. Good read though.
One person found this helpful
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Anav Cohen
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast, fun and informative
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2017
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A fast and entertaining read, Explosive Growth by Cliff Lerner takes you on the real-life journey of the business leader that started the first successful Facebook dating app. Through Cliff’s honesty and experience, we learn invaluable business tips from both his successes and regrets. While at the same time, gaining fun insight on the world of online dating. Apparently single brunettes like myself, may want to consider moving to Denver Colorado. Fun and informative – it's a must read!
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars great read, highly reccommend to all
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
engaging and well written story filled with lessons and insights! such an easy, fun read!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Spain on August 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Inspirational and great tips. However, not applicable for all kind of companies (B2B vs. B2C business models).

All in all, a great book about how to control yourself when you are killing it and how to remain calmed and positive even in the worsts moments of your company.
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S azmi
5.0 out of 5 stars More Than A Few Things You Can Learn
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
Because Lerner writes from experience and never preaches as much shares, this is an easy to read, almost “how to” book. As a start up founder myself, most things he says in the book just resonated no end with me (except for making $78 million in a week). Do I recommend it? Without a moment’s hesitation!
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Vinicius Toyohashi
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in Brazil on November 26, 2018
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Great book with an excellent price, great content, many important lessons. I liked it very much, deserve a five stars rating.
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Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful written and structured
Reviewed in Germany on June 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
Cliff is giving the reader fundamental and very valueable insights. The Book is easy to read, funny and on point. Theres no irrelevant bla bla or stories to fill up pages.
Every chapter has another book recommendation which is great for me.

I recommend it to everyone who is willing to get another perspective to their business Even if they are employeed it’s very helpful.
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