Viral Growth Loops

Viral Growth Loops are self-sustaining cycles where users of a product or service naturally bring in more users, creating exponential growth. Each new user contributes to spreading the product to others, fueling a continuous loop of growth without heavy ongoing marketing spend.

These loops often rely on incentives or built-in sharing mechanisms—like referral programs, social sharing features, or content that encourages users to invite friends. When designed well, viral loops can dramatically accelerate user acquisition and engagement.

Example:

Dropbox’s referral program gave extra storage space to users who invited friends, encouraging sharing and rapidly growing their user base through a viral growth loop.