Episode #
The Trap of Product-Led Growth #2584
October 18, 2023

In episode #2584, we take an in-depth look at product-led growth (PLG), a popular business strategy that relies on using your product as the primary vehicle to generate more growth, traffic, and users. But wait! There’s a catch. While this approach yields rapid initial adoption and growth, companies that follow the PLG playbook risk getting stuck in what is known as the PLG trap and may have difficulty scaling in the long run. Tune in as we share examples of companies that have used PLG to their advantage and others where it has led to their downfall, plus we highlight the importance of planning ahead, share our advice for evolving from a PLG-only to a PLG enterprise company, and more!
TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:00] Today’s topic: The Trap of Product-Led Growth.

[00:04] What product-led growth is and what are some successful examples of it?

[01:45] How to avoid what the Harvard Business Review calls the “trap of PLG.”

[02:41] Examples of declining year-over-year revenue growth as a result of the PLG trap.

[04:45] A case study of a company that successfully avoided the PLG trap.

[05:08] Remember: the marketing tactics are highly variable!

[05:37] That’s it for today! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Go to https://www.marketingschool.io to learn more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

‘How Software Companies Can Avoid the Trap of Product-Led Growth’

MongoDB

Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

Leave Some Feedback:

What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

Connect with Us: 

Single Grain << Eric’s ad agency

NP Digital << Neil’s ad agency

X @neilpatel 

X @ericosiu

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover Latest Episodes

Episode
Is There Really A Summer Slump In B2B Marketing?, How We Are Managing Multiple Offers Right Now, What Are We Doing To Build A Brand
June 12, 2025

In this episode #2987, Eric Siu and Neil Patel discuss navigating B2B summer slumps, managing multiple offers, and building authentic brands. They also explore the emotional side of AI-generated conte...

Episode
Meta Is Letting AI Do All The Ad Work, Elon VS Trump- A Lesson On What You Shouldn’t Do Online, We’re Seeing Marketing Pick Up In Countries That Are Cutting Rates
June 11, 2025

In this episode #2986, Eric Siu and Neil Patel discuss AI in advertising, the need for human-AI collaboration, and challenges for small businesses. They also touch on online feuds and global marketing...

Episode
Famed Investor Asserts That AI Is Underhyped, How ChatGPT Connectors Are Changing The Game For Businesses
June 10, 2025

In this episode #2985, Eric Siu and Neil Patel discuss the rapid rise of AI adoption, major infrastructure investments, and the future of AI in marketing. They explore market valuations, the efficienc...