How Unroll.me Grew to 1.3 Million Users in Just 3 Years
Building a user base of over a million in just three years is no small feat. Yet, Unroll.me, an app designed to help users clean up their email inboxes, achieved exactly that—and was later acquired as a result of its success.
Here’s how they did it.
Step 1: Identify a Pressing Problem
The foundation of Unroll.me’s success lay in solving a major, universal pain point:
- Clogged email inboxes: With people receiving hundreds of emails daily, managing unwanted newsletters and subscriptions had become a frustrating task for many.
By addressing this pressing issue, Unroll.me positioned itself as a practical, much-needed solution for a widespread problem.
Step 2: Offer a Simple, Free Solution
Unroll.me didn’t just identify a problem—it offered an easy-to-use and free solution.
The app allowed users to:
- Unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters quickly and effortlessly.
- Regain control of their inboxes without spending hours manually unsubscribing.
This simplicity and value resonated with users, driving initial adoption.
Step 3: Gain Early Traction Through Tech Bloggers
When the app launched, it caught the attention of tech bloggers, who were excited to share it with their audiences.
Why?
- Unroll.me addressed a significant pain point that their readers could easily relate to.
- It was free, making it an easy recommendation for their followers to try out.
These early blog mentions gave Unroll.me its first wave of users, helping the app gain traction and momentum.
Step 4: Leverage Viral Growth Through Smart Features
Unroll.me implemented a built-in growth mechanism to encourage users to spread the word:
- After selecting 5 newsletters to unsubscribe from, users saw a pop-up message that read:
“In order to unsubscribe from more than 5 subscriptions, help out by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or via email.”
This clever strategy turned every new user into a potential advocate, encouraging them to share the app with their social networks. As users shared, the app’s visibility grew, leading to exponential growth.
The Results
By combining these strategies, Unroll.me grew its user base to an impressive 1.3 million users in just 3 years. This rapid growth and proven success eventually led to the app being acquired, cementing its place as a standout example of effective product development and marketing.
Key Takeaways for Your Growth Strategy
Unroll.me’s journey highlights three key lessons for building and scaling a product:
- Solve a real problem: Start with a pressing issue that people care about and are eager to solve.
- Keep it simple and valuable: A straightforward, cost-free solution increases adoption and user satisfaction.
- Encourage viral sharing: Build mechanisms into your product that incentivize users to share it with others.
When you combine a great product with smart marketing and built-in virality, rapid growth becomes much more attainable.
Source: domain.me