This book recounts the authors experiences based on his recollections of the many fast-paced events recounted in this book. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author in his personal capacity and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other person or corporate entity. No representation is made as to the accuracy of any names, timelines, dates, statistics, metrics, and any other facts or information presented herein. The advice and strategies contained herein are for informational purposes only and may not be suitable for your situation. The author welcomes any comments from readers and will review any requests for corrections. The book is not intended as an investment guide. It should not be construed as financial advice of any kind. Neither the author nor Clifford Ventures Corporation assumes any responsibility for any loss of profit, errors, omissions or contrary interpretations of the subject matter herein.
All rights reserved.
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My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: he believed in me.
Jim Valvano, Head Coach of the NCAA Championship Mens Basketball Team, North Carolina State University Wolfpack
This book is dedicated to Mom and Dad. Without their contributions, support, and belief in me, none of this would have been possible.
Acknowledgments
I first want to thank the entire team at Book In A Box. Specifically, Tucker Max and Zack Obront for convincing me to write this book, and Hal Clifford, Kathleen Pedersen, and especially David Caissie for making it all possible with their tireless contributions.
A special thanks to my brother, Darrell Lerner, who was instrumental as he spent countless hours helping me copywrite, edit, proofread, and much more.
However, mostly I want to acknowledge all the employees, investors, friends, PR folks, advisors, consultants, lawyers, and many others who put their faith in me and took a chance on SNAP, and for each of you Im so grateful.
Heres just a few of them who helped make this all possible:
Abby Ross, Adam Caplan, Adam Gries, Adam Handelsman, Adam Purvis, Aegis Capital Corp, Alan Cost, Alan Tepper, Alexander Harrington, Ali Bennett, Alicia Raymond, Alina Libova, Ana Berman, Ana Ledesma, Andrew Metersky, Andrew Weinreich, Arash Vakil, Arianne Perry, Aric Jacover, Arnie Owen, Ashek Ahmed, Ashley Williams, Benjamin Perroud, Botond Denes, Brian Balfour, Briana Amato, Brooke Hamilton, Bryan Packman, Byron Lerner, Caitlin McCabe, Caterina Correa, Cesar Bodden, Chris Mirabile, Chris Outram, Chrissy Fleming, Christina Metaxas, Christofer Nystrom, Christopher Jenkins, Christopher Mika, Craig Schwabe, Cyriel DiKoume, Dan Kohn, Daniel Chapsky, Daniel Fasulo, Daniel Straus, Daniel Wharton, Darrell Lerner, David Bocchi, David Caissie, David Evans, David Fox, David Perry, David Raphael, David & Kelly Hantman, Derek Webb, Devashish Kandpal, Devin Cooper, Dirk Heikoop, Dmitry Moskalenko, Doug Lin, Edwin Iskandar, Ehud Cohen, Elena Shulman, Elisabeth Murphy, Emily Joyce, Eric Sackowitz, Eric Tjaden, Erty Seidel, Frank Jackson, Gary Burke, Gavin Castro, Geoff Brookins, Grace Paik, Greg Frantz, Greg Kramer, Greg Samuel, Gregg Jaclin, Hal Clifford, Hayden Vestal, Haynes and Boone, Helen Trieu, Howard Katzenberg, James Murdica, James Supple, Jamie Fraser, Janna Biagio, Jason Dove, Jason Katz, Jason Kimler, Jason Markowitz, Jason McCreary, Jason Zwick, Jayson Gaignard, Jeff Cohen, Jeff Rosenthal, Jen Gilbert, Jenna Freed, Jennifer Bassiur, Jennifer Litt, Jennifer Wisinski, Jenny Lerner, Jeremy Pippin, Jerry King, Jessica Tubbs, Jimmy Tubbs, Joanna Barber, Joe Jaigobind, Joel Miele, Jon Guido, Jon Pedersen, Jonathan Zaback, Joseph Austin, Joseph Russell, Josh Elman, Joshua Fischer, Judy Krandel, Justin Medoy, Justin Roman, Kathleen Pedersen, Katie Lambert, Kayla Inserra, Kelly Burke, Keren Lerner, Kevin Liu, Kimberly Bouton, Kristen Tubbs, Laura ODonnell, Lauren Bishop, Lauren Urasek, Leah Taylor, Lee Linden, Lisa Chin, Lisa Dubrow, Lonnie Rosenbaum, Lynn Simon, Lynne Lerner, Lyuba Shipovich, Mackenzie Mills, Mallory Prahalis, Man Hoang, Marc Perry, Maria Seredina, Mark Brooks, Mark Lesnic, Matt Barr, Matt Fry, Matthew Sadofsky, Mel and Linda Bernstein, Mel Tanenbaum, Melissa Tubbs, Michael Barany, Michael Dill, Michael Hartman, Michael Jones, Michael Petrovich, Michael Pritchard, Michael Sherov, Michael Worthington, Michelle Levine, Miguel Molinari, Mrudula Chakravarthy, Nazar Ivaniv, Neil Foster, Nicholas Disanto, Nick ONeill, Nicole Hendrickson, Nicole Larsen, Olivia Lin, Patrick Leary, Paul Cardillo, Paul Marino, Paul Wieckiewicz, Peter Cho, Phil Cardillo, Randi Kendler, Rashan Jibowu, Rebecca Iannaccone, Rianna Billington, Richard Anslow, Richard Howard, Rick Werner, Robert Brisita, Russ Kuchman, Ryan Faber, Samuel Goodwin, Sarah McClitis, Sarah Meyer, Sean C. Cooley, Seth Godin, Shadi Garman, Sheldon Shalom, Sigma Capital, Stephanie Bhonslay, Steven Fox, Steven Surowiec, Susan Threadgill, Susan Wetzel, Tai Lopez, Taj Corinaldi, Tanoy Sinha, Teddy Lo, Thomas Carrella, Tim Rogus, Tom OShea, Tucker Max, Wei Kin Huang, William Leach, Wilmary Soto - Guignet , Yoonjin Lee, Zack Obront.
Foreword
By Darrell Lerner
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, youve 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 Interactives cofounder and Cliffs brother, I was fortunate enough to be there for nearly all of it.
Sometimes you meet someone and you can immediately tell how smart they are. Cliff Lerner is one of those peoplehes a genius. His thinking is on a whole different level, and I would back his analytical skills against anyone.
When Facebook launched its app platform in 2007, it offered free access to hundreds of millions of users for those smart enough to figure out the right mix of marketing, engagement, and analyticssomeone like Cliff. As a result of Cliffs analytical background, he took to the new Facebook platform like a fish to water. He executed a near - perfect blend of testing, optimization, and viral techniques that resulted in millions of users for our product in short order, and a business whose growth outpaced what we were prepared to handle.
As a result of that explosive growth, Cliff faced numerous challenges and made a few inevitable mistakes. Thats also how he lost $78 million, and thats what makes this story so compelling.
Explosive Growth isnt about an uninterrupted rise to success, and it isnt a book that simply lists a bunch of growth strategies without context or practical applicationanyone can do that. The marketing strategies, PR hacks, and viral expertise that helped us accumulate 100 million users are all in here. But whats perhaps more valuable are the lessons learned from hard times and a real - time window into the decision making as things were exploding.
Success in business doesnt come from an idea or a formula; it comes from execution. No path is identical, and each key moment presents a decision point that will impact and shape the future of the business. The strategies in this book, coupled with a glimpse into the thought processes behind key decisions in SNAPs journey, will undoubtedly help any entrepreneur better execute in their own business.