🕵️‍♂️ The “Write to Your Former Self” Growth Hack

March 05, 2025 | Read Online

Hey thieves,

This week’s newsletter is a special one—all of my favorite steals from last week’s Creator Growth Summit.

There was a ton of good info, but these are the tactics that really stuck with me. From AI-powered engagement hacks to a referral growth loop that practically runs itself, these are the moves worth stealing.

Did anyone else attend? Would love to hear what stood out to you.

But first, a quick word from our sponsor 👇

Level Up Your Content Game With Online Challenges! 🔥⚡

Are you tired of traditional course platforms that don't get creator culture? We do.

Turn your knowledge into premium learning experiences that your community will love. Built for social media creators like you, our platform makes challenge creation effortless and helps you deliver engaging and interactive challenges your audience will love!

Launch your first challenge today

Stolen Tactics

#1 - The “Write to Your Former Self” Growth Hack

The exact move

Joey Justice built his audience by writing to who he was 5 years ago. Instead of guessing what people want, he shares the advice, frameworks, and hard lessons he wished he had when he started. His relatability and hyper-specific content helped him grow a massive social following and sell digital products without being pushy.

Why it works

Authenticity wins – People connect with real, personal stories.
You already know your audience – They’re just a past version of you.
Trust = conversions – If someone feels like you get them, they buy.

🕵️‍♂️ Stolen from Joey Justice (Cortex AI)

🕵️‍♂️ How to Steal it?

→ Write down your biggest past struggles. What confused you back then?

→ Answer those problems in your content. Share your real solutions.

→ Use “I wish I knew this earlier…” as a hook—it gets attention.

→ Create a roadmap. Your journey = their blueprint.

→ Monetize with products. Sell what you would’ve paid for 3 years ago.

*********

#2 - Instant Gratification Referral Growth Loops

The exact move

Beehive’s referral system, led by EJ White, turns subscribers into growth engines by offering instant, gamified rewards. Instead of just promising a reward after 10 referrals, they show progress immediately and use lower-barrier incentives like exclusive content at 1 or 3 referrals. The result? Their users’ referral programs generate millions of free subscribers.

Why it works

Triggers dopamine – People love instant rewards. A single referral feels like progress.
Gamifies sharing – Tiers keep people engaged. More referrals = more perks.
Compounds growth – One engaged subscriber can bring in 10x more.

🕵️‍♂️ Stolen from EJ White (Beehive)

🕵️‍♂️ How to Steal it?

→ Offer a small reward at 1 referral (PDF, bonus issue, exclusive content).

→ Show progress inside every email—make it visual.

→ Use leaderboards or “top referrers” shoutouts to create competition.

→ Remind users how close they are to the next milestone.

→ Keep incentives stacked—multiple small wins beat one big one.

*********

#3 - The AI-Prompted Engagement Trigger

The exact move

Yannick Veys, co-founder of HypeFury, shared how AI-generated engagement triggers boost post reach. Instead of ending with a weak “What do you think?”, they use strategic prompts like: