![[S03E07] Growing Smarter, Not Louder: The 1-1-1 Framework for Early-Stage Startups with Ward van Gasteren Artwork](https://www.buzzsprout.com/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBCQ05JbUFnPSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--1a5c9c654ab5efbee77eed66937132d60292434b/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDVG9MWm05eWJXRjBPZ2hxY0djNkUzSmxjMmw2WlY5MGIxOW1hV3hzV3docEFsZ0NhUUpZQW5zR09nbGpjbTl3T2d0alpXNTBjbVU2Q25OaGRtVnlld1k2REhGMVlXeHBkSGxwUVRvUVkyOXNiM1Z5YzNCaFkyVkpJZ2x6Y21kaUJqb0dSVlE9IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--1924d851274c06c8fa0acdfeffb43489fc4a7fcc/Ward%20van%20Gasteren%20Spotify.png)
No Hacks: The Mindset Behind Digital Optimization and Growth
Welcome to No Hacks, the podcast where expertise meets creativity to revolutionize digital experiences. Hosted by industry veteran Slobodan (Sani) Manić, this engaging series tackles marketing, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and user experience (UX) without relying on gimmicks or shortcuts.
In each episode, join Slobodan as he engages in candid conversations with top leaders and innovators from tech, business, and design fields. Discover real stories, lessons learned, and breakthrough moments that highlight how to create impactful and transformative online experiences.
No Hacks goes beyond traditional best practices, challenging the status quo by exploring the psychology behind what truly works. Delve into real-world case studies and explore innovative strategies that push the limits of possibility in the digital landscape.
If you are a developer, designer, marketer, or a digital enthusiast, No Hacks provides smart, thoughtful strategies for long-term success. Learn to think differently, innovate creatively, and build meaningful digital experiences.
No shortcuts, just expert insights and genuine solutions. Subscribe now to join us one episode at a time as we unravel the true elements of designing transformative digital experiences.
Two Formats, One Mission:
🎙️ No Hacks Podcast (long-form interviews) – In these seasonal episodes, I sit down with top experts in marketing, tech, and business to discuss the principles and stories behind successful optimization. We go beyond the surface to explore what really works—and why, on Wednesdays.
🍪 No Hacks Snacks (short-form insights) – Need quick, actionable advice? These under-10-minute episodes deliver practical tips and insights from a wide range of guests, on Mondays and Fridays.
Subscribe and join No Hacks on this journey to make the internet a better, more thoughtful place, one episode at a time.
No Hacks: The Mindset Behind Digital Optimization and Growth
[S03E07] Growing Smarter, Not Louder: The 1-1-1 Framework for Early-Stage Startups with Ward van Gasteren
Growth doesn’t have to mean being everywhere at once or chasing every shiny new tactic.
In this episode of No Hacks, I talk with Ward van Gasteren — one of Europe’s first growth hackers — about how to grow smarter, not louder. Ward shares his go-to method for helping early-stage startups: the 1-1-1 Framework — one audience, one channel, one message.
We dig into how founders and product teams can stop spreading themselves too thin, avoid early-stage overwhelm, and finally find traction through focus. Ward explains the difference between growth and traditional marketing, how to approach experimentation, and why most companies waste time on strategies that don’t serve their stage.
Whether you’re building a company, a product, or even a podcast — this conversation will help you cut through the noise and grow with clarity.
Topics Covered:
- How to stop doing too much and focus on what works
- The 1-1-1 Framework for early-stage clarity
- Why founders waste time on channels that aren’t ready
- The role of experimentation beyond A/B testing
- Choosing the right growth metrics and north star
- Why organic social is rarely a growth engine
- Building scalable systems after early traction
- AI’s impact on speed (but not necessarily quality)
- How podcast growth follows the same principles as startup growth
About the Guest:
Ward van Gasteren is a growth consultant and one of Europe’s first professional growth hackers. Through his platform Grow with Ward, he helps early-stage startups create growth strategies that actually work — without burning out in the process.
Ward has worked with companies across industries to simplify how they think about growth, run smarter experiments, and scale what’s already working. His 1-1-1 Framework has helped founders build real traction by focusing on the right things — not everything.
Timestamps:
- 00:00:00 – What does a growth consultant really do?
- 00:06:07 – Breaking down the 1-1-1 Framework: one audience, one channel, one message
- 00:10:27 – Brand-building vs. selling: when organic social actually helps
- 00:15:30 – Ward’s favorite growth tool (and why he’d ditch GA4)
- 00:20:07 – Growth vs. Marketing: different teams, different goals
- 00:25:08 – How AI tools help with speed, but not necessarily with strategy
- 00:30:24 – Getting honest customer feedback and applying “The Mom Test”
- 00:35:16 – Ward’s growth program and where to follow his work
Connect with Ward:
→ Website: https://growwithward.com
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wardvangasteren/
---
If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend!
No Hacks website
YouTube
LinkedIn
Instagram
