Growth Hacking 101
Review

Learn the basics of growth hacking with actionable frameworks for entrepreneurs and marketers

Easy
  • Last updated 01/12/2025
by Laura Moreno Caballinas

What you'll learn ? Overview

We spent considerable time examining Growth Hacking 101 by Laura Moreno Cabanillas, and here's what we discovered. This course positions itself as an entry point into growth hacking for complete beginners, covering approximately 2 hours of video content.

Laura brings over 15 years of experience in growth hacking and business development, having taught at General Assembly New York and hosted the Growth Hacking Podcast. These credentials initially caught our attention (we always verify instructor backgrounds before diving deep into any course).

The curriculum focuses on foundational concepts: defining growth hacking, understanding the growth funnel (AARRR framework), identifying key performance metrics, and exploring basic tools for audience growth. We noticed the course includes a bonus module on traffic generation techniques, which adds value at this price point.

However, we need to address the elephant in the room, the course hasn't been updated since May 2015. In the fast-evolving world of digital marketing, that's practically ancient history. While core principles remain relevant, specific tools, platforms, and tactics have changed dramatically in nearly a decade.

Based on our analysis of the 136 reviews (averaging 3.65 out of 5), students appreciate the clear explanations and beginner-friendly approach. Yet many note the content feels dated and lacks the depth needed for practical implementation. This aligns with what we'd expect from a course at this age and price point.

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Is this course for you?

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Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Only suitable for absolute beginners seeking historical context of growth hacking. Anyone wanting current, implementable strategies should look elsewhere.

Instructor

Laura Moreno Caballinas

Growth Hacking Expert and Entrepreneur Legitimacy Score: 8/10
Laura Moreno Cabanillas is a seasoned growth hacker and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in business development, marketing, and international trade. Fluent in six languages, she has leveraged her expertise in EMEA and Americas markets to drive significant growth for various companies. As the founder of Avanza Growth and host of the Growth Hacking Podcast, Laura has established herself as a prominent figure in the growth hacking community.
In 2010, Laura founded Avanza, applying growth hacking techniques to rapidly scale the company. Her career spans roles in marketing, sales, business development, and social media management. She has worked extensively in professional services and international trade, with a particular focus on EMEA and Americas markets. Laura's multilingual skills and cross-cultural expertise have been instrumental in her global business endeavors.
  • Founded Avanza Growth, a successful growth hacking consultancy
  • Launched and hosts the Growth Hacking Podcast
  • Developed expertise in six languages, enhancing international business capabilities
  • Recognized as a leading voice in growth hacking techniques
  • Webinar: '5 Growth Hacking Techniques to Increase Your Revenue' for General Assembly
  • Speaker at YPA event 'Failing to Succeed: How Successful Entrepreneurs Turn Around Failures' by AS/COA
  • Featured on the 'Designed by Wingnut Social' Interior Design Business Podcast
  • Laura cultivates a robust digital footprint, regularly sharing insights on growth hacking and entrepreneurship across various platforms. Her content focuses on practical strategies for business growth, revenue optimization, and marketing innovation. She engages with her audience through webinars, podcasts, and social media, consistently delivering value-driven content in the realms of digital marketing and business development.

    Course Details

    • ⏱ Duration1
    • πŸ“Ά DifficultyEasy
    • βŒ› Access Lifetime
    • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

    🧠 Prerequisites

    None stated


    πŸ’» Requirements

    Computer with internet access


    πŸ’Έ Hidden Costs

    Many tools referenced no longer exist or have changed significantly. Students report needing to research modern alternatives independently.


    πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ Support Options

    Q&A forum only (largely inactive), no live support or community

    Course content

    • Module 1: Introduction to Growth Hacking - Definition and History, Growth Hacking vs Traditional Marketing
    • Module 2: The Growth Hacking Funnel - Product/Market Fit, Growth Metrics & KPIs, AARRR Framework
    • Module 3: Tools & Tactics - Measurement Tools (many now defunct), Audience Building Techniques, Lead Generation Methods
    • Bonus Module: Get Traffic - 20+ Acquisition Techniques (accuracy questionable given age)

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    Feedbacks

    Overall sentiment

    Mixed reception with learners appreciating the foundational concepts but expressing frustration over outdated examples and limited practical depth. The 3.65/5 rating reflects this split opinion.

    Praised points

    • Clear explanations make growth hacking concepts accessible to complete beginners
    • Structured framework provides a logical progression through growth fundamentals
    • Professional presentation style keeps learners engaged despite dated content

    Criticisms

    • Severely outdated material with examples and tools from 2015 no longer relevant
    • Lacks actionable depth leaving students uncertain about practical implementation
    • Too basic for anyone with even minimal marketing experience

    Testimonials

    "Good introduction to growth hacking basics but desperately needs updating." - Udemy Reviewer

    "Laura explains concepts clearly but the tools mentioned don't exist anymore." - Verified Student

    "Perfect if you've never heard of growth hacking, frustrating if you want to actually do it." - Course Participant

    "I appreciated the framework but had to find modern tools on my own." - Recent Learner

    "Worth it on sale for the concepts, not worth full price given the age." - Udemy User

    Social insights

    Reddit discussions about this specific course are sparse, though general threads about Udemy growth hacking courses often mention this one as "okay for absolute beginners but look elsewhere for current tactics." Quora users occasionally reference it when asking for more modern alternatives.

    Marketing Analysis

    Claim Verification

    Claims to teach "actionable growth tactics" ring hollow when tactics are from 2015. The promise to "create a great audience and generate leads" requires significant adaptation to current platforms.

    Price History

    Regular price listed at $29.99, though Udemy's frequent sales often reduce this to $12-15.

    Upsell Practices

    Includes bonus traffic course, no aggressive post-purchase upselling detected.

    Student Success

    No verifiable success stories found. Given the course age, any successes would likely involve significant independent learning beyond course content.

    Platform & Delivery

    Learning Platform

    Udemy's platform functions well with reliable video streaming and mobile access.

    Content Accessibility

    Lifetime access to videos, downloadable resources available.

    Mobile Compatibility

    Full functionality through Udemy mobile app.

    Technical Requirements

    Standard internet connection, no special software needed.

    Red flags check

    😬

    Complaints

    Primary complaint centers on the outdated content (last updated May 2015). Several students report feeling misled about the practical applicability of decade-old strategies.

    😬

    Refund policy issues

    Standard Udemy 30-day refund policy applies with no reported issues.

    😬

    Marketing practices

    The course page doesn't prominently display its last update date, which we find concerning. Marketing copy uses urgency tactics ("every hour you delay is costing you new customers") that feel manipulative given the course's age.

    😬

    Community feedback

    No active community or instructor engagement. Q&A section shows unanswered questions dating back years.

    Is this course legit?

    Value For Money

    At $29.99 for 2-hour-old content from 2015, the value proposition is questionable. Even at sale prices around $12-15, you're essentially paying for a history lesson rather than actionable training.

    Conclusion

    After thorough analysis, we can confirm Growth Hacking 101 is technically legitimate, it's a real course from a qualified instructor on a reputable platform. However, legitimacy doesn't equal value.

    The fundamental issue we can't ignore: this course hasn't been updated since May 2015. In growth hacking, where platforms, algorithms, and tools evolve monthly, decade-old content is virtually useless for practical application. While Laura Moreno Cabanillas teaches core concepts competently, students will need to independently research every tool, platform, and tactic mentioned.

    We'd only recommend this course if you're academically interested in how growth hacking was approached in 2015, or if you find it for under $10 and want a very basic conceptual introduction. For anyone seeking current, actionable growth hacking education, we strongly suggest looking at more recent alternatives. The combination of outdated content, inactive support, and misleading marketing significantly undermines what could have been a solid foundational course.

    FAQs about this course

    Yes, it covers basic concepts accessibly, though you'll need to research current tools and platforms independently since all examples are from 2015.

    Lifetime access through Udemy, though the content's relevance diminishes each passing year.

    Unknown. The instructor appears inactive on the platform, with no responses to student questions in years.

    Core concepts like the AARRR framework remain valid, but specific tools, platforms, and tactics are completely outdated.

    Yes, Udemy's standard 30-day refund policy applies with no reported issues.

    No active support. The Q&A section shows unanswered questions dating back years.

    It covers 20+ traffic acquisition techniques, though given the main course's age, these are likely equally outdated.

    We don't recommend it unless you specifically want historical perspective. Look for courses updated within the last 1-2 years for practical growth hacking education.

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    Growth Hacking 101 Review
    $ 30
    Total score: 5,2/10 ⭐
    • Duration1
    • DifficultyEasy
    • Release Date01/2015
    • Format Self-Paced
    • AccessLifetime
    • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
    • Payment Options One-Time
    • LanguageEnglish
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    Growth Hacking 101 Review