Viral Loop
01 Definition
Viral Loop meaning: A cycle where each user invites others who then invite more, spreading use.
A viral loop is a specific growth loop where using or sharing a product naturally exposes new people to it, who then join and share again. Its strength is measured by the viral coefficient, the average new users each existing user brings. A coefficient above one means self sustaining growth.
Also called
Why it matters
How Viral Loop fits the work
A working viral loop lowers acquisition cost because users recruit each other, and it can grow reach quickly without matching increases in ad spend.
In context
Each new user invited on average 1.2 others who also joined, giving a viral coefficient above one and steady organic growth for several weeks.
Practical note
A viral coefficient above one is rare and hard to sustain. Also track cycle time, since slow invites weaken even a mathematically viral loop.