Viral growth requires not just a good product but also an excellent user experience that encourages users to share it with others. A strong referral program is essential for facilitating this growth.

Virality occurs when one user introduces your product to others, while network effects mean the product becomes more valuable as more users join. Successful consumer companies leverage both to grow their user base organically.

To achieve virality, your product must inherently encourage sharing from day one, rather than treating sharing as an afterthought.

A simple and easy-to-use product encourages user retention and can lead to viral growth.

Referrals amplify word of mouth; offering financial incentives for users to share your product can enhance this effect.

To enhance virality, identify sharable moments in your product where users are inclined to share their achievements, like completing a level in a game or achieving a milestone.

The network effect is crucial in marketing; products that improve as more people use them create a compelling reason for others to join in and spread the word.

The size of your user base can create network effects, making your product more valuable as more people use it, which is a powerful advantage in today's market.

For software products, especially SaaS, incorporating a network effect is vital for success. If users don't benefit from sharing the product with others, it will likely fail.