How to Scale a Small Win Into a Big Bet
Lesson 4: Turning a test win into real growth
When a small experiment works, the obvious question is: "Should I go bigger now?"
Answer: Maybe. But not blindly.
Scaling a small win should still be a controlled, measured move—not an emotional “it worked once, so let’s 10x it!” reaction.
Here’s how I think about it…
🎯 1. Confirm Your Signal
Before scaling, pressure-test your results:
Was the win consistent across different channels, audiences, or times?
Could the result be a fluke (seasonality, lucly viral hit, timing)?
Did the learning match the question you set out to answer?
If yes—green light to expand.
If no—consider another small round of testing first.
📈 2. Scale One Step at a Time
Scaling doesn’t mean going from $100 → $10,000 overnight.
It could mean:
Increasing ad spend by 2x, not 10x
Extending a content format to a second channel
Expanding a winning CTA across multiple landing pages
Small expansions let you keep learning without risking too much too fast.
🛠 3. Invest Where It Matters Most
Ask yourself: If I double down here, where’s the highest upside?
Examples:
If an email format drives higher clickthroughs, expand that style to your next product launch.
If a LinkedIn post format drives way more engagement, repurpose it into carousels, threads, or short videos.
If a micro-influencer partnership converts, build a small program with similar creators.
Case in point…
I posted this take on companies declaring themselves “AI-first” on Twitter/X and Threads last week. This was hours before recording my show, the Meme Team podcast, while I was scribbling down some notes. My small test was to see whether that take would do well — so that I could iterate on a stronger version to post on LinkedIn (a.k.a. my highest ROI social channel) later that week. You know, to promote the latest episode of my podcast in which I talk about going AI-first.
The take did pretty well on Twitter/X and Threads, so I refined it, added on the video (thanks to my co-host Sonia Baschez!), and posted it on LinkedIn:
280+ likes. We are so back. We got some extra podcast plays, and I validated an idea that I’ll plan to write a blog post on next week. I love when my work makes me do more work. (Sounds sarcastic but since I am a weird nerd, that’s in earnest.)
But remember: Not everything needs to be scaled. Scale what connects to your real goals, whether that’s more leads, better brand affinity, or higher conversion rates.
Scaling should feel deliberate, not reactive.
The goal isn’t just “growth”—it’s compounded learning and bigger wins.
And this week’s win for me? A resonant idea that gave way to a promotional opportunity that lit the fire in me to create additional content.
Next week: How to keep the experimentation momentum alive—without burning out yourself or your team.
Until then: Got a recent win you’re thinking about scaling? Hit reply and tell me—I might workshop it with you in a future edition.
—Amanda
P.S. If you haven’t already, check out my new podcast, Meme Team. You’ll get the marketing context behind the headlines.