I think it's difficult to say whether or not the rapid growth strategy was Groupon's best option in their early stages. The low barrier to entry means that a well-funded, well-operated clone could conceivably outshine Groupon before they could scale a profitable model.
I agree, it's all about the contrast. Similarly, letting others recognize your accomplishments without pointing them out gives them ownership over the realization and makes it that much more meaningful.
And, of course, high-end gaming. You can build a PC that runs the latest titles for a fraction of the price of a gaming laptop. Its pretty easy to learn at reddit.com/r/buildapc
The last stage of enterprise integration with the DW is through Data Marts, which are organized into Dimensions and Facts, and allow for dynamic interfaces for business users to mine their data. My current project is using Informatica CDC (Change Data Capture) to read multiple source databases through their logs and aggregate in real-time. Its really incredible and enables any level of intricate reporting requirements.
Tracking your source of traffic is definitely one of the more credible and consistent strategies from this article. Similar methods have been used successfully for measuring the effectiveness of online ads to determine where your viewers originate. Understanding the nature and location of discovery of your app is crucial.
My company's marketing manager spent quite a lot of time figuring out what we were paying adWords for. He quickly realised that most ads were displayed on eMule-related forums, and that most clicks we paid for were thrown-away money. Lesson learnt: track carefully where ads are displayed!
