Am I or are you a growth hacker?

15 replies
Growth hacking is a new term to me and seems to be to most of us in this forum. At the same time, on Twitter growth hacker seems to be comparable to digital marketing specialist in scale as far as people use to describe themselves.

After reading http://www.warriorforum.com/growth-h...th-hacker.html, I am wondering if I am a growth hacker and if you think you are and why?

Many of us on this forum have thought of ourselves as "internet marketers" or "digital marketers" but it seems now the term growth hacker applies much better to me and anyone that uses a combination of data, creativity, and learning (curiosity) as the foundations for what they do.

The article I cited above says growth hacks are usually inexpensive and there is where my personal conflict comes into play with calling myself a growth hacker. The short version of what I have done online in the last three years is pioneer ways to use paid ads to make a huge audience in the millions using data driven targeting options to audiences most people think are worthless such as those from third world countries. While this includes the three principles of being a growth hacker as described in the TechCrunch article at Defining A Growth Hacker: Three Common Characteristics | TechCrunch, much of growth hacking is premised on doing things from free.

The question then is where do you decide that you are a growth hacker instead of a digital marketer or an internet marketer? Based on the data, I would have to say I am a growth hacker but the term is so new to me I am not sure if I should change all of my social media profiles right away until I talk with a few of you guys to see what you think is most important or least important about your own decision to call yourself a growth hacker.
#growth #hacker
  • I am unsure also.

    I am at starbucks. new Google wifi at 50-70 Megs speed. inside as a customer

    But, I can go to the parking lot for free and get 5-15 megs speed.

    am I a growth hacker???

    thinking of uber and airBnB using craigslist!

    just a thought
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Core
    Please oh please explain to me why everyone and everything now is called a "hacker"

    Does this make you sound cool? Well let me tell you something... I am no Growth Hacker... I am a Growth Samurai with a masters degree in Growth Alchemy and Growth Ninjery!
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  • Profile picture of the author maurycja
    A true growth ninja would run an A/B test on his bio and check if any of "growth hacker", "internet marketer" or "digital marketer" converts better. :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Kim Writes
    I personally don't put much thought into any of this. Maybe one day I will. But for now I am merely a business woman, an entrepreneur. I'm keeping it simple.
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  • Profile picture of the author IDoTheLegWork
    As far as I can tell, and like most I am still on the confusing
    edge of this terminology, "growth hacking" was around long
    before the Internet.

    It's called MLM.

    Just use your tests and data to figure how you can get your
    customers to sell your message and get others to take
    action on it and you to are a "hacker".
    Signature

    ..and you WILL contribute a verse.
    Indifference is the enemy that must be conquered.
    Appeal to the crowd by addressing the person.

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    • Profile picture of the author sjr4x4
      Growth Hacker, Marketeer, Entrepreneur, Digital Evangelist, Byte Fairy?

      It's all cobblers. Anyone can assign themselves a vanity title, it's how other people perceive you or call you that really matters, in my humble chief bottle washers opinion
      Signature
      cheers Steve

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      Free & Friendly Marketing & Business Forum, ideal for new marketeers and business owners.
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    definte no

    and i sincerely hope it is not contagious
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    • Profile picture of the author banwork
      Originally Posted by maurycja View Post

      A true growth ninja would run an A/B test on his bio and check if any of "growth hacker", "internet marketer" or "digital marketer" converts better. :-)
      You have offered the ideal solution!

      Originally Posted by Kim Writes View Post

      I personally don't put much thought into any of this. Maybe one day I will. But for now I am merely a business woman, an entrepreneur. I'm keeping it simple.
      Obviously keeping it simple is a challenge for me and I appreciate the reminder that I should be doing the same!

      Originally Posted by sjr4x4 View Post

      Growth Hacker, Marketeer, Entrepreneur, Digital Evangelist, Byte Fairy?

      It's all cobblers. Anyone can assign themselves a vanity title, it's how other people perceive you or call you that really matters, in my humble chief bottle washers opinion
      The trick is figuring out what people perceive you as that is worth repeating!
      Signature

      Thank you to the 400+ warriors that chose to buy my Facebook WSO granting lifetime access to my Udemy course!

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  • Profile picture of the author sasuke120
    I don't care what i am as long as I have a hublot on my wrist and a benz in my parking lot
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  • Profile picture of the author LimitlessTraffic
    I am an Underground Growth Agent

    I'll stick to "I sell stuff online"
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    • Profile picture of the author loprox
      Originally Posted by LimitlessTraffic View Post

      I'll stick to "I sell stuff online"
      haha, I like that !
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  • Profile picture of the author JDQuey
    Originally Posted by banwork View Post

    Many of us on this forum have thought of ourselves as "internet marketers" or "digital marketers" but it seems now the term growth hacker applies much better to me and anyone that uses a combination of data, creativity, and learning (curiosity) as the foundations for what they do.
    Growth hacking has more to do than simply using a combination of data, creativity, and curiosity to grow a business. In fact, I'd go so far to say that any digital marketer worth their salt should be tracking data, being creative how to increase conversions, and have a curiosity to learn more.

    Originally Posted by banwork View Post

    The article I cited above says growth hacks are usually inexpensive and there is where my personal conflict comes into play with calling myself a growth hacker. The short version of what I have done online in the last three years is pioneer ways to use paid ads to make a huge audience in the millions using data driven targeting options to audiences most people think are worthless such as those from third world countries. While this includes the three principles of being a growth hacker as described in the TechCrunch article at Defining A Growth Hacker: Three Common Characteristics | TechCrunch, much of growth hacking is premised on doing things from free.
    Although there can be overlap, digital guerrilla marketers would fit this definition a lot better than a growth hacker. The major difference is that a growth hacker aims to make significant tweaks to boost traffic, increase retention, and create viral loops to easily spread it to others.

    Originally Posted by banwork View Post

    The question then is where do you decide that you are a growth hacker instead of a digital marketer or an internet marketer? Based on the data, I would have to say I am a growth hacker but the term is so new to me I am not sure if I should change all of my social media profiles right away until I talk with a few of you guys to see what you think is most important or least important about your own decision to call yourself a growth hacker.
    Frankly, I fine a title to just be something to convey a message well to others, the rest of the proof is in the pudding. I find plenty of "experts" on any given field that charge exorbitant amounts with little results. If the work I do ends up making me a growth hacker and I feel the title suits my purposes well, I accept it. Otherwise, I shrug my shoulders and move own.

    Whatever it is you are aiming to become as a marketer, do it, and do it better than anyone else.
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    • Profile picture of the author banwork
      Originally Posted by JDQuey View Post

      Growth hacking has more to do than simply using a combination of data, creativity, and curiosity to grow a business. In fact, I'd go so far to say that any digital marketer worth their salt should be tracking data, being creative how to increase conversions, and have a curiosity to learn more.



      Although there can be overlap, digital guerrilla marketers would fit this definition a lot better than a growth hacker. The major difference is that a growth hacker aims to make significant tweaks to boost traffic, increase retention, and create viral loops to easily spread it to others.



      Frankly, I fine a title to just be something to convey a message well to others, the rest of the proof is in the pudding. I find plenty of "experts" on any given field that charge exorbitant amounts with little results. If the work I do ends up making me a growth hacker and I feel the title suits my purposes well, I accept it. Otherwise, I shrug my shoulders and move own.

      Whatever it is you are aiming to become as a marketer, do it, and do it better than anyone else.
      After your thoughts, I am encouraged to stick to a more simple title everyone understands such as "marketer" since "growth hacker" even if more appropriate is not as recognizable.
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  • Profile picture of the author c4ris
    Growth hacking is something I have only recently learnt about. Many people, especially those who don't use the internet so much, still associate 'hacker' as a negative word, so its not something I would call myself.
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    • Profile picture of the author banwork
      Originally Posted by c4ris View Post

      Growth hacking is something I have only recently learnt about. Many people, especially those who don't use the internet so much, still associate 'hacker' as a negative word, so its not something I would call myself.
      Definitely a reason for me and others not to choose the title of "growth hacker"! Best argument against it I have heard so far as a matter of fact!
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      Thank you to the 400+ warriors that chose to buy my Facebook WSO granting lifetime access to my Udemy course!

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