[neya]

I don't get it - Why do people abuse the term 'hacker' so much? If it's so much hip being one, then, why not try to be a real hacker instead?? Why do people simply call themselves a 'growth hacker' when all they do is simply send a bunch of marketing emails to Techcrunches and Mashables and some PR agencies??

Similarly, it was the term entrepreneur before, for example, I have a huge list of dudes on my Facebook with titles like CEO, CTO for a <insert a dotcom domain with a wordpress blog with a free theme installed here>. Being an entrepreneur/hacker is one thing and abusing the terms is totally another!

[dtalic]

I think you're somewhat missing the point of the post.

I think the term hacker is very appropriate in this case. Growth hacking requires constant experimentation and a deep technical skill set (both of which are key to a "hacker"). Finally, from what I gather the term today is deliberately used to distinguish the discipline from more traditional online marketing.

[roskilli]

A few who have used the term have mentioned it refers to scrappiness/hacking together, definition of the word hack is:

* to cut, notch, slice, chop, or sever (something) with or as with heavy, irregular blows

I think it's quite fitting

[neya]

From Merriam-Webster, a well-known English dictionary[1]

A hacker is:

"a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity <a tennis hacker>"

But this can't be the definition that these people are citing - Because, on the contrary, they claim to be 'experts'.

So, the next (apt) definition is, w.r.t computers:

"an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer"

But they don't program either. And citing just 'solving problems with a computer' is a very vague definition for a hacker. By that definition, even a 'data entry guy' would become a hacker.

so you see, the term hacker has nothing to do with marketing. It would be more apt if people call themselves 'marketing experts', rather than just 'growth hackers'. Sometimes, it could be mis-leading. For instance, observe:

    TOM: Hey, what did you do at your previous company?
    HARRY: I used to hack stuff.
    TOM: [Imagines: Wow, this guy must be a genius! wonder if he could find out Lena's Facebook password!]

See where this is going?

[1]http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker

[rfergie]

"an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer"

These guys are experts at solving problems with a computer. Don't know whether or not they'd be classed as expert programmers

[willix]

Neya - my growth team does more than just sending marketing emails. We are very data-driven and product strategy is also part of our team responsibility. We use machine-learning based classifier for many part of our company funnels

[shanelja]

I don't know if it's just me or if I've had a long day, but I can't really understand posts of this kind anymore when they are effectively just buzz words/phrases strung loosely together.

[RyanZAG]

That's the point, he is actively making it difficult for you to understand him. By dropping in words with complex backgrounds, he hopes you (you generally, not you in particular) do not have enough knowledge in those domains to understand how those terms do/do not fit together. This leaves you in a position of having to accept his point as there might be truth in what he is saying - you aren't knowledgeable enough to tell the difference between the correct and incorrect usage of the terms.

Generally, someone who understands the concepts will not use terms strung together like that unless forced. "machine-learning based classifier" with "company funnels" seems a bit suspect in this case, and probably needs a blog post to explain fully, not a simple one line rebuttal as above.

So yeah, it's not just you.

[neya]

Very well explained, Ryan. Agreed!

[lukethomas]

I stopped reading at "hypergrowth"

[brown9-2]

This certainly does feel like an elaborate parody.

[neya]

Willix, I haven't downvoted you and I don't know why people have downvoted you either (though I disagree with you).

I know Freelancer.com and the rate at which it has scaled. I know the tremendous growth rate you guys have achieved (kudos!). By no means am I questioning your ability nor your skills. I am just genuinely curious as to why people are so interested in using the term 'Growth Hacker' so much.

And I disagree that, even being data-driven alone is not the apt definition of a real hacker.

[sk_0919]

I don't understand the hostility in this thread.

Willix - For those of us that aren't aware of freelancer, can you provide some numbers on the kind of growth this team has been able to achieve? Also, it will help to know some top performing growth tactics for you guys...examples as specific as the airbnb one would be great!