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How To Build A Kick-Ass Growth Team

growthsensei.com

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Re: How To Build A Kick-Ass Growth Team

#11

Post by neya »

roskilli wrote: post #8
neya wrote: post #3

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…

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

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

A hacker is:

"a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity "

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

Re: How To Build A Kick-Ass Growth Team

#14

Post by speeder »

onemorepassword wrote: post #9
speeder wrote: post #2

It is interesting the focus on academic achievements. Yet I think, that yes, it means they might be hardworking people, but does not guarantee much else. Sometimes you find great people that are not even graduated, and I am not talking about "Bill Gates fake dropout", but people that never set a foot in college in first place. Some people started their trade very early, sometimes in childhood, and when they reach 20,…

I don't agree with the logic behind it in this context. a) Working hard in a commercial environment is something different from studying hard. Many successful academics are motivated by acquiring knowledge, but find it very hard to motivate themselves to produce stuff, especially marketable end-products. b) Laziness is not a major obstacle for a good hacker. Since there is a limited amount of time per day one can tru…

Interesting.

Yes, hard to argue with that.

What I would say is that a top class might at least know how it is to work hard...

Maybe.

Re: How To Build A Kick-Ass Growth Team

#15

Post by rfergie »

neya wrote: post #11
roskilli wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

From Merriam-Webster, a well-known English dictionary[1] A hacker is: "a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity " 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…

"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

Re: How To Build A Kick-Ass Growth Team

#16

Post by neya »

willix wrote: post #5
neya wrote: post #3

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…

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

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.

Re: How To Build A Kick-Ass Growth Team

#17

Post by RyanZAG »

shanelja wrote: post #7
willix wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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.

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.

Re: How To Build A Kick-Ass Growth Team

#19

Post by neya »

RyanZAG wrote: post #17
shanelja wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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…

Very well explained, Ryan. Agreed!
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