4 ms·

It's called marketing, those are just new techniques. The goals are still the same, the things that work well are just changing a lot. Remember the distinction

It's called marketing, those are just new techniques. The goals are still the same, the things that work well are just changing a lot. Remember the distinction a few years ago when marketers using the internet were called Internet Marketers? How many people in marketing don't touch the internet with any of their campaigns now? Now that's just called marketing. It's perfectly fine to be interested in the new marketing techniques being developed, especially if you're the HN crowd. That's not what I'm saying. You aren't understanding marketing if you can't see that "growth hacker" is a branding play. It's good to learn to recognize when marketing techniques are being used to appeal to your demographic if you want to get any skill at using it for yourself.

nl 14y ago
It's called marketing, those are just new techniques. Yes, and what Mel did was just programming[1], and calling it hacking was just rebranding by ESR to fit into his idea of what a hacker should be. I stand by what I'm saying: You don't learn to reverse engineer Craigslist's forms in marketing courses. [1] http://catb.org/jargon/html/story-of-mel.html http://catb.org/jargon/html/story-of-mel.html
- freshhawk 14y ago
  There are no fields where the newest practical techniques are taught in courses. Those are invented in the field and trickle down. I'm not saying it's not impressive or not being done by the best marketers. Not at all. I thought that was clear. There all talented people in every profession, that's what people do. I'm saying that it won't be called "growth hacking" in a short time and it will go on the buzzword bingo card and will only be used ironically. And I wish the community who read about these great marketers saw through the pandering and childish "growth hacking" term as a (successful and well done) branding attempt.

nl 14y ago

It's called marketing, those are just new techniques. Yes, and what Mel did was just programming[1], and calling it hacking was just rebranding by ESR to fit into his idea of what a hacker should be. I stand by what I'm saying: You don't learn to reverse engineer Craigslist's forms in marketing courses. [1] http://catb.org/jargon/html/story-of-mel.html http://catb.org/jargon/html/story-of-mel.html

freshhawk 14y ago
There are no fields where the newest practical techniques are taught in courses. Those are invented in the field and trickle down. I'm not saying it's not impressive or not being done by the best marketers. Not at all. I thought that was clear. There all talented people in every profession, that's what people do. I'm saying that it won't be called "growth hacking" in a short time and it will go on the buzzword bingo card and will only be used ironically. And I wish the community who read about these great marketers saw through the pandering and childish "growth hacking" term as a (successful and well done) branding attempt.