I was recently asked the question, "What’s better: performance marketing or growth hacking?" I paused. I marinated. And then I decided to dive into this question in-depth and share my thoughts here.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a marketer like me, constantly faced with the challenge of driving growth for your organization. But with so many approaches to marketing—performance marketing, growth marketing, growth hacking—how do you know which is the right one for you?
Let’s explore.
Performance marketing is like planning a traditional wedding. It’s all about the details and data—incremental improvements over time to achieve specific goals like clicks, conversions, and sales. Performance marketers thrive on measurable outcomes, optimizing every touchpoint with precision.
Personally, I love the mathematical side of performance marketing. It’s where I get to make bets with my peers (reminds me: I’m still waiting on a fine bottle of wine that’s owed to me 🤣). But the real magic of performance marketing is in the data—tracking progress, running tests, and making data-driven decisions to squeeze the most out of every dollar.
If you’re analytical, detail-oriented, and love geeking out over dashboards and metrics, performance marketing might be your jam.
Growth marketing is like a romantic destination wedding. It’s creative, memorable, and data-informed but with a more holistic focus. It’s about building a sustainable system for growth—one that works across the entire funnel and leaves a lasting impact long after the initial launch.
Growth marketers lean into ambiguity, experiment with bold ideas, and adapt quickly to changes in the market. Think referral programs, onboarding optimizations, or viral campaigns that don’t just attract customers—they build loyalty.
If you’re a marketer who thrives on creativity and strategy, growth marketing might be your ideal approach.
Growth hacking, on the other hand, is like eloping in Vegas with an Elvis impersonator. It’s fast, unconventional, and all about experimentation. Growth hackers aren’t afraid to throw out the playbook and try wild ideas—because sometimes, taking a risk leads to explosive results.
This approach works best in fast-paced environments where you can experiment quickly, learn on the fly, and make decisions at lightning speed. Growth hacking isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress.
And yes, 18 years ago, I eloped in Vegas. And yes, Elvis was there! ❤️
Ultimately, choosing between performance marketing, growth marketing, and growth hacking comes down to your organization’s goals and your own personality.
The real takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best marketers know how to align their approach with their business goals and personal strengths, blending these strategies as needed to drive growth.
Personally, I like to combine the structure of performance marketing with the experimental spirit of growth hacking. It’s a blend of precision and playfulness—moving fast, measuring everything, and creating strategies that are as effective as they are exciting.
So, which approach fits you best? Whichever you choose, remember: the key to success is experimentation. Keep trying new things, pushing boundaries, and having a little fun along the way.
April Garvey – A seasoned Marketing leader, specializing in driving growth, innovation, and market leadership for businesses seeking high-impact.