9 Places to Hire Growth Hackers and Performance Marketers Who Actually Deliver Results
Finding the right growth hacker or performance marketer can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. You need someone who understands metrics, experiments constantly, and knows how to turn data into real business growth. Whether you’re a startup founder looking to scale quickly or a marketing manager trying to fill a specialized role, the platform you choose matters just as much as the talent you hire. This list covers nine places where you can find skilled growth professionals who know how to move the needle on your key metrics.
- Legiit
Legiit connects you with freelance growth hackers and performance marketers who specialize in measurable results. The platform focuses on digital marketing services, making it easy to find professionals with specific skills like conversion rate optimization, paid advertising, or funnel building. You can browse detailed profiles, check reviews from past clients, and see exactly what each freelancer offers before making contact.
What sets Legiit apart is its focus on marketing services rather than general freelancing. This means you’re not wading through hundreds of unrelated profiles to find someone who actually understands customer acquisition costs and lifetime value. The pricing is transparent, and many professionals offer packaged services that make it easy to get started without lengthy negotiations.
- Referrals From Other Founders
Nothing beats a personal recommendation from someone who has already worked with a growth professional and seen real results. Other founders in your network can tell you not just about skills, but about work style, communication habits, and whether someone delivers on their promises. These referrals often lead to the best hires because you get honest feedback that no portfolio or interview can provide.
Start by reaching out to founders in your industry or in similar growth stages. Ask specific questions about what results the growth hacker achieved, how long it took, and whether they would hire them again. Many founders are happy to share contacts for professionals they trust, especially if they’re not currently working together. This approach takes more time upfront but often saves you from costly hiring mistakes down the line.
- Growth Hacker Communities on Slack and Discord
Active communities on Slack and Discord host hundreds of growth professionals who share tactics, discuss experiments, and sometimes look for new projects. These spaces let you see how people think and communicate before you ever hire them. You can post a job opening, ask for recommendations, or simply observe who gives helpful advice and demonstrates real expertise.
Some of these communities are invitation-only, which actually works in your favor because it means the members have been vetted to some degree. Look for groups focused on specific channels like SaaS growth, ecommerce marketing, or paid acquisition. When you post a job or reach out to someone, be specific about what you need and what results you’re trying to achieve. The more targeted your request, the better responses you’ll get from people who actually match your needs.
- Agency Networks and Partnerships
Many growth marketing agencies maintain networks of freelance specialists they bring in for specific projects or overflow work. These freelancers have already been vetted by the agency and have proven they can deliver quality work under deadlines. Reaching out to agencies and asking if they have freelancers they recommend can give you access to talent that might not be actively marketing themselves on public platforms.
This approach works particularly well if you need someone with experience in a specific vertical or channel. Agencies often know who specializes in what and can match you with someone who has handled similar challenges. Some agencies will even offer a hybrid arrangement where they oversee the freelancer’s work, giving you an extra layer of quality control without the full cost of agency pricing.
- LinkedIn Outreach
LinkedIn remains one of the most direct ways to find and contact growth marketers with specific experience. You can search by job title, skills, location, and company history to build a targeted list of candidates. The key is to look beyond the job title and examine what people have actually accomplished in their roles. Check for posts they’ve written, presentations they’ve given, or case studies they’ve shared.
When you reach out, skip the generic messages. Reference something specific from their profile or content that caught your attention. Explain clearly what challenge you’re trying to solve and why you think they might be a good fit. Many experienced growth professionals are open to freelance work or consulting even if they’re currently employed full-time. The direct approach often works better than waiting for someone to apply to a job posting.
- Marketing Conferences and Meetups
Events focused on growth marketing, performance advertising, or specific channels like Facebook ads or SEO attract practitioners who are serious about staying current. Attending these events, whether virtual or in-person, gives you a chance to meet people, hear them speak, and gauge their expertise firsthand. The conversations you have in hallways or breakout sessions often reveal more about someone’s capabilities than any resume.
Don’t just attend as a passive observer. Ask questions during sessions, participate in workshops, and be clear about what you’re looking for when you network. Many growth professionals attend these events specifically to meet potential clients or employers. Follow up within a few days of meeting someone, referencing your conversation and proposing a next step. The people who present at these events are often available for consulting or freelance work, even if they’re not actively advertising it.
- Product Hunt and Indie Hacker Forums
These communities are filled with builders who also need to know how to market their products. Many growth hackers hang out in these spaces because they’re interested in the intersection of product and marketing. You’ll find people who understand that growth isn’t just about running ads, but about finding product-market fit and building systems that scale.
Look for members who consistently give helpful advice on growth questions or who share detailed breakdowns of their own marketing experiments. These contributions demonstrate both knowledge and communication skills. When you find someone interesting, check their profile for contact information or reach out via direct message. Many indie hackers and active community members are open to consulting or part-time work, especially if your product aligns with their interests.
- Previous Coworkers or Team Members
If you’ve worked with talented marketers in past roles, reaching back out to them can be one of the fastest ways to find quality help. You already know their work style, their strengths, and how they handle pressure. There’s no guessing about cultural fit or communication preferences because you’ve experienced it firsthand.
Even if former coworkers aren’t available themselves, they often know other skilled professionals in their network. A quick message asking if they know anyone who specializes in what you need can open doors to introductions and warm referrals. People are more likely to recommend someone to a former colleague they trust than to a stranger, so you benefit from that existing relationship. This approach works particularly well when you need to fill a role quickly or when you’re working on a project that requires someone to get up to speed fast.
- Niche Job Boards for Marketers
Several job boards focus specifically on marketing and growth roles rather than general employment. These platforms attract professionals who are actively looking for new opportunities and who self-select into marketing-focused spaces. Posting on these boards means you’re reaching people who have chosen to focus their job search on marketing roles, which usually means they’re more serious and specialized.
When you post a job, be specific about the skills and experience you need. Instead of asking for a general growth marketer, specify whether you need someone who excels at paid acquisition, conversion optimization, email marketing, or another specialty. Include information about the tools and platforms they’ll use, the metrics they’ll be responsible for, and what success looks like in the role. The more specific your posting, the better quality candidates you’ll attract. Many of these boards also let you browse profiles and reach out directly to candidates, giving you more control over the hiring process.
Hiring the right growth hacker or performance marketer requires looking in the right places and knowing how to evaluate what you find. Each of these nine options offers different advantages depending on your timeline, budget, and specific needs. Some approaches let you move quickly while others require more relationship building upfront. The common thread is that they all connect you with people who focus on measurable results rather than vague marketing promises. Take the time to clearly define what you need before you start your search, and you’ll find that the right talent is more accessible than you might think.