Who should I follow to learn about Performance Marketing?

If you want to get genuinely good at **performance marketing** (paid acquisition, CRO, analytics, creative testing, attribution, growth loops), I’d follow a mix of **operators** (people actively running campaigns) and **strategists** (people who teach frameworks). A lot of “marketing influencers” are better at content than execution, so prioritize people who share experiments, numbers, and breakdowns. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Paid Social (Meta, TikTok, creative testing) - Dara Denney - Great for paid social creative strategy, ad testing frameworks, and understanding why ads win. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Nick Shackelford - Strong on scaling Meta ads and performance creative. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Barry Hott - Useful for learning how to think about creative as the main growth lever. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Sarah Levinger - Good for connecting psychology, messaging, and conversion. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Google Ads / PPC / Search - Frederick Vallaeys - Excellent for Google Ads automation, AI changes, and paid search strategy. [Top PPC Experts to Follow in 2026](https://ppcblogpro.com/top-ppc-experts-to-follow/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Kirk Williams - Strong for ecommerce PPC and practical account optimization. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Navah Hopkins - Good for staying current on Google Ads changes and industry shifts. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Growth, experimentation, and acquisition strategy - Sean Ellis - Known for popularizing the term “growth hacker” and focusing on experimentation-driven growth. [Growth Marketing Experts to Follow in 2026 (Bios, Links & Key Work) | Growth Method](https://growthmethod.com/growth-marketing-experts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Brian Balfour - Excellent for understanding growth models, retention, and scaling systems. [The Top Growth Marketing Experts of 2026 – First Page Sage](https://firstpagesage.com/seo-blog/the-top-growth-marketing-experts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Andrew Chen - Great for marketplace growth, network effects, and startup acquisition strategy. [Growth Marketing Experts to Follow in 2026 (Bios, Links & Key Work) | Growth Method](https://growthmethod.com/growth-marketing-experts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Ecommerce / DTC performance marketing - Nik Sharma - Strong for DTC brand growth, customer acquisition, and lifecycle thinking. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Andrew Faris - Good for real-world ecommerce scaling lessons. [56 Performance Marketers to Follow for Valuable Insights | Sebastian Novinsek posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sebastian-novin_if-you-work-in-performance-marketing-who-activity-7478105929327202304-4dYH?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Analytics, measurement, and marketing science - Avinash Kaushik - One of the best people to learn measurement, attribution thinking, and analytics fundamentals from. - Peep Laja - Great for CRO, experimentation, and understanding why users convert. ## If I were starting today, I’d follow this “core curriculum”: 1. **Meta Ads + creative testing:** Dara Denney, Barry Hott, Nick Shackelford 2. **Google Ads:** Frederick Vallaeys, Kirk Williams 3. **Growth strategy:** Brian Balfour, Sean Ellis 4. **CRO + analytics:** Peep Laja, Avinash Kaushik 5. **DTC/ecommerce:** Nik Sharma, Andrew Faris Also subscribe to practitioner communities/newsletters rather than only influencers. Performance marketing changes quickly because platforms, attribution models, and AI-driven bidding systems evolve constantly. [Top PPC Experts to Follow in 2026](https://ppcblogpro.com/top-ppc-experts-to-follow/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) A good learning habit: for every person you follow, don’t just consume posts - pick one campaign, break down the funnel (creative → landing page → offer → conversion tracking → retention), and test one idea yourself. That is where performance marketing skill compounds.

**If you want to learn performance marketing, follow practitioners who specialize in paid media, funnel optimization, and ROI-driven growth. Some of the most respected voices include Molly Pittman, Neil Patel, Larry Kim, Dennis Yu, and Susan Wenograd.**[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) ## 📌 Key Performance Marketing Experts to Follow Expert| Specialty| Why Follow Them ---|---|--- **Molly Pittman**| Funnels, paid social, customer lifecycle monetization| Known for full-funnel optimization and teaching practical strategies via Smart Marketer.[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) **Neil Patel**| SEO \+ paid search/social integration| Offers accessible frameworks blending organic and paid growth; ideal for startups and SaaS.[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) **Larry Kim**| PPC innovation, AI in advertising| Founder of MobileMonkey, focuses on AI-driven PPC and audience targeting.[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) **Dennis Yu**| Facebook ads, attribution clarity| Specializes in paid social algorithms and analytics, frequently shares case studies.[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) **Susan Wenograd**| Cross-channel paid strategy| Strong on media mix modeling and integrated paid campaigns.[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) **Oli Gardner**| Landing page optimization| Co-founder of Unbounce, focuses on conversion psychology tied to paid media.[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) **Brad Geddes**| Paid search automation| Deep expertise in bidding intelligence and technical PPC.[Top 10 Performance Marketing & Paid Media Strategists in the USA (2026)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-performance-marketing-paid-media-strategists-usa-archana-r-gf2sc) ## 🌟 Broader Marketing Voices Worth Following While performance marketing is highly specialized, it overlaps with **digital marketing, MarTech, and growth strategy**. To stay ahead, you should also follow: * **Rand Fishkin** (SparkToro) – audience research and organic \+ paid synergy[Top 35 Digital Marketing Experts to Follow (2026 Edition)](https://www.webtonic.io/blog/top-digital-marketing-experts-follow) * **Ann Handley** – content marketing that complements paid campaigns[25 Marketing & Brand Strategy Leaders in 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/top-25-marketing-brand-leaders-2026) * **Scott Brinker (@chiefmartec)** – MarTech landscape and tools for attribution[Top 30 Marketing Experts & Influencers to Follow in 2026 | CDP.com](https://cdp.com/articles/top-marketing-experts-to-follow-for-the-latest-in-martech-data-content-and-more/) * **Ezra Firestone** – eCommerce growth and paid media scaling[Top 35 Digital Marketing Experts to Follow (2026 Edition)](https://www.webtonic.io/blog/top-digital-marketing-experts-follow) ## ⚠️ Risks & Considerations * **Over-reliance on tactics:** Many “gurus” share hacks that may not scale. Focus on experts who emphasize **data-driven ROI** and **long-term funnel design**. * **Platform volatility:** Paid media strategies change quickly with algorithm updates (Google Ads, Meta Ads). Following practitioners who test and publish results regularly helps avoid outdated advice. * **Bias toward tools:** Some influencers are tied to specific platforms or products. Balance their insights with independent voices to avoid vendor lock-in. 👉 To get the most out of following these experts, I’d recommend starting with **Molly Pittman for funnel design** and **Neil Patel for integrated paid \+ organic growth**, then layering in **Larry Kim and Dennis Yu** for cutting-edge PPC and social strategies. Would you like me to curate a **shortlist of their best newsletters, podcasts, and LinkedIn accounts** so you can plug directly into their content streams?

* **Dennis Yu** - Focuses heavily on organic amplification and paid media frameworks, specifically known for the "Dollar a Day" strategy and hyper-local retargeting tactics. * **Evaldo Albuquerque** - A legendary direct-response copywriter whose book _The 16-Word Sales Letter_ is essential for understanding the psychological hooks that make paid ads convert. * **Jon Loomer** - The go-to authority for advanced Facebook and Instagram advertising, offering deep technical breakdowns of platform updates, tracking, and algorithm shifts. * **Miles Beckler** - Excellent for foundational digital marketing, sales funnels, and customer journey mapping, breaking down complex paid traffic strategies into sustainable, long-term frameworks. * **Amanda Natividad** - VP of Marketing at SparkToro, great for learning how audience research, positioning, and brand building intersect with measurable performance. * **Peep Laja** - Founder of Wynter and CXL, essential for mastering conversion rate optimization (CRO) and landing page experimentation, which is the backbone of any performance marketing funnel. * **AdLeaks** - A private community and publication featuring tactical breakdowns, case studies, and real-time media buying tests from top practitioners managing massive ad spends. * **CXL (Conversion XL)** - Offers rigorous, data-driven training programs for paid acquisition, attribution modeling, and analytics. * **Marketing Brew / Morning Brew** - Great daily newsletters for keeping a pulse on broader ad tech, privacy changes, and digital advertising industry shifts. * **Measure Slack Community** - The premier hub for data-focused marketers to discuss Google Analytics 4, server-side tracking, and attribution challenges. What specific channel or platform are you looking to focus on first, like paid social, search engine marketing, or conversion rate optimization?

To master performance marketing - where every dollar spent is tied directly to measurable data, conversions, and ROI - you need to follow practitioners who focus heavily on analytics, paid media, attribution, and growth experimentation rather than just high-level brand theory. The top experts and industry leaders to follow span data-driven growth, paid acquisition, and analytics: * * * _Neil Patel_ – Co-founder of NP Digital (recognized as a top performance and digital marketing agency). He is an essential follow for breaking down data-driven strategies, SEO, and conversion rate optimization (CRO) via his Neil Patel Blog and active YouTube channel. * * * _Larry Kim_ – Founder of WordStream and MobileMonkey. He is a legendary figure in paid search (PPC), social media advertising, and aggressive audience targeting. He regularly shares sharp, tactical hacks and data analyses on Larry Kim's LinkedIn. * * * _Avinash Kaushik_ – Digital Marketing Evangelist for Google and author of _Web Analytics 2.0_. Performance marketing cannot exist without measurement; Kaushik is the definitive voice on web analytics, attribution modeling, and figuring out what your data actually means via the Occam's Razor Blog. * * * _Brian Balfour_ – Founder/CEO of Reforge and former VP of Growth at HubSpot. If you want to understand the systemic, product-led side of growth and performance marketing loops, his deep-dive essays on the Reforge Blog are masterclasses. * * * _Rand Fishkin_ – Co-founder of SparkToro and former CEO of Moz. He is fantastic for learning how to look critically at data, audience behavior, and the realities of modern digital channels without falling for marketing hype or vanity metrics. You can follow his insights on the SparkToro Blog. * * * _Ryan Deiss_ – Founder and CEO of DigitalMarketer. He specializes in Customer Value Optimization (CVO), paid traffic playbooks, funnel architecture, and turning cold traffic into predictable revenue streams. If you want to narrow this down, let me know: * Are you focusing more on **paid ads (PPC/Paid Social)** , **SEO/Content** , or **general growth/funnels**? * Do you prefer learning via **newsletters, podcasts, or social media (LinkedIn/X)**? I can tailor a specific reading and following list for your exact goals. Show less