Product metrics that actually matter

Downloads are up. Page views are climbing. These numbers feel good to report but usually say nothing. We call them vanity metrics.

Metrics that drive decisions

• Activation — how many users reach their first "aha" moment.
• Retention — how many come back after 1, 7 and 30 days.
• Revenue per user and the cost to acquire them.

A good metric is actionable: when it moves, you know what to do. Retention dipped this week? Find where users drop off and fix it.

Measure what you will act on. Ignore the rest.

— Lan Phạm

Start small: pick one North Star metric that reflects the real value you deliver, then build everything around improving it.