Who This Helps
This is for you, the Junior Analyst, who's staring at a list of ten possible tests and doesn't know where to start. You want to ship clean analysis with clear recommendations, not get stuck in planning. This method, straight from the Creative Economy Mission Pack, cuts through the noise.
Mini Case
Sam, a junior analyst at a creator platform, had 8 ideas for improving newsletter sign-ups. Using the scorecard below, she found that just changing the headline on the welcome page could impact 70% of new users. She ran that test first. It boosted sign-ups by 18% in one week, proving her impact fast. The other 7 ideas? She scheduled them for later.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- List your candidates. Write down every experiment idea you have, no matter how small. Aim for at least 5.
- Score for impact. For each idea, ask: 'If this works, how much will it improve our key metric?' Give it a score from 1 (tiny) to 5 (huge).
- Score for effort. Now ask: 'How much work is this to build and run?' Score from 5 (massive effort) to 1 (super easy).
- Do the math. Calculate: Impact Score / Effort Score. This is your priority ratio. Higher is better.
- Pick the winner. The idea with the highest ratio is your next experiment. That's your focus.
Avoid These Traps
- Chasing shiny objects. That cool new feature you saw on another app? If it doesn't tie directly to your core goal, it's a distraction. Stick to your scorecard.
- Trying to test everything at once. You'll learn nothing and burn out. One clear test beats three messy ones.
- Ignoring the 'easy win'. Don't dismiss a small idea with a huge ratio. A 15-minute change that helps 5% of users is still a win. Get it shipped!
- Overcomplicating the build. If the effort score is a 4 or 5, can you test a simpler version first? Your job is to learn, not to build perfect software.
Your Win by Friday
Your win is a single, clear hypothesis. By Friday, you should know exactly which experiment you're running next, why it's the best use of your time, and what you expect to happen. You'll have a plan, not just a pile of ideas. That's how you focus effort on the highest-impact move and look like a rockstar.