Who This Helps
This is for growth marketers who stare at a pile of possible experiments every week and feel stuck. You know you should pick the one with the biggest potential impact, but without a clear metric system, you end up guessing. The Metrics & Dashboards Basics program is built for exactly this moment.
Mini Case
Meet Maya. She runs growth for a SaaS team that tracks 20 different numbers. Every Monday, she and her team debate which experiment to run next. Last month, they wasted two weeks on a campaign that moved a vanity metric by 3% but had zero effect on revenue. After she built a simple weekly scoreboard (a mission from the course), she spotted that one channel was driving 80% of new signups. She focused her next experiment there and saw a 12% lift in conversions within 7 days. No more guesswork.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Pick your North Star Metric. This is the one number that tells you if your growth is healthy. If you don't have one, start with the first mission in the course.
- Define three supporting metrics. These are the levers that move your North Star. For example, if your North Star is weekly active users, supporting metrics could be new signups, activation rate, and retention.
- Set realistic targets. Don't just track numbers. Give each supporting metric a target based on past performance. Maya set a target of 15% activation rate and hit it in three weeks.
- Build a weekly scoreboard. List your North Star and supporting metrics in one clean view. Update it every Monday. This is your decision-making hub.
- Rank your experiments by potential impact. For each experiment, estimate how much it could move one of your supporting metrics. Pick the one with the highest estimated lift. Run it. Measure. Repeat.
Avoid These Traps
- Tracking too many metrics. If you have more than five, you're not focused. Cut down to your North Star and three supporting metrics.
- Chasing vanity numbers. Likes, shares, and page views feel good but don't pay the bills. Stick to metrics that tie directly to revenue or retention.
- Skipping targets. Without a target, you can't tell if you're winning or losing. Set a number, even if it's a guess at first.
- Changing metrics every week. Consistency is key. Pick your metrics and stick with them for at least a month.
- Ignoring the dashboard layout. A cluttered dashboard leads to confusion. Use the dashboard layout mission to design a clean, scannable view.
Your Win by Friday
By the end of this week, you'll have a clear, one-page weekly scoreboard with your North Star metric, three supporting metrics, and realistic targets. You'll know exactly which experiment to run next, and you'll have the confidence that your effort is going to the highest-impact move. Plus, you'll finally stop those Monday morning debates. That's a win worth celebrating with a coffee (or a victory dance).