Who This Helps
You're a growth marketer drowning in experiment ideas. Everyone wants to test something new. But you need to move channel metrics without guesswork. The Metrics & Dashboards Basics course is built for exactly this moment. It helps you define a metric system you trust and build a dashboard that supports calm weekly decisions.
Mini Case
Meet Maya. She runs growth at a SaaS startup. Her team had 14 experiment ideas on the board. She was stuck. So she built a weekly scoreboard using the course framework. She picked one North Star metric (weekly active users) and three supporting metrics (signup rate, activation rate, retention rate). She set a target: grow weekly active users by 12% in 7 days. She ran one experiment: a simplified onboarding flow. Result? Activation rate jumped 18%, and weekly active users grew 9% in one week. She focused effort on the highest-impact move.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Define your North Star metric. Pick one number that captures the value your product delivers. For Maya, it was weekly active users.
- List 3 supporting metrics. These are the levers that move your North Star. Examples: signup rate, activation rate, retention rate.
- Set a realistic target. Use past data or industry benchmarks. Maya aimed for 12% growth in 7 days.
- Build a weekly scoreboard. List your North Star, supporting metrics, and targets. Update it every Monday.
- Pick one experiment per week. Review your scoreboard. Which metric is lagging? Run one test to move it. No more.
Avoid These Traps
- Tracking 20 numbers. You'll freeze. Stick to 4 metrics max (1 North Star + 3 supporting).
- Changing targets every week. Give your experiment at least 7 days to show impact.
- Running 5 experiments at once. You won't know what worked. One test per week.
- Ignoring guardrails. Set a minimum threshold for each metric. If signup rate drops below 5%, pause everything.
- Using vague definitions. "Active user" must mean the same thing to everyone. Write it down.
- Forgetting to celebrate. When you hit a target, share the win with your team. It builds momentum.
- Skipping the dashboard layout. A cluttered dashboard hides insights. Use clear sections: North Star, supporting metrics, guardrails.
- Not reviewing your scoreboard weekly. Out of sight, out of mind. Block 30 minutes every Monday.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a one-page weekly scoreboard with your North Star metric, three supporting metrics, and one target. You'll know exactly which experiment to run next week. No more guesswork. Just calm, focused decisions. And maybe a little extra time for coffee.