Essential Product Metrics Guide - tracking success

Master the metrics that drive product success and keep your users hooked.

Created:

Feb 10, 2022

Edited:

May 2, 2025

TL;DR

Track essential product metrics to align user needs with business goals. Focus on acquisition, activation, engagement, retention, and monetization metrics. Use leading indicators for strategy adjustments and lagging indicators to evaluate success. Prioritize actionable insights to enhance product value and drive growth.

Sparked your interest? Read on.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what makes some products just work? It usually comes down to one thing: alignment. When your product meets both your users’ needs and your business goals, growth becomes natural - and measurable.

That’s where product metrics come in. Think of them as your product’s health dashboard. The right metrics tell a story about how people use your product, where they’re dropping off, what’s working, and what’s not.

This guide will walk you through the essentials - without the fluff.


Why keep track of product metrics?

Metrics give you two key superpowers:

Early Warning System: Just like your car’s dashboard warns you when something’s off, product metrics alert you when usage spikes or stalls. Spotting these trends early helps you respond before things break.

The Full Picture: Metrics map the user journey—what features people engage with, when they get stuck, and what keeps them coming back. It’s not just what happened, but why. Done right, metrics help you:


Tips to pick the right product metrics

Not all numbers matter. In fact, tracking the wrong ones wastes time and leads to poor decisions. Here’s how to pick wisely:


Leading vs lagging metrics

Think of your metrics like a car:


Leading indicators

Early signs of activity or interest. Use them to steer strategy and test ideas.

Examples:


Lagging indicators

Outcome-based metrics that confirm whether your strategy worked.

Examples:

You need both. Leading indicators help you experiment; lagging indicators help you evaluate results.


The 5 key product metric categories

Follow your user’s journey from discovery to loyalty. These five categories keep your metrics focused and actionable:


1. Acquisition - how are users finding you?

Track how users arrive and which channels drive the most qualified traffic.

Examples:


2. Activation - Are new users reaching their “aha” moment?

This is where users experience real value for the first time.

Examples:


3. Engagement

How often are people using your product—and how deeply?

Examples:


4. Retention

Do users stick around? Or churn out after a week?

Examples:


5. Monetization

Are you turning engagement into revenue?

Examples:


Final thoughts

Product metrics aren’t just numbers - they’re insight. They show you what’s working, what’s broken, and where the next opportunity lies.

Remember:

Measure what matters—and use it to build something people genuinely love.

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Find articles, resources and hacks that help grow as designer.

Sharing the tips, resources, and ideas that help me grow as a designer.