The Activation Metric Definition Playbook

The Activation Metric Definition Playbook
"Active members" is a useless number. Define an activation event you can actually move:

☐ Pick ONE action that predicts a member sticking 30+ days (e.g. posted in 2 separate threads in week 1)
☐ Validate it: pull 20 retained members, 20 churned — does the action separate them?
☐ Set the window (within 7 days of join, not "ever")
☐ Instrument it: a tag, a bot log, or a manual weekly tally
☐ Baseline today's rate before changing anything
☐ Pick one onboarding lever and re-measure in 2 weeks

If your activation event doesn't separate stayers from leavers, it's a vanity metric — throw it out.

Save this for your next launch.