Actionable Metric
A metric that ties to a specific action and can guide a decision, like activation rate by signup source, as opposed to a vanity metric.
Why it matters
Actionable metrics are the ones worth building a business on because they change what you do next. Picking the few that matter, and ignoring the flattering rest, is what keeps a team focused.
For example
Instead of tracking total signups, the team tracks activation rate by signup source, an actionable metric that tells them which channels to double down on.
Worth your time
Related terms
Go deeper
See how founders actually handle this on Money, pricing and metrics, part of the Starting Up hub.