A playbook
Grow with paid ads
Spend that returns: the channels, metrics, and loops behind it.
4 steps, 72 questions, laid out in the order you'll hit them
Each step is a topic with the real questions founders ask; open whichever one you're stuck on for the answer and the resources on it.
-
1
Growth fundamentals & metrics
Measure what matters, grow what compounds.
What growth metrics should I actually track as an early-stage startup? 3 → How do I know if I have product-market fit before I try to grow? 2 → What is a growth loop and why is it better than a funnel? 2 → What are the 'four fits' I need before growth compounds? 2 → How should I set up a simple growth model or dashboard? 3 → All 18 questions in Growth fundamentals & metrics → -
2
Paid acquisition basics
Buy customers profitably, or don't buy them.
Should I even be running paid ads at this stage? 2 → How do I know if my paid ads are actually profitable? 2 → What makes a paid ad actually convert? 2 → How do I pick which paid channel to start with? 2 → How much budget do I need to test a paid channel properly? 2 → All 18 questions in Paid acquisition basics → -
3
Unit economics & modeling
Know what a customer costs and earns.
What are unit economics and why do they matter? 3 → How do I calculate CAC (customer acquisition cost) and LTV? 3 → What is a good LTV to CAC ratio? 3 → What metrics should I actually track as an early-stage SaaS founder? 3 → How do I build a simple financial model or revenue projection? 3 → All 18 questions in Unit economics & modeling → -
4
Retention, referral & virality
Keep them, and let them bring friends.
Why is retention more important than acquisition? 2 → How do I actually improve retention and make my product habit-forming? 2 → When should I build a referral program? 2 → Is my product going to go viral, and how do I make it more shareable? 2 → How do I measure and analyze retention properly? 2 → All 18 questions in Retention, referral & virality →