Create actionable metrics

Actionable metrics inform specific decisions and drive meaningful change. Unlike vanity metrics, these powerful indicators create clear links between user behavior, business outcomes, and product development priorities.

The most valuable actionable metrics share these key characteristics:

• They answer specific questions about user behavior
• They connect directly to business goals and revenue
• They suggest clear next steps when values change
• They reveal opportunities for product improvement

Creating actionable metrics starts with identifying the critical user behaviors that drive business success. Then design metrics that measure those behaviors in ways that suggest clear action paths. Finally, establish regular review processes where teams discuss metric changes and decide on specific responses. For example, tracking "percentage of new users who complete key actions within their first session" reveals onboarding effectiveness. If this metric drops, the team knows exactly where to focus: improving the initial user experience through better tutorials, simplified interfaces, or clearer value propositions.