Product Metrics for Product Managers

A metric becomes useful when it answers a defined product question. A change in conversion, for example, needs a clear definition of who is being counted and which behaviour qualifies. Product Metrics for Product Managers explains how to make those measurement decisions and examine the information a number may leave out.

Build a measurement approach around the product

The book follows the product lifecycle through acquisition, activation, conversion, engagement and retention. It covers defining metrics, analysing funnels and cohorts and measuring feature adoption, with a fictional SaaS product linking the examples. The explanations start without assuming a background in data or statistics.

Choosing a North Star Metric is considered alongside the input metrics that contribute to it. Guardrails provide a way to examine whether an improvement in one area comes with an unwanted effect elsewhere. The discussion connects individual measures to the decisions they are intended to inform.

Interpret the result before acting on it

The focus is on how a Product Manager approaches measurement: what to measure, why it answers the question and which assumptions affect the result. It is intended for product professionals who need to discuss performance and priorities using defined measures and context.