The Importance of Activation Rate and Learning in Public

The Importance of Activation Rate and Learning in Public

In the world of growth and learning, there are two key concepts that can greatly impact your success: activation rate and learning in public. While these may seem like unrelated topics, they actually share common points and can be connected naturally to help you achieve your goals.

Activation rate refers to the percentage of users who hit a specific milestone in your product or service. It is a highly predictive metric that can indicate the long-term value delivery to the user. In other words, it can determine whether a user will stick around and become a customer. Ideally, the activation rate should be at least 2x better for users who hit the milestone compared to those who don't complete the activation step.

To understand activation rate better, let's take a look at some examples. Facebook defines activation as having 7 friends in 10 days, Twitter considers following 30 people as the activation milestone, and Dropbox requires users to upload at least 1 file. These milestones are carefully chosen to showcase the value of the product to the user. They go beyond completing the sign-up flow and give users a taste of what the product can offer in the long run.

When defining your activation milestone, it's important not to overthink it. Instead, choose a milestone that occurs relatively early in a new user's lifecycle and strongly correlates with long-term retention. By doing so, you can ensure that users are experiencing the value of your product early on, increasing the chances of them sticking around and becoming loyal customers.

Now, let's shift our focus to learning in public. This concept emphasizes the importance of sharing your knowledge and experiences with others. Many people have a tendency to consume content without creating any themselves, but learning in private can limit your growth potential. By creating learning exhaust, you can actively contribute to the knowledge base and accelerate your own learning process.

To learn in public, start by creating the content you wish you had found when you were learning. Don't worry about the number of likes or retweets your content receives. Instead, think of yourself as talking to your past self from three months ago. By documenting what you did and the problems you solved, you not only solidify your own knowledge but also help others who may be facing similar challenges.

Learning in public also involves embracing vulnerability and being open to making mistakes. Don't be afraid to share your journey, even when you feel like an impostor. Genuine learners tend to attract support and mentorship from others. By picking up on the quests they offer and amplifying their knowledge, you can continue to grow and learn from those around you.

One of the great benefits of learning in public is that it encourages participation in public tech discourse. Surprisingly, around 80% of developers do not actively write, speak, or participate in public discussions. By sharing your knowledge and experiences, you can inspire others to do the same and create a more vibrant and collaborative community.

When it comes to learning in public, it's important to remember that you are not only capturing knowledge but also creating it. Social media platforms can serve as powerful knowledge management tools, allowing you to share and reflect on what you know best. While it may be scary to expose your knowledge during vulnerable times in a project, this is when learning becomes most valuable.

In conclusion, both activation rate and learning in public are crucial elements in achieving growth and success. By focusing on activating users early on and providing them with a valuable experience, you can increase the likelihood of long-term retention. Additionally, by sharing your knowledge and experiences with others, you not only accelerate your own learning but also contribute to a more collaborative and supportive community.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Define an activation milestone that showcases the value of your product or service to users early on. Ensure that hitting this milestone strongly correlates with long-term retention.

• 2. Create learning exhaust by documenting what you learn and the problems you solve. Don't worry about the number of likes or retweets; instead, focus on sharing knowledge with your past self and helping others facing similar challenges.

• 3. Embrace vulnerability and be open to making mistakes. By learning in public and amplifying the knowledge of others, you can attract support and mentorship while fostering a more collaborative tech community.