Introduction
Are you building an app but not sure if there is real demand? Many founders chase features, assuming a fancy prototype proves PMF. In reality, PMF shows up in real user behavior before you ship an MVP. A focused 30 day sprint can reveal whether people will pay, use, and advocate for your solution. Here are seven practical metrics to track, plus how to act on them.
The 7 PMF signals you can measure in 30 days
1. Landing Page Sign ups
Why it matters: It validates that your value proposition resonates enough to collect contact details.How to run it:Create a single page landing with a crisp headline, a single call to action, and a simple opt in form.Run two micro campaigns on light channels such as organic posts and micro influencers.How to measure it: sign ups per visit with a simple analytics setup; aim for 2-5 percent conversion; example 1000 visitors yield 20 to 50 sign ups.2. Activation Rate
Why it matters: signups show interest, activation proves value is accessible.How to define and measure:Define a clear first value action that signals user is getting value (for example selecting a use case or connecting an email).Track how many signups complete this action within 48 hours.Target: aim for roughly 40-60 percent activation depending on the action and onboarding friction.3. Time to First Value (TTFV)
What it means: the time from signup to first meaningful action indicates ease of value realization.How to measure:Instrument key events and compute median time to first value.Set a target of under 24 hours where possible.Why it helps: shorter TTFV correlates with higher interest and lower churn risk.4. Willingness to Pay and Pre orders
Why it matters: people who are willing to pay show strong signals of value.How to test:Offer early access or a discounted pre order and collect deposits or commitments.Track what percentage of signups chooses paid access within the first week.Benchmark: expect roughly 5-20 percent of signups to commit, depending on price and perceived risk.5. Engagement Depth
What it reveals: how deeply users interact with the core value within the first two weeks.How to measure:Define the core action and count how many such actions a user performs per week in the first two weeks.Set a threshold such as 1 to 2 meaningful actions per week as an initial target.Why it matters: repeated engagement signals true value rather than curiosity.6. Cohort Retention
Why it matters: retention by signup cohort shows if users keep returning to your value.How to measure:Create weekly cohorts and calculate 7 day and 14 day retention for each cohort.Compare cohorts to detect friction points.Target: in early PMF tests, aim for 20 to 40 percent retention by day 7 or day 14 depending on category.7. Qualitative Signals and NPS
Why it matters: numbers tell one story, qualitative feedback confirms why users stay or drop off.How to collect:Conduct 5 to 10 structured interviews focusing on the problem, the proposed solution, and willingness to pay.Use a short NPS style question if sample size allows and note the key themes.Actionable use: extract the top 3 pain points and iterate on onboarding and value delivery.30 Day sprint blueprint
Week 1: Define your hypotheses and build a simple landing page plus a lightweight analytics plan.Week 2: Drive traffic and track sign ups, begin first value action definitions and onboarding tweaks.Week 3: Run customer interviews, collect pricing signals, and monitor core metrics.Week 4: Analyze results, decide to pursue or pivot, and plan the MVP scope around the strongest signals.Conclusion
The right signals can reveal product market fit long before you ship a formal MVP. When you track these seven metrics and take action on the feedback, you can de risk the early build and align your roadmap with actual user value. If you are looking to accelerate this process and turn insights into an investor ready plan, Fokus App Studio offers investor ready MVP development to help you move faster from concept to market.