Traction Metric
What is a traction metric?
Traction metrics measure adoption of a single feature—for example, the number of customers who uploaded a photo this week or the number of customers who commented on a post. While traction metrics are important to measure, they aren't good discovery outcomes because their scope is often too narrow.
Traction metrics sit in a three-tier framework for outcomes: business outcomes (like increased retention or reduced churn), product outcomes (like increased engagement), and traction metrics (like adoption of specific features you believe will drive engagement).
Why don't traction metrics make good outcomes for teams?
When you give teams a traction metric as their outcome, they don't have room to discover. What if nobody wants to use that feature? They're stuck with an output-focused approach.
If you give them a product outcome instead, they have leeway to explore. If people don't like one feature and you can't get traction, you can try another approach. Product outcomes are directly within a team's control and provide the sweet spot for discovery, whereas traction metrics are too narrow.
This distinction is crucial for shifting from an output mindset ("I built this thing") to an outcome mindset (what impact those outputs have).
When can traction metrics work as outcomes?
There's an exception to the rule. When a traction metric is a strong leading indicator of value to the customer, it can work as an outcome.
However, you need to set a counterweight to ensure the metric stays linked to actual customer value. For example, you might set an outcome like "increase copy events without negatively harming clue capture rate."
Here's why: if you just focus on the traction metric exclusively, you risk incentivizing your team to encourage behaviors that won't eventually lead to real value. The counterweight keeps the team honest about driving actual customer value rather than just gaming a narrow metric.
Learn more:
- Shifting from Outputs to Outcomes: Why It Matters and How to Get Started
Related terms:
- Product Outcome
- Business Outcome
- Outcome
- Metrics
Last Updated: October 25, 2025