# Define success metrics and guardrails for a feature launch

A primary metric, supporting signals, guardrails, and targets agreed before launch so the result can be judged honestly.

- Topic: Data & Analysis
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Data & Analytics, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/define-success-metrics-and-guardrails-for-a-feature-launch

## Prompt

```text
Help me define how we will judge whether a feature succeeded, before it launches.

**Feature and the problem it solves:** [DESCRIPTION]
**Target users:** [SEGMENT]
**Business goal it supports:** [e.g. retention, expansion revenue, lower support cost]
**Data we can measure today:** [EVENTS, DASHBOARDS, TOOLS]
**Current baselines:** [NUMBERS WITH DATE RANGES - or "unknown"]
**Launch approach:** [full release / staged rollout / A/B test]

Produce a measurement plan:
1. Primary success metric: one metric, exact definition (numerator, denominator, time window, who is included), and why it reflects the user outcome rather than just usage.
2. Leading indicators (2-3) visible in the first 1-2 weeks.
3. Guardrail metrics (2-4) that must not get worse, e.g. performance, support volume, conversion elsewhere, cannibalization of another feature.
4. Targets: a minimum result that counts as success and a result that would make us roll back or rethink. Base them on my baselines; where none exist, say how to set them after 2 weeks of data.
5. Review schedule: when we check, who decides, what happens at each outcome.
6. Pitfalls specific to this feature: novelty effects, seasonality, mix shift, vanity metrics.

Format as a one-page table plus short notes. Do not invent baselines; mark [ADD BASELINE].
```

## What to fill in

- DESCRIPTION
- SEGMENT
- e.g. retention, expansion revenue, lower support cost
- EVENTS, DASHBOARDS, TOOLS
- NUMBERS WITH DATE RANGES - or "unknown"
- full release / staged rollout / A/B test
- ADD BASELINE

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.