B2C Strategy

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Monetization models & paywall design	monetization.md
Unit economics (CAC, LTV, payback)	economics.md
Growth loops & acquisition channels	growth.md
Retention benchmarks by category	benchmarks.md

Core Framework

Stage-Aware Priorities

Stage	Focus	Key Metric
Pre-PMF	Activation + Retention	D7 retention > 20%
Post-PMF	Acquisition + Conversion	CAC payback < 6 months
Scaling	LTV optimization + Loops	LTV:CAC > 3:1

The 30-Second Rule

Consumer products win or lose in the first 30 seconds:

1. Is there a hook? (emotional trigger, curiosity, benefit)
2. How many taps to value? (target: ≤3)
3. Is signup deferred until after value shown?

Critical Metrics

• Activation: % reaching "aha moment" in first session
• Retention: D1/D7/D30 by acquisition cohort
• Monetization: Conversion rate, ARPU, payback period
• Referral: Viral coefficient (K-factor), organic vs paid ratio

Anti-Patterns (Common B2C Mistakes)

1. Building for power users — The 80% casual users pay the bills
2. Generous freemium — If free tier solves the problem, why upgrade?
3. Vanity metrics — MAU without defining "active" hides churn
4. B2B thinking — Long onboarding, feature demos, rational appeals
5. Ignoring emotions — Status, FOMO, delight drive consumer behavior
6. Late paywall — Users habituate to free before seeing upgrade value

Decision Support

For any B2C decision, apply this framework:

1. Validate demand first — Search Reddit/Twitter/forums for complaints about the problem
2. Design monetization early — Model matters more than price initially
3. Define activation moment — What must happen for user to "get it"?
4. Plan growth loop — Paid-only doesn't scale; what compounds?
5. Set kill metrics — Below what retention do you pivot?