Beyond the Hype: The Real Test of Product Success is Usage

"The taste of the pudding is in the eating."

That’s not just a cliché - it's a product truth many businesses still overlook.

We obsess over referrals, social media mentions, 5-star reviews, and glowing testimonials. But do people come back and use the product again? That’s the real question. That’s the real test.

As someone who builds narratives, crafts content, and positions thought leaders and brands for visibility and engagement, I’ve come to one conclusion:

Usage is the most honest feedback a product can get.

🚨 The Myth of Feel-Good Metrics

Net Promoter Scores (NPS), for instance, are great at measuring how likely someone is to recommend your product. That’s useful, yes - but shallow if we stop there.

Here’s the painful truth:
People can recommend a product they don’t actually use.

Think about that.

How many times have you heard someone say,
"You should totally check out XYZ!"
...but they haven’t logged into it in 6 months?

That disconnect is where products go to die.

💡 Usage Proves Impact

When users keep coming back, they’re telling you:

• "This solves my problem."
• "This adds value to my life."
• "This is part of my workflow, my world, my rhythm."

Usage is the heartbeat of retention.
And retention is the foundation of growth.

According to Mixpanel’s 2023 benchmark report, 60% of users drop off after their first session with most digital products. But for products with strong usage patterns and well-designed user journeys, retention in the first 7 days can exceed 40%, leading to a 3x greater chance of long-term product survival.

📘 The Forgotten Book

I once worked with an author who poured his heart into a game-changing book on economic transformation in Africa. It was brilliant - full of insight, wisdom, and hope. It even got some academic endorsements and rave reviews.

But do you know what he said, years later?
"Only a few people ever read it, and even fewer used it to drive change. I don’t just want compliments - I want it in classrooms, boardrooms, and real-life solutions."

That stuck with me. Because it’s not enough to be known or liked.
The goal is to be used - and to make a difference.

🌱 Case Study: Duolingo

Look at Duolingo - the language learning app with a green owl and a bit of attitude.
It didn’t become the world’s #1 language app because of clever branding alone. It won because of how obsessively it designed for daily use.

Gamified lessons, streaks, personalized reminders - all engineered not for marketing flash, but for user return.
And today? Over 70 million monthly active users.
That’s not popularity - that’s loyalty driven by usage.

📌 Referrals Are Great, But...

Let’s be clear: referrals are amazing. They build trust and momentum. But if your product gets 1000 referrals and only 20 people stick around to use it, you’ve got a leaky bucket.

A satisfied referrer is nice.
A loyal user is gold.

💭 So… How Do You Measure True Product Success?

Ask yourself:

• Are people using it again and again?
• Is it part of their daily or weekly rhythm?
• Are they telling stories about their experience?
• Are they changing something in their life or work because of it?

That’s the pudding. And it’s in the eating.

✍🏽 Finally, For Every Founder, Creator, and Brand Leader

Don’t build for applause.
Don’t write for quotes.
Don’t market for attention alone.

Build for usage.
Because usage proves impact.
And impact fuels growth.

Are you building something worth using - not just admiring?

Let’s talk about how to position your product, brand, or book for real engagement and lasting impact.

👉🏽 Subscribe to the Strategic Content 4 Impact Newsletter on LinkedIn
👉🏽 Or email me at maryconzultz@gmail.com to work with me on your product or content strategy.

#StrategicContent4Impact #ProductGrowth #RetentionMatters #DigitalStrategy #ContentMarketingAfrica

Product success, customer retention, usage-based marketing, brand loyalty, content strategy, customer engagement, product growth, content marketing Nigeria, digital product metrics