Beyond DAU/MAU: The "Power User Curve" (L30 Analysis)
A "Smile Graph" is good. A "Left-Leaning Graph" is bad. We teach you how to plot user activity over 30 days to see if you are building a habit-forming product.
What is L30 Chart?
L30 Chart is A histogram showing the percentage of users who were active for 1 day, 2 days, ... up to 30 days in the last month.
The 3 Core Benefits
True PMF Validtion
If you have a spike of users at "30 days active" (the right side of the graph), you have a cult. That is Product-Market Fit.
Whale Hunting
It identifies who your Power Users are. You should email them personally, interview them, and clone them.
Monetization Timing
You should only ask for money from users who are on the right side of the curve. They are addicted. The left side users are still cold.
Analyzing the Curve
The "Left-Leaning" Curve
Most users active 1-2 days. This is normal for low-frequency apps (like taxes or travel). Bad for social/productivity apps.
The "Smile" Curve
High users at 1 day (new/churned) AND high users at 30 days (power users). The middle dips. This is the goal. It means you have a sticky core.
Shifting Right
Your product goal is to move users from the left (1 day) to the right (30 days). Use Gamification (Streaks) to nudge them over.
Segment by Cohort
Compare the curve for users who joined in Jan vs Feb. Is the cure getting "smilier"? If so, your product updates are working.
Industry Benchmarks
Compare your L30 against industry standards using public data or reports. "Is 10% L30 good for a DevTool?" (Answer: Yes).
Standard Metrics (DAU) vs. Depth Metrics (L30)
| Feature | Standard Metrics (DAU) | Depth Metrics (L30) |
|---|---|---|
| Insight | Volume | Intensity |
| Actionable | Low | High |
| PMF Signal | Weak | Strong |
Frequently Asked Questions
My app is monthly (Payroll). Is this relevant?
No. Ideally you measure L30 for daily apps. For monthly apps, use "Retention Cohorts" (Month 1, Month 2, etc).
What is a good % for 30-day active?
For social: 60%+. For SaaS: 20% is decent, 40% is world-class (Slack levels).
How do I generate this chart?
Mixpanel and Amplitude have this built-in. It is often called "Frequency" or "Stickiness" report.
What makes a launch channel high intent?
High-intent channels have users actively searching for solutions, not just browsing a feed.
How many channels should I launch on?
Start with 3-5 strong channels, measure conversions, then expand to 10-12 over time.
How do I avoid launch fatigue?
Stagger your launches and reuse assets so each channel gets a focused push.
What should I measure after launch?
Track qualified signups, backlinks, and demo requests, not just raw traffic.
How does Mesh of Growth fit with other platforms?
Use Mesh for compounding reviews and backlinks while other platforms provide short-term spikes.
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