PLG tracking: signup is not the finish line

In a PLG model, signup is an important moment, but it is not the business outcome. A user can sign up, verify email, enter the product and still never reach value.

The tracking model should separate signup started, email verified, account created, onboarding started, profile completed, activated and paid or pipeline-qualified. Each step needs a definition and a timestamp.

Once activation is measurable, marketing can optimize beyond cheap signups and toward users who actually experience product value.