Day 8 of sharing stats about my SaaS until I get 1000 users: My retention heatmap looks like a crime scene
Looking at this heatmap is a massive reality check. That top row with 100 percent retention is basically just me and maybe one other person from when I first started messing with this last August. It looks great on a chart but it is a total lie in terms of actual growth. I have been staring at it for an hour trying to find a silver lining but the recent data is pretty grim.
The real story is the recent cohorts from March. I am seeing people sign up, maybe look at one thing, and then never come back. A 3.4 percent retention rate after one week for the March 15th group is brutal. It means I am bringing people into a house that has no furniture. They see the potential, they sign up, and then they realize there is nothing for them to do yet.
I think the issue is that the value isn't immediate enough. If they don't see a perfect lead in the first thirty seconds, they bounce. I need to figure out how to keep them engaged while the ML engine does its thing in the background. Right now, I am just filling a leaky bucket and it is a waste of everyone's time.
Key stats:
- 3.4 percent retention after two weeks for the March 15 cohort
- The March 8 cohort had a 5.6 percent initial engagement rate
- 100 percent retention for the August 2025 cohort is just me using my own tool
- Recent cohorts are averaging under 20 percent for day zero retention
146 / 1000 users.
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