Distribution-first product design

When to use it

Use this when Communities, Referrals is relevant to 0-100, 100-1K and you can run a bounded test with a free budget.

When not to use it

Do not use it as a substitute for customer evidence, a clear owner, or a measurable stop condition. Local platform rules and market behavior still need checking.

How to do it

1. Choose one target segment and define the exact next action this tactic should prompt.
2. Adapt the tactic to Communities and Referrals, using evidence from blog.startupstash.com as context—not as a promised result.
3. Record a baseline for: Share of referred users who reach the activation milestone. Set a guardrail that would make you pause the test.
4. Run a narrow pilot and choose a test window that fits the normal decision or use cycle; do not scale before you have observed the full cycle.
5. Compare the signal with its baseline. Scale only if the intended action improves without crossing the guardrail; otherwise revise one variable or stop and record what you learned.