March 13, 2024

The Dangers of LTV

Spotify podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Amazon Music podcast player badge
Overcast podcast player badge
iHeartRadio podcast player badge
PocketCasts podcast player badge
RadioPublic podcast player badge
Castbox podcast player badge
Castro podcast player badge
PlayerFM podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player iconApple Podcasts podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconRadioPublic podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconPlayerFM podcast player icon

Episode 119: LTV, or lifetime value, has become the gold standard for startups, specifically how they measure the effectiveness of their various marketing channels. LTV does have merit, and it is a helpful proxy to prioritize marketing and understand the economics of each customer you acquire, but if relied on entirely, it can be misleading at best and harmful to your business at worst. I’ve found what I believe to be one of the best pieces on the internet about the challenges of this methodology, a 12-year-old essay by investing legend Bill Gurley that is as relevant today as it was then.


The Dangerous Seduction of the Lifetime Value (LTV) Formula: https://abovethecrowd.com/2012/09/04/the-dangerous-seduction-of-the-lifetime-value-ltv-formula/


DTC Metrics, Explained: https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/dtc-metrics-explained-2020-02-12


Send us an email and let us know what you think of the idea! foundersjournal@morningbrew.com


#FoundersJournal #Startups #Entrepreneur

Listen to Founder’s Journal here: https://link.chtbl.com/OV4W93_W

Watch Founder’s Journal here: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersJournal/


Subscribe to Morning Brew!

Sign up for free today: https://bit.ly/morningbrewyt

Follow The Brew!

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morningbrew/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MorningBrew

Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@morningbrew


Follow Alex!

Alex Lieberman (@businessbarista)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices