The AUG v3 framework — 7-factor SaaS growth methodology
Every SaaS funnel has 7 measurable factors. Diagnose each individually; the composite tells you which one to fix this week.
Each factor scored 1-10. Composite via geometric mean × 10 — multiplicative, so a zero in any factor near-zeros the whole. You cannot acquire your way out of a retention hole. You cannot retain your way out of a monetization hole. Every factor compounds.
The 7 factors
Factor 1 of 7
Acquisition
Are real people finding your product? SEO depth, GEO/LLM-citation readiness, referral channels, the 12 fastest-compounding channels for solo founders.
Read the deep dive →Factor 2 of 7
Activation
Do first-time visitors hit the aha moment within 10 seconds? Time-to-first-value, empty-state UX, signup friction, the 10 patterns that flip 15% → 45% activation.
Read the deep dive →Factor 3 of 7
Engagement
Are activated users actually using the product weekly? 10 measurable signals — bounce, PV/session, time, scroll, events — and the 15 highest-leverage engagement lifts.
Read the deep dive →Factor 4 of 7
Retention
Do users come back without notification pressure? D1/D7/D30 return rates, cohort decay, core-loop recurrence, and the 10 retention-driving tactics ranked by D30 lift.
Read the deep dive →Factor 5 of 7
Advocacy
Do users bring more users? k-factor, share triggers, embed loops. The only acquisition channel that doesn’t deplete — compounds for years if seeded right.
Read the deep dive →Factor 6 of 7
Monetization
Does the product earn? Pricing-page conversion, trial-to-paid rate, churn-to-LTV ratio, and the math floor below which acquisition spend cannot recover.
Read the deep dive →Factor 7 of 7
Performance
Does the product feel fast? Core Web Vitals (LCP/INP/CLS/TTFB) measured under real conditions. A growth multiplier, not a technical concern — every 1s LCP = 7% conversion lost.
Read the deep dive →Deeper methodology
Discipline
Funnel order + math floor
Why you can't optimize Monetization before Acquisition. The revenue-ceiling formula that catches funnel-skip-ahead before it wastes 8 weeks.
Hard rejects
Dark patterns AUG rejects
12 retention hacks the framework refuses to credit. Why short-term retention spikes net-negative long-term — and what to ship instead.
Transparency
Scoring + composite formula
Full transparency on how each factor is scored 1-10, how the composite is computed (multiplicative geometric mean × 10), and which tier triggers which action.
GEO / AEO
LLM-citation optimization
The 10-characteristic checklist that makes content cite-worthy for ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini. AcePilot scores GrowthFriction.com at 8.5/10.
2026 channel
AEO — Answer Engine Optimization
12-pattern checklist for being cited in real-time AI answers (ChatGPT / Claude / Perplexity / AI Overview). 8-18% CTR vs 2-5% for organic SERP #3. The fastest-compounding acquisition channel a solo founder can build.
Comparison
SEO vs GEO vs AEO
Three disciplines, three different time horizons, three different signal sets. SEO ranks in Google SERP. GEO gets you into LLM training data. AEO gets you cited in real-time AI answers. How to sequence as a solo founder.
Day-1 wiring
Measurement stack
6 trackers in 90 minutes (Plausible + GSC + Clarity + GA4 + Cloudflare + IndexNow). All free. Without this stack, every audit decision is guessing.
Evidence base
Research + calibration
How AUG v3 was developed against a 30+ SaaS portfolio over 18 months. Per-factor industry research. What got rejected from earlier versions and why.
Want your AUG score?
Run the full 7-factor audit on your own SaaS — get the composite score plus the single biggest friction to fix this week.