<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The CS Café: PLAYBOOKS]]></title><description><![CDATA[Execution-grade CS playbooks to cut churn, protect revenue, and grow your career.]]></description><link>https://www.thecscafe.com/s/playbooks</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fflW!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0010ead-c369-451a-a2ed-7d5366d99ddb_1080x1080.png</url><title>The CS Café: PLAYBOOKS</title><link>https://www.thecscafe.com/s/playbooks</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 15:31:29 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.thecscafe.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Hakan Ozturk]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[hakan@theCScafe.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[hakan@theCScafe.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Hakan Ozturk | The CS Café]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Hakan Ozturk | The CS Café]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[hakan@theCScafe.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[hakan@theCScafe.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Hakan Ozturk | The CS Café]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[30-Day At-Risk Rhythm: Turn Reds to Renewals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Run a predictable 4-week cadence for red accounts: triage, executive reset, proof of value, decision checkpoint. Download the tracker, scripts, and agenda.]]></description><link>https://www.thecscafe.com/p/retention-30-day-at-risk-operating-rhythm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thecscafe.com/p/retention-30-day-at-risk-operating-rhythm</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Hakan Ozturk | The CS Café]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:30:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c32f436b-a818-4c88-a9ee-e5ab7ea8efb8_1536x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3><strong>Problem</strong></h3><p>Accounts slip into red silently. </p><p>Actions are ad hoc, late, and inconsistent. You need a <strong>clockwork 30-day rhythm</strong> that drives saves, not status updates.</p><h3><strong>Minimum Inputs</strong></h3><ul><li><p>Health score (or interim risk signals), ARR band, exec contact, renewal date</p></li><li><p>Top risks (3 max), current milestone, <strong>success plan status</strong> &#8594; keep this current with the <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/customer-success-plan-template">Customer Success Plan Template</a> and the deeper guide on plans: <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/customer-success-plan">Master Customer Success Plans</a></p></li><li><p>Owner: CSM; Escalation: CS Lead; Partner: AE/AM + Product as needed</p></li></ul><h2><strong>Play (Weeks 1&#8211;2 public)</strong></h2><h3><strong>Week 1 &#8212; Triage &amp; plan</strong></h3><p>Confirm the <strong>root risk</strong> (adoption gap, value not measured, wrong champion, ROI unseen). </p><p>Define <strong>exit criteria</strong> (what makes this account Yellow/Green again). Book the <strong>executive reset</strong> for Week 2; align the internal team. </p><p>If you don&#8217;t have clean signals feeding this, wire it to your health score: <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/retention-health-score-that-predicts-renewals">Health Score That Predicts Renewals</a>.</p><h3><strong>Week 2 &#8212; Executive reset</strong></h3><p><strong>Objective:</strong> one <strong>business outcome</strong> and one <strong>near-term milestone</strong> everyone signs. </p><p>Get a visible <strong>&#8220;value receipt&#8221;</strong> commitment (metric, owner, date&#8212;e.g., &#8220;20 users completing Workflow X weekly by Day 21&#8221;). </p><p>Use these structures to keep it strategic, not tactical: <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/strategic-qbr-frameworks-gong-snowflake">QBR Frameworks: Turn Updates into Strategic Growth</a>. </p><p>Confirm the <strong>weekly cadence</strong> and a <strong>decision checkpoint</strong> at Day 28&#8211;30.</p><p><strong>Related:</strong> Feed this rhythm from <strong>New Red</strong> alerts so Week-1 triage triggers automatically&#8212;see the operating rules inside the <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/retention-health-score-that-predicts-renewals">Health Score playbook</a>.</p><div><hr></div><p>Need the <strong>email scripts, exec agenda, tracker, and recap templates</strong> that make teams follow through? They&#8217;re below.</p><p>Trusted by <strong>4,300+ CS pros</strong> &#8212; unlock templates, scripts, and calculators for every play. <strong><a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/subscribe">Upgrade</a> &#183; <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yhRjzHvNQLpD7T84aRmyB1L7oiLwXpv-sZTbmi2G0Cw/edit?usp=sharing">Expense it</a> &#183; <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/subscribe?group=true">Team plans</a></strong></p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Health Score That Actually Predicts Renewals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Use value metrics, a simple 60/30/10 model, and segment thresholds to forecast renewals and cut false positives. Templates and calculators included.]]></description><link>https://www.thecscafe.com/p/retention-health-score-that-predicts-renewals</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.thecscafe.com/p/retention-health-score-that-predicts-renewals</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Hakan Ozturk | The CS Café]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:31:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/274afb00-4cf8-4a35-98c3-f647d54bb618_1536x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3><strong>Problem</strong></h3><p>Your &#8220;health score&#8221; tracks <strong>activity</strong>, not <strong>value moments</strong>. It can&#8217;t predict renewals, so you chase noise and miss real risk.</p><h3><strong>Minimum Inputs</strong></h3><ul><li><p>Last 3&#8211;4 quarters of renewals (win/loss) with ARR</p></li><li><p>Segment (SMB/MM/ENT), product plan, contract dates</p></li><li><p><strong>Candidate value metrics (3&#8211;7):</strong> activated use-cases, key feature adoption, workflow completions, automations run, exec logins tied to outcomes</p></li><li><p><strong>Owner:</strong> CS Ops (build), CS Lead (rollout), CSMs (actions)<br><strong>Tip:</strong> if you&#8217;re still defining core product events, start with this <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/from-zero-to-customer-success-department-in-7-days">7-day CS foundation</a> to log the signals that feed a real score. </p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2><strong>The 5-Step Play (1&#8211;2 public)</strong></h2><h3><strong>1. Shortlist value signals (not vanity).</strong></h3><p>Keep metrics tied to outcomes or $$ impact: </p><ul><li><p>&#8220;workflows automated/week,&#8221; </p></li><li><p>&#8220;data syncs to CRM,&#8221; </p></li><li><p>&#8220;% seats hitting outcome benchmark.&#8221; </p></li></ul><p>Kill logins/pageviews/generic NPS.</p><h3><strong>2. Backtest every signal.</strong></h3><p>Split accounts into top/bottom quartiles over a 90-day window. </p><p>Compare renewal rates and ACV retained. </p><p>Keep signals with <strong>clear lift</strong> (e.g., +12&#8211;20 pts renewal in top quartile).</p><p>Need baseline math while you build? Use the <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/net-revenue-retention-guide">NRR Guide</a> and the <a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/p/net-revenue-retention-nrr-calculator-for-saas">NRR Calculator</a> to sanity-check retention/expansion effects. </p><p><strong>Related:</strong> Run this alongside your <strong>30-Day At-Risk Rhythm</strong> so red/yellow accounts trigger action fast. 30-Day &#8220;At-Risk&#8221; Operating Rhythm <em>(publishing next).</em></p><div><hr></div><p>Want steps <strong>3&#8211;5</strong> plus the <strong>scoring formula</strong>, <strong>normalization</strong>, and a <strong>plug-and-play backtest calculator (GSheet)</strong>? Templates below.</p><blockquote><p>Trusted by <strong>4,300+ CS pros</strong>. Get my templates, scripts, and calculators for every play. <strong><a href="https://www.thecscafe.com/subscribe">Upgrade</a> &#183; <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yhRjzHvNQLpD7T84aRmyB1L7oiLwXpv-sZTbmi2G0Cw/edit?usp=sharing">Expense it</a> &#183; <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yhRjzHvNQLpD7T84aRmyB1L7oiLwXpv-sZTbmi2G0Cw/edit?usp=sharing">Team plans</a></strong></p></blockquote>
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