Let's cut through the social media analytics BS. Most small business owners are either tracking nothing or drowning in meaningless metrics that don't connect to their bank account. Vanity metrics feel good, but business metrics pay bills.
Stop obsessing over follower count and start tracking follower quality. 1,000 engaged followers who refer business and make purchases are infinitely more valuable than 10,000 followers who never interact with your content or buy anything. Focus on engagement rate and audience quality over raw numbers.
Website traffic from social media is a crucial business metric. Track how many people are clicking from your social profiles to your website, specific landing pages, or blog posts. This metric shows whether your social content is successfully driving people to take action beyond just engaging with posts.
Lead generation metrics directly connect to business growth. Monitor email sign-ups from social media, consultation bookings made through social channels, contact form submissions, and any other actions that bring potential customers into your sales funnel.
Revenue attribution shows real ROI from social media efforts. Track sales that can be directly connected to social media activity. Use tracking links, ask customers how they found you, and monitor referral sources to understand which platforms and content types actually drive revenue.
Track the quality of your engagement, not just quantity. Comments that ask questions or share experiences are more valuable than generic "love this!" responses. Saves and shares indicate genuine interest. DMs asking about services are pure gold.
