The Death of Vanity Metrics

Stop Chasing Likes. Track What Actually Matters.

Marketers love big numbers. 10,000 likes. 100,000 impressions. Millions of views. Feels good, right?

Except none of it means anything if it doesn’t lead to revenue.

Vanity metrics—likes, shares, “brand awareness”—are the cotton candy of marketing. They look good but offer zero real substance. If your content is getting engagement but not driving business, you’re measuring the wrong things.

Let’s talk about what actually matters.

1. Track Conversions, Not Claps

Does your audience like your content, or does it make them take action? A viral post that doesn’t lead to sign-ups, demos, or sales is just noise.

Instead of:

• Counting likes on LinkedIn posts
  Try:

• Tracking how many people click through and take a meaningful action.

2. Measure Sales Impact, Not Impressions

Marketers love to say, “This campaign reached 1 million people.” Cool. How many bought? How many became leads?

Instead of:

• Tracking raw reach
  Try:

• Measuring pipeline influenced, lead quality, and customer acquisition costs.

3. Engagement is Useless Without Context

If a post goes viral but brings in the wrong audience, it’s a waste of time. You don’t need random internet traffic—you need buyers.

Instead of:

• Counting social shares
  Try:

• Tracking engagement from your actual target audience (qualified leads, ICP accounts, existing customers).

Final Thought: Business Goals > Feel-Good Metrics

Vanity metrics are easy to chase because they’re visible. But real marketing isn’t about looking popular—it’s about driving results. Focus on metrics that tie directly to revenue. Everything else is just a distraction.