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Lesson 1 of 6

Measure what matters (not vanity metrics)

7 min read

Pick metrics that map to money

It's easy to track everything and learn nothing. Anchor on a short list tied to outcomes:

  • Acquisition — sessions by channel (organic, AI referrals, social, direct, paid).
  • Engagement — pages/session, scroll/read depth, key page views.
  • Conversion — the actions that matter: leads, bookings, sales, signups.
  • Value — revenue, average order/contract value, and where it came from.

Vanity vs. actionable

Impressions and follower counts feel good but rarely change decisions. A metric is useful only if a change in it would make you *do* something different. Favor rates (conversion rate, CTR) over raw counts, and segment by channel so averages don't hide the truth.

One north-star + supporting metrics

Choose a single north-star (e.g., qualified leads/month) and a few supporting metrics that explain it. Review on a steady cadence. Clarity about what matters is what turns data into growth.

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