The Data-Driven Creator: 5 Metrics You Should Actually Be Tracking
Published on July 8, 2024·7 min read
It's easy to get obsessed with follower count and likes. These "vanity metrics" feel good, but they don't tell the whole story. A data-driven creator looks deeper to understand what truly drives growth and engagement. Here are five metrics you should be tracking religiously.
1. Watch Time / Audience Retention This is arguably the most important metric for video content on any platform. * **What it is:** The average percentage of your video that people watch. * **Why it matters:** It's the strongest signal to the algorithm that your content is engaging. A high watch time tells the platform, "People like this, show it to more people." * **What to look for:** On a 30-second video, an average watch time of 80% or more is a great sign. Also, look at the graph to see where people are dropping off. That's where you're losing their attention.
2. Shares and Saves Think of these as "super-engagement." * **What they are:** How many people shared your post with a friend or saved it to a personal collection. * **Why they matter:** A like is passive. A share or a save is an active endorsement. It signals that your content is not just enjoyable, but valuable. Platforms prioritize content that gets shared and saved.
3. Profile Visits / Clicks This metric tells you if your content is compelling enough to make someone want to learn more about you. * **What it is:** The number of people who clicked on your profile after seeing one of your posts. * **Why it matters:** This is the bridge between a viral video and a new follower. If you get a million views but only 100 profile visits, your call-to-action or your content-to-profile connection is weak.
4. Follower Growth Rate Don't just look at your total follower count; look at how quickly you're growing. * **What it is:** The percentage increase in your followers over a specific period (e.g., weekly or monthly). * **Calculation:** (New Followers / Starting Followers) * 100 * **Why it matters:** It's a much better indicator of your current momentum than your total number of followers. A small account with a 20% weekly growth rate is often in a much stronger position than a large account with 0.1% growth.
5. Comment Sentiment Don't just count your comments; read them. * **What it is:** The overall feeling or emotion behind the comments on your posts. * **Why it matters:** Are people asking questions? Are they tagging their friends? Are they debating the topic? Qualitative data from your comments can give you powerful insights into what your audience is thinking and what content you should create next.
By focusing on these five metrics, you'll move from simply creating content to strategically building a community and a brand.