Are You Tracking Analytics? If Not, You’re Missing Out.
Before we talk about how you can use analytics to create amazing content for your audience, let’s talk about what the heck analytics are and why you should be tracking them.
In a nutshell, analytics are a way to measure how well your content is working for you.
When we talk about analytics for social media what we mean is the process of gathering numbers and information about your social accounts, analyzing what it means, and then using that information to make decisions on how to engage with your audience and grow your business. If you are new to analytics or need a little refresher, click HERE to brush up on the language of analytics, then come on back. We’re just getting started and you won’t want to miss what comes next!
Social Media Analytics Is Going To Be Your New BFF.
Do you have tons of time to waste creating content that isn’t connecting with your ideal clients? Of course not. No one does. That, my friend, is why you are going to love using analytics as part of your social media content strategy.
It might feel daunting to invest more time into looking at numbers and charts. I get it - but trust me when I say it’s worth it! Tracking analytics is going to help you creatively and strategically in some BIG ways.
Analytics will help you see what content is hitting it out of the park and what content was a swing and a miss!
Using analytics to guide your content strategy will ensure you are creating content that people actually want to see and engage with. #Winning
Investing the time to review your analytics every month will actually save you time! Why? Because you won’t be wasting your time creating content that doesn’t connect. Bonus: The insights you gain from analytics will make brainstorming fresh content ideas that are winners quicker and easier!
Remember, social media is so much more fun when you make it work for you! Tracking analytics and creating content based on what it is telling you means creating better content that gets more engagement without wasting time. BAM!
What Numbers Should You Track To Get The Best Information About Your Content And Audience?
Before you can use analytics to guide your social content strategy, you need to decide what your goal is. What are you trying to achieve this month (or season or even year!) with the content you are putting out there? It’s OK for the goal to change as your business does so this goal doesn’t have to be THE goal. However, you need to know where you are trying to go before you can decide how to get there, right?
Are you trying to grow your audience and connect with new accounts? Then you might want to start tracking reach, impressions and shares to see what content is being shown to the most people.
Is your goal to boost your engagement and build those connections and relationships? If so, you can start by looking at what content is getting the most likes, comments, saves.
Are you focused on getting people to click those links and visit your site? Analytics can show you which posts are inspiring people to visit your profile and your website, too.
Analytics is kind of like a road map. You need to know the destination (or at least the direction) to make the most of the numbers. Makes sense?
O.K. You’ve Got The Numbers But How Does Analytics Help You Figure Out What Kind Of Content To Create?
So, now you know which numbers to look at to learn how many people are seeing and engaging with your content. The next step is to decide what the numbers are telling you and how to make the most of that information.
Here are three different ways that analytics can help you create content that your audience actually wants to see (and engage with!)
1. Analytics can tell you what content is ranking best.
Give the people what they want by recycling successful content into new posts. Take a look at which posts ranked well in terms of reach and engagement and figure out what the posts were about. See if you can update that information, break it down into smaller parts, or talk about it in a new way. Don’t copy and paste your original post but never be afraid to reuse popular content ideas if you have something to add!
2. Analytics can tell you what type of post is doing best.
Not everyone likes their coffee with cream, right? You have to learn someone’s order to serve them their coffee (or latte or cappa-frappuccino) the right way. The same goes for your social audience. Yes, they are following you and want more of what you’re serving BUT you have to learn how they like their content. Analytics can answer that question for you. Next time you look at your insights make sure to make note of the type of posts that are doing the best. Some examples include:
Photos
Carousel Posts (multiple images)
Videos
Reels
Graphics
Once you know how they like their content, make sure to include that type of post in your content strategy for the coming month.
3. Analytics can tell you what NOT to do.
Analytics are great for telling you what is succeeding on social. They are just as great at telling you what is not doing so hot. It is worth investigating the posts that haven’t done well so you don’t invest your precious time creating content that people just aren’t interested in seeing. Learning from those trials is powerful and effective.
Don’t Ignore The Numbers! Use Analytics To Help You Create Content That Connects.
Analytics can tell you so much about how the content you are creating is working for you - or not. Take the time to explore your Insights and track those numbers when you sit down to plan your next month’s social content. If you’re not sure where to start make sure to subscribe to my mailing list and get social media tips delivered right to your inbox. You can also visit the shop and invest in the Empowered Insights Analytics Tracker on its own or as part of the Small Biz Content System. #InItToWinIt
Most importantly, remember that every number you see in your analytics is a person who is cheering you on and connecting with you. That is POWERFUL and pretty freakin’ cool!
See you on social @socialkatmedia !