More on vanity metrics

I got more than a couple of questions on vanity metrics yesterday.

Here’s how I bottom-line the difference between vanity metrics and those that truly matter: if they directly impact the growth and influence of your business, they are NOT vanity metrics.

For example:

DEFINITELY VANITY

Number of Twitter followers

How many people are in the workshop you’re teaching

Making the NY Times bestseller list

Number of likes on your LinkedIn article

Being featured in a mainstream media outlet unrelated to your expertise

MAYBE VANITY

Book sales (if they’re winning you $10,000 speeches or $50,000 consulting gigs, who cares how many copies you sell?)

“Celebrity” endorsements (if Malcom Gladwell writes you a blurb will it REALLY drive revenue?)

Getting a social media shout-out from an “influencer” in your space

Requests to speak at “summits” others have arranged, especially pay-to-play

DEFINITELY NOT VANITY

Number of sweet-spot email subscribers

Being invited to speak at an industry conference

Proposal requests from ideal clients

Key influencers in your space engaging with you on social media and/or IRL

Being a show guest on a well-respected video or podcast series

Winning a byline in a favored publication of your sweet-spot audience

Revenue, revenue growth and profit

It’s not that getting some “vanity” wins doesn’t feel good and provide validation—it does.

You just don’t want to spend all your time chasing after them.