I feel super good to be writing to you again today. Today is not a Saturday, it’s a Monday, and even better, it is the first day of the eighth month of 2022. Let me put it in perspective for you. There are 153 days till the end of 2022. 😯 We are talking about numbers today. Before I dive there, let me remind you that we have 153 more chances to make 2022 memorable.
First off, 100 people have signed up to read Doyin’s Honest Notes. 🎉🎉🎉
Did I hear you say congratulations? 😊😊😊 Let me know in the comments.
So, moving on, what is this Vanity Metrics that I speak of? Vanity metrics are statistics that look spectacular on the surface but don't translate to any meaningful business results.
On social media and in life, vanity metrics are the number of Instagram followers you have, the number of likes you have, the number of friends you have, people that know you, or even your salary.
Why all this? Well, as Gen Z or young people, society will tell us that these things do not matter. 🙄 In an actual sense, they do and I have learnt so. In 2020, I was removing people from my follower list and community because the internet said they were ghosts. I came back to my senses when people started reaching out to me, asking why they were removed. They weren’t ghosts after all. In 2022, I realised how important vanity metrics are.
The only thing with Vanity Metrics is if you focus on it first without building value, then it is VAIN. It doesn’t count. But if you focus on building Actionable Metrics or Value, then the vanity metrics will fall in place.
How does this affect you? When next you are looking for a job, forget about the salary and focus on the experience. In fact, work for free. You can’t.
You see how weird it is, right? The figure does matter. That number affects us. We need vanity metrics.
As a creator, I have to focus on value, but at the same time; I need numbers to help me advance.
The only way forward is to put your numbers in context. What do you want this number to mean to you, your community, your partners and your investors?
You don’t have to trade metrics for value. Or value for metrics. You can have both.
Why all the ginger about numbers? I am writing to 100 people. 100 people will get to read this. There are 100 people waiting to read this newsletter and more. Imagine the painstaking process to get here and then, someone says numbers don’t count. All I can say is tears are in my eyes.
We meuuve this August. 153 more days to double it, right?
Vanity metrics will give you a motivation boost and clout.
But you see, the journey to 100 started in August 2020. I focused on Value first. Vanity has fallen into place.
The saying now is Value before Vanity. Don’t put the cart before the horse, but don’t forget the cart.
It has been a long climb to 100. Thank you for letting me into your space.
Till I come your way again,
A drop of honey for your month
❤ Doyinsola
P.S. If you are interested in building numbers for your brand, then go here.
Great write up. Got new action point for the week, "don't put the cart before the horse BUT DON'T FORGET THE CART"
Congratulations on reaching a 100 and thank God for the correction your vanity metrics mentality, hehehe