Do Vanity Metrics Matter for Executives on Social Media?

For executives on social media, do vanity metrics, such as post "likes," matter? The answer is yes and no. Whether it's a heart on a Twitter post, a reaction on a LinkedIn article, or a thumbs up on a YouTube video, the importance of "likes" on an executive's post depends on a number of variables. For any social media program, whether it's for a brand or an executive, I always place more emphasis on creating meaningful and relevant content, and tracking mid- to bottom-of-funnel metrics (e.g. traffic to site and leads generated) over time, ideally linking them back to various social media platforms and content pieces. Engagement metrics, such as post likes, don’t always translate directly to other key metrics. Reactions on a Facebook post can't tell us exactly how many people who engaged with the post ended up making a purchase. However, that’s...