Analytics are now woven into our online social lives.We are constantly checking follower counts, likes, comments, and shares. A few years ago, I was right there with everyone, obsessing over metrics from Twitter, to blog post views and viewership by country, among other stats.
And then a few years ago, I found myself at an interesting crossroads. I don’t remember if I was reinstalling an old analytics plugin or installing a new one for my blog. What I do remember is that right before I clicked on install, I read somewhere that the numbers might be lower than the actual number of views, or something to that effect.
Take a moment to fully understand that. If you are someone who painfully obsesses over Instagram or X engagement and following, imagine a new tool that said it would help you with analytics, but that the numbers would not be accurate. I seriously considered what that meant for a minute. And then thankfully gravitated to a few questions like: what if the numbers and stats are completely different from the general trend we are used to? Can that still somehow be used positively?
We constantly hear how consistency in any activity is key. However, pressures of current day social media analytics makes many people tend to risk diluting their range of interests to stay consistent. By compulsively mentioning every festival and incident and event that occurs. And you can see some of them really struggling with little to discuss but the need to check-off their weekly frequency of posts.
It struck me that a good alternative would be to simply strive for an increasing quality; of posts in this case. After consistency, it was the only controllable factor available. And a tougher one too.
So, as I clicked that install button, I decided to disregard analytics going forward, and simply focus on what is in my control. First quality. Then consistency. Not the other way.
And I have found it to make a world of a difference. Free from the hollow pressure of numbers, and redirecting energy to genuine growth and learning.
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