Vanity Metrics to Real Impact: Build Genuine Connections That Drive Business Growth

Chasing numbers feels like progress…Right?

The likes, the followers, the views—they’re tempting. Addicting even.

They give you a quick boost of validation, like landing a flashy move in sparring. But what happens when the match ends and there’s no real progress?

I’ve been there.

For years, I floated at 400K followers across TikTok and Instagram.

It looked impressive, but it didn’t translate into real business growth. It wasn’t until I shifted my focus to building trust and providing value that I saw meaningful results.

Within two weeks, I made over $1,000—not from likes but from strategy.

What are Vanity Metrics anyway?

Think of a big number of followers. 1 Million? 5 million? Sure

You’re popular yeah but would those people really do anything you say or are you just a spectacle to enjoy?

You got lucky and you still didn’t grow. Still in the same place as you were before, just with a bigger number.

You need a strategy. You need to dream of the life, the person, and goal you want to be and have for yourself in the future to work toward.

My dad would always say “when the opportunity arises, the time to prepare is already gone”. Get prepared now. Plan that work. Then when the opportunity comes, you can work the plan.

If you don’t know if you suffer from “vanity metrics”, try asking yourself the following questions:

• Are these followers engaging meaningfully?

  • Do they actually comment things that aren’t “Chatbot spam” or sharing it to people naturally. Would your 6th grade nephew or niece be interested in this? Honestly answer. You’re going to say “No” a lot.

• Are they turning into clients or customers?

  • If work is supposed to compound over time then your 100 posts should have worked by now right? What aren’t you growing. Why don’t you make an extra $1000/month off your content yet?

• Do your followers trust you enough to invest in what you’re offering?

  • If you were to launch a “hey guys I’m selling a T-Shirt right now to support my work” message, would anyone buy?

    • Without you convincing them one at a time

      • If you can’t do that, you didn’t set up the infrastructure yet

But Geno, how do you know this?

UNFORTUNATELY…

My “fame” came across with a “cliff hanger type” post.

I was telling a story about wrapping my hands and then the video cut off at 1 minute before I actually wrapped them (back when tiktok only allowed 1 minute videos). The comments were full of hate and ragebait that I hyped myself up for nothing.

Went from 3k followers to 186k in 1 week. Still broke. Still attention seeking. That lasted for YEARS.

Embarrassing. Painful. insert dog in fedora sitting in flaming kitchen saying “this is fine”

Without a clear plan, all that attention is fleeting.

What’s the Solution?

The key is to shift your focus from chasing numbers to building real connections.

Your presence itself is a business. Trade real value for attention. Don’t make it a “me show”. Make it a “them show”. Make it for them. Make it for ONE of them.

People will relate when you literally speak right to them.

No cheating. No Chatbots. No Delegate it out to a “subject manner expert”.

If you don’t know how to do it yourself, don’t just pay someone to do it for you.

Pay someone to “DO IT WITH YOU”. PLEASE.

If you just ask for it to be done and go back and forth for 4 weeks and missed google meets, you won’t get anywhere. Sit down with them and learn what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.

Everyone’s voice is different. This includes yours and your employees (or freelancers)

Ok, enough yelling, here’s how to do it:

Define Your Goals
What do you want from your audience? Is it sales, sign-ups, or meaningful conversations? Get clear on your endgame.

If you don’t know this or think it’s farfetched please say it out loud anyway. Trust me, the dream becomes real the more you actually act on it than holding it in your heart.

Focus on Value
Create content that solves problems, inspires action, or builds trust. Make your audience feel seen and supported.

Sit in your comment sections for 10 minutes right after posting. Respond to people right away and say something meaningful to them. Over time, people will look forward to your next post and know that you’re really showing up for them.

Gratitude and love based leadership beats the cold corporations any day of the year when it comes to real trust.

Track What Matters
Measure metrics that align with your goals—website visits, conversions, email sign-ups—not just likes and shares.

Reframing the Big Picture

Vanity metrics are like the highlight reels of an athlete (or pro gamer). They look impressive, but they don’t tell the whole story.

Real growth happens behind the scenes—in the intentional strategy, the connections you build, and the trust you earn.

Your 5 Minute Homework

• Are your followers engaging meaningfully?

• Are they taking action—visiting your site, signing up, or buying?

• Are you staying consistent with your core message?

If the answer to any of these is “no,” it’s time to recalibrate.

Start small, stay consistent, and focus on trust. That’s how you win the match.

What’s one metric you’ve been chasing that doesn’t feel meaningful?
Reply and let’s brainstorm how to shift your focus to real impact.

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