Understanding Metrics

Picture this: You're at a job interview, and you think (no, know) that this job is yours. You've nailed the questions and knocked out an almost perfect writing test.

Then the director of research asks you about metrics.

You're stumped. You think she's talking about the metric system.

You lose the job.  

Metrics are what you have been doing all semester long. Metrics are set of measurements that specify results.

What are metrics?
Here is a quality blog post and another blog postthat explains how metrics (the data gathered through qualitative and quantitative research about your brand or organization) is collected and analyzed in corporations.

What do you need to know about metrics?
One keen person to talk about metrics is KD Paine. It's her job. Metrics is how she earns a living. And she is a leading expert on social media metrics and public relations performance.

Dr. Kaye Sweetser, an associate professor at the University of Georgia. Dr. Sweetser is one of the leading researchers who studies PR and social media. She shares her knowledge of metrics on YouTube. Watch her YouTube channel. She regularly posts 1-minute videos on metrics.

Here is a list of Web site and social media metrics that you can share with your client. I would also recommend that you become familiar with these sites as well:
compete.com
alexa.com
www.socialmention.com
www.trackur.com
www.filtrbox.com

Now when you're at the interview and get asked a question about metrics, you can talk about metrics.