What is KPI?
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable measurements that show how effectively a company achieves its most important goals. In marketing, typical KPIs are: website traffic, conversion rate, cost per acquisition (CPA), customer lifetime value (CLV), return on ad spend (ROAS), engagement rate, and Net Promoter Score (NPS). Good KPIs are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. KPIs should be tracked regularly in dashboards. Important: Distinguish KPIs from vanity metrics - 10,000 followers mean nothing if nobody buys.
Key Points
- SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
- Distinguish leading vs. lagging indicators
- Vanity metrics vs. actionable KPIs
- Less is more: 5-7 core KPIs per area
- Regular tracking in dashboards
- Align KPIs with business goals
Practical Example
“Our key marketing KPIs are: 500 qualified leads/month, CPA under €40, ROAS over 4:1.”