How to Set Up and Track Social Media Goals (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

Why Social Media Goals Matter for Beginners

Jumping into social media without a goal is like driving without a map. You might move, but you won’t know if you’re headed in the right direction. That’s why setting goals is critical, especially if you’re new to social media marketing. Clear goals give you focus, help you measure progress, and keep you motivated.

Whether you’re a creator, influencer, or small business owner just learning how to start on social media, this guide will walk you through how to set and track goals effectively using SociShare.

Step 1: Define Why You’re Using Social Media

Start by asking a simple question: What do you want to get out of your social media efforts?

Common beginner goals include:

• Build brand awareness
• Grow your follower count
• Drive traffic to your website
• Increase engagement (likes, comments, shares)
• Generate leads or sales
• Build a community or email list

Choose one or two goals to focus on first. Too many goals at once lead to scattered efforts and unclear results.

Step 2: Make Your Goals SMART

Vague goals like “get more followers” don’t help you track success. Use the SMART framework to make your goals more effective:

• Specific – What exactly do you want to achieve?
• Measurable – Can you track it with numbers?
• Achievable – Is it realistic based on your time and resources?
• Relevant – Does it align with your brand or business?
• Time-bound – What’s your deadline?

Example:

Instead of: “Grow my Instagram”
Try: “Gain 500 new Instagram followers in the next 60 days by posting 4 times per week and using 10 niche hashtags per post.”

Step 3: Choose the Right Metrics to Track

Each goal needs a matching metric. This helps you know if you’re making progress.

Goal: Build brand awareness

Metric: Follower growth, reach, impressions

Goal: Drive website traffic

Metric: Link clicks, website visits from social

Goal: Increase engagement

Metric: Likes, comments, saves, shares, DMs

Goal: Generate leads

Metric: Form completions, email sign-ups, DM inquiries

If you’re using SociShare, you can track many of these metrics directly from your dashboard, so you don’t have to jump between apps or spreadsheets.

Step 4: Break Goals into Weekly Actions

Big goals become achievable when you break them down into small tasks.

Example breakdown:

• Goal: Get 500 new followers in 60 days
• Weekly action: Post 4 times, engage with 15 new accounts daily, use branded hashtags

Weekly tracking sheet:

• ✅ Posts published
• ✅ DMs sent
• ✅ New followers gained
• ✅ Comments responded to

Use SociShare’s content calendar to schedule these tasks and plan your week.

Step 5: Use the SociShare Dashboard to Track Progress

Once your goals and metrics are set, track your activity and results using SociShare.

Here’s how SociShare helps:

• View weekly and monthly content at a glance
• Track engagement by post type (image, reel, story)
• Compare platform performance side-by-side
• Export metrics to see trends over time
• Tag posts by campaign or goal for easier tracking

Instead of guessing what’s working, you’ll have the data to make informed decisions—and keep growing faster.

Step 6: Evaluate and Adjust Monthly

Social media is dynamic. What works today might not work next month. That’s why reviewing your goals regularly is essential.

Monthly review checklist:

• Did I hit my goal? Why or why not?
• Which content performed best?
• What time or day worked best for engagement?
• Did I stay consistent?
• What will I improve next month?

If something didn’t work, don’t panic—just adjust. Social media is all about testing and learning.

Step 7: Celebrate Milestones (Even the Small Ones)

Tracking your goals helps you see progress, but celebrating it keeps you motivated.

When you hit a target:

• Post about it to your audience
• Thank your followers or customers
• Set a slightly higher goal for next month
• Document what worked so you can repeat it

Small wins lead to big growth. Recognize them and use them to fuel your next goal.

Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Stay Focused, Grow Fast

If you’re learning how to grow on social media, setting goals is your first smart step. It gives purpose to every post and helps you track what really works.

Remember:

• Keep your goals clear and realistic
• Focus on the metrics that matter
• Use SociShare to manage your strategy, schedule posts, and track results
• Adjust your approach as you learn
• Celebrate your progress

Start now: Pick one goal for the next 30 days. Break it down. Track it weekly. And let SociShare help you stay consistent.

Growth starts with intention, and you’re ready.