Reference · Cheat Sheet

Metrics → Signal → Fix

Compressed from Lessons 18–19. Every metric maps to one of the 3 signals — Stop, Stay, React. Read them in order and fix the earliest weak one.

The one idea Analytics aren't a scoreboard — they're a diagnosis. Each number points at one signal, and each weak signal points at one lever. Don't optimize the score; optimize the signal that's leaking first.

The cheat sheet

Metric	What it means	Signal	If it's weak — the fix
Scroll-stop / hook views	Of those shown it, how many stopped	Stop	Sharpen the hook — first frame & first line
CTR	Clicks per impression (thumbnail/cover)	Stop	Rework the cover / title to promise clearer value
Average watch time	How long the typical viewer stays	Stay	Tighten pacing; deliver the payoff sooner
Retention / drop-off curve	The exact second viewers leave	Stay	Fix the value at that timestamp — cut the dead part
Shares	"Worth passing to someone else" — loudest	React	Make the payoff more useful/surprising; ask for the share
Saves	"Worth keeping / re-watching" — very strong	React	Add save-worthy substance (a list, a fix, a reference)
Comments	Strong; buys extra reach on LinkedIn	React	End on a question or a take worth replying to
Likes	Cheap tap, low intent — weakest reaction	React	Don't chase; aim for saves/shares instead
Followers / total views	Lagging outcome — the score, not a lever	vanity	Nothing to fix directly — improve the signals above

Rule of thumb Walk the table top-to-bottom and stop at your first weak signal — that's your bottleneck. Make one fix aimed at it next post, then read again. A weak Stop means the feed never even tests Stay or React, so a later weak number is often just a symptom of an earlier leak.

Metric names vary by platform — Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn label these differently — but they all reduce to Stop, Stay, React. When a number confuses you, ask which of the three it's really measuring.