5 Essential Marketing KPIs Every Business Should Track for Success

May 28, 2024

5 Essential Marketing KPIs Every Business Should Track for Success

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential for the success of any business. By monitoring specific metrics, businesses can gain valuable insights into their marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions to drive growth. In this article, we will explore five essential marketing KPIs that every business should track to achieve success.

Firstly, website traffic is a crucial metric to measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. Monitoring the number of visitors to your site, as well as their behaviour and engagement, can help you understand which tactics are driving traffic and which need improvement.


Secondly, conversion rate is a critical KPI to track. It measures the percentage of website visitors who take the desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a contact form. A higher conversion rate indicates that your marketing efforts are successfully driving leads or sales.


Next, customer acquisition cost (CAC) is a metric that calculates how much it costs to acquire a new customer. By identifying your CAC, you can determine the profitability of your marketing campaigns and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Furthermore, customer lifetime value (CLV) is an important KPI to understand the long-term value of a customer. It measures the revenue generated from a customer over their entire relationship with your business. By increasing CLV, you can maximise profitability.


Lastly, social media engagement is a crucial KPI for businesses in today's socially connected world. Tracking metrics such as likes, shares, and comments can help you gauge the effectiveness of your social media marketing efforts and drive engagement with your audience.


By consistently tracking these five essential marketing KPIs, businesses can gain valuable insights into their marketing performance and optimise their strategies for success.

cartoon laptop on blue and purple background showing screen search results, target, money and calculator

Why tracking marketing KPIs is crucial for business success


Tracking marketing KPIs is crucial for business success because it provides a clear understanding of the effectiveness of marketing efforts. Without monitoring these key metrics, businesses would be operating blindly, not knowing which strategies are working and which need improvement. By tracking KPIs, businesses can make data-driven decisions, optimise their marketing campaigns, and allocate resources effectively.



Moreover, tracking marketing KPIs allows businesses to measure progress towards their goals. Whether it's increasing website traffic, improving conversion rates, or maximising customer lifetime value, having measurable metrics helps businesses stay focused and motivated. It also helps in identifying areas of improvement and making necessary adjustments to achieve desired results.

Key marketing KPIs every business should track


1.      Tracking website traffic and conversion rates

Website traffic is a crucial metric to measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. By monitoring the number of visitors to your site, as well as their behaviour and engagement, you can understand which tactics are driving traffic and which need improvement. It is important to track not only the volume of traffic but also the quality of it. For example, tracking bounce rate, average time on site, and pages per session can help you understand how engaged visitors are with your content.

Conversion rate is another critical KPI to track. It measures the percentage of website visitors who take the desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a contact form. A higher conversion rate indicates that your marketing efforts are successfully driving leads or sales. By analysing conversion rates, businesses can identify areas of improvement in their sales funnel and optimise their website and marketing campaigns to increase conversions.


2.      Measuring brand awareness and customer engagement

Brand awareness is an important marketing KPI to track as it measures the visibility and recognition of your brand among your target audience. By monitoring metrics such as reach, impressions, and social mentions, businesses can gauge the effectiveness of their brand-building efforts. Increasing brand awareness can lead to higher customer trust, loyalty, and ultimately, more sales.

Customer engagement is another crucial KPI to measure. It refers to the interactions and interactions between customers and your brand. Tracking metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and click-through rates can help you understand how engaged your audience is with your content and marketing campaigns. By analysing customer engagement, businesses can identify what content resonates with their audience and tailor their marketing strategies accordingly.


3.      Evaluating customer acquisition and retention

Customer acquisition cost (CAC) is a metric that calculates how much it costs to acquire a new customer. By identifying your CAC, you can determine the profitability of your marketing campaigns and adjust your strategies accordingly. Tracking CAC allows businesses to optimise their marketing spend and allocate resources to channels that yield the highest return on investment.

Customer lifetime value (CLV) is an important KPI to understand the long-term value of a customer. It measures the revenue generated from a customer over their entire relationship with your business. By increasing CLV, businesses can maximise profitability. Tracking CLV allows businesses to identify opportunities for upselling, cross-selling, and customer retention strategies.


4.      Analysing marketing ROI and cost per acquisition

Return on investment (ROI) is a crucial metric to measure the overall effectiveness and profitability of your marketing efforts. It calculates the revenue generated from your marketing campaigns relative to the cost invested. By analysing ROI, businesses can identify which campaigns are delivering the highest return and allocate resources accordingly. Tracking ROI helps businesses optimise their marketing strategies and focus on activities that drive the most value.

Cost per acquisition (CPA) is a metric that measures the cost of acquiring a new customer or lead. By tracking CPA, businesses can evaluate the efficiency of their marketing campaigns and identify opportunities to reduce costs. Lowering CPA can lead to higher profitability and more efficient resource allocation.



5.      Tracking social media engagement

Social media engagement is a crucial KPI for businesses in today's socially connected world. Tracking metrics such as likes, shares, comments, and click-through rates can help you gauge the effectiveness of your social media marketing efforts and drive engagement with your audience. By analysing social media engagement, businesses can identify what content resonates with their audience and optimise their social media strategies for maximum impact.

  • Tools and techniques for tracking marketing KPIs

    There are numerous tools and techniques available to track marketing KPIs effectively. Here are a few popular options:


    1. Google Analytics: A powerful web analytics tool that provides detailed insights into website traffic, conversion rates, and user behaviour

    r. It allows businesses to track various KPIs and generate reports for analysis.

    2. Social media analytics platforms: Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram offer built-in analytics tools that provide valuable insights into audience engagement, reach, and demographics. These tools can help businesses track social media KPIs and optimise their social media strategies.


    3. CRM systems: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Soho provide tools for tracking customer acquisition, engagement, and retention metrics. These platforms allow businesses to manage customer data, track interactions, and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.


    4. Surveys and feedback forms: Collecting feedback from customers through surveys and feedback forms can provide valuable insights into customer satisfaction, brand perception, and overall marketing effectiveness. Businesses can use tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms to create and distribute surveys.

  • Best practices for using marketing KPIs effectively

    To use marketing KPIs effectively, businesses should consider the following best practices:


    1. Clearly define goals: Before tracking any KPIs, businesses should clearly define their goals and objectives. This will ensure that the tracked metrics align with the desired outcomes.


    2. Select relevant KPIs: Choose KPIs that are relevant to your business goals and objectives. Avoid tracking too many metrics and focus on the ones that provide the most meaningful insights.


    3. Set benchmarks and targets: Establish benchmarks and targets for each KPI to measure progress and performance. This will help businesses understand whether they are meeting their goals or need to make adjustments.


    4. Regularly monitor and analyse data: Continuously monitor and analyse the data from tracked KPIs to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement. Regular analysis will help businesses make data-driven decisions and optimise their marketing strategies.


    5. Communicate and collaborate: Ensure that the relevant stakeholders have access to the KPI data and analysis. Collaborate with different teams to share insights, brainstorm ideas, and align strategies.

phone showing social media icons

Conclusion and next steps



Tracking marketing KPIs is crucial for the success of any business. By consistently monitoring these essential metrics, businesses can gain valuable insights into their marketing performance and optimise their strategies for success. Whether it's tracking website traffic, conversion rates, brand awareness, customer acquisition, or social media engagement, these KPIs provide a comprehensive view of marketing effectiveness. To get started, define your goals, select relevant KPIs, and leverage the right tools and techniques to track and analyse data. By making data-driven decisions, businesses can drive growth and achieve long-term success. So, start tracking your marketing KPIs today and take your business to new heights.

a close up of an orange background with triangles on it .
  1. FREE GUIDE

    Download our free 40 page guide to getting more business
  2. ASK A QUESTION

    Ask us anything, we'd love to help. Just get in touch with us
  3. OUR WORK

    A selection of work we have completed for various clients
Map of England with Google search boxes overlaid, focusing on locations like Birmingham and London.
By H10 Marketing SEO September 12, 2025
In this guide, we break down why location pages still matter in 2025, the opportunities they present, & how to optimise them for maximum performance.
glossary of AI terms 2025
By H10 Marketing SEO August 28, 2025
The Modern Digital Marketing and AI Terms Glossary (2025 Edition). Each entry explains the latest AI and marketing terminology in simple terms.
The Impact of AI on Customer Experience
By H10 Marketing SEO August 26, 2025
H10 Marketing explains the impact of AI on customer experience, the opportunities it presents, the challenges it brings, & businesses that embrace it.
A group of women are sitting at a table with laptops and tablets.
By Jack Hair August 5, 2025
Unlocking Success: The Crucial Role of the Marketing Mix in Driving Business Growth
By H10 Marketing SEO August 1, 2025
How AI is reshaping the future of Google Search Learn the truth about zero-click searches & what AI hallucinations mean for the future.
A laptop computer is sitting on a wooden desk.
By Mike Hawkins July 28, 2025
Mastering Web Content Writing: 10 Essential Tips to Captivate Your Online Audience
A shopping cart is sitting on top of a stack of cardboard boxes on a laptop keyboard.
By Cerys White July 24, 2025
Boost Your Business: 10 Proven Strategies to Skyrocket Website Conversion Rates
A pile of google ads icons on a blue background.
By Cerys White July 22, 2025
Maximise Your ROI: How to Choose the Right Ecommerce Paid Search Agency for Your Business
How To Appear in AI Results
By H10 Marketing SEO July 16, 2025
Appearing in AI search results requires a strategic shift from traditional SEO to a new approach called Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO).
A computer , laptop , tablet and phone are floating in the air.
By Rosie Hawkins June 30, 2025
Breaking Down the Costs: How Much Does It Really Cost to Build a Website in the UK?