How Do I Set Goals for Social Media?

Here’s the truth most people don’t tell you:
Posting without a clear goal is just noise.
And goals like “grow my Instagram” or “go viral” won’t actually help you build a business.

If you’re a small business owner in Windsor, Hamilton, Detroit, or Toronto trying to turn content into clients — you need goals that are tied to your bottom line, not just your follower count.

So let’s talk about how to set goals that matter — and how to know if you’re hitting them.

First: Connect Your Social Goals to Your Business Goals

Social media is not a separate thing from your business.
It is your business — just in content form.

So start by asking:

  • What’s the business goal this quarter?
    → More discovery calls?
    → Product sales?
    → Email list growth?
    → In-person bookings?

Then reverse-engineer your content to support that.

Real Social Media Goals That Actually Mean Something

Here are a few examples we help our clients set — based on business type, audience, and offer:

If you’re a service provider in Windsor or Hamilton:

  • Book 3 local clients per month via Instagram DMs

  • Drive 50+ visits to your booking page per week

  • Increase story replies by 30% over 90 days

  • Double profile visits after launching a new offer

If you're B2B or online-based in Toronto or Detroit:

  • Grow LinkedIn newsletter subscribers by 25%

  • Generate 10 qualified leads/month from content

  • Hit 10% save/share rate on educational carousels

  • Convert 1 Reel per week into a booked call

These are goals that lead to sales — not just social proof.

3 Goal Buckets We Use at Buttered Branding

When we build social strategies for our clients, we set KPIs in these 3 categories:

1. Visibility Goals

  • Follower growth

  • Reach

  • Profile visits

  • Story views

2. Engagement Goals

  • Saves

  • Shares

  • Comments

  • DMs

3. Conversion Goals

  • Click-throughs

  • Leads

  • Bookings

  • Sales

You don’t need to track everything — just the few that align with your actual business focus.

Bonus Tip: Set Goals for Each Stage of the Funnel

Good content doesn’t just sell. It:

  • Attracts (reach + awareness)

  • Warms (trust + education)

  • Converts (inquiries + sales)

Your goals should reflect this.
Not every post will “perform” the same way — and that’s a good thing.

What We Help Our Clients Do at Buttered Branding

We don’t just track likes.

We help businesses across Windsor, Detroit, Hamilton, and Toronto:

  • Set goals that align with their offers and revenue targets

  • Create content built to hit those goals

  • Track the right numbers

  • Adjust strategy every quarter based on data

Because the goal isn’t to post more — it’s to post smarter.

Want Help Setting the Right Goals for Your Socials?

Let’s figure it out together.
Book a discovery call and we’ll help you set clear targets based on your business model, your location, and your marketing goals.

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Who Is My Target Audience?

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Where Do I Start With Social Media Marketing?