The 5 metrics that actually matter (and those to ignore)

Your video stats tell a story — as long as you read the right lines. Here are the five metrics that actually drive progress, and the vanity traps that waste your time.

1. 3-second retention

The percentage of viewers still there after 3 seconds measures one thing only: your hook. Below 70%, look no further — it's the hook that needs rework, not the content.

2. Average watch time

The algorithms' favorite metric in 2026. Compare it to total length: 60% of a 30 s video beats 20% of a 90 s one. The second-by-second curve shows you exactly where you lose people.

3. Completion rate (and rewatches)

A finished video — better: one watched on loop — is the most powerful viral signal. It's the reward for clean endings and tightly paced short formats.

4. Shares per 1,000 views

A like is passive, a share is a social act: it predicts the second distribution wave. Above 5 shares per 1,000 views, your topic has series potential — decline it (the repurposing guide).

5. Followers gained per video

The business metric: which video turns a viewer into a follower? You'll often discover your most-viewed videos aren't the ones growing the account — and that changes your content strategy.

What you can ignore

Raw like counts (correlated with views, so redundant), hashtag impressions and your profile's “score” in third-party tools. And to track the five real metrics without juggling three apps, the Chatedits dashboard aggregates TikTok, Instagram and YouTube in one place — per platform and per video.