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What’s the R.O.I.? A Framework for Social Analytics

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”
– Albert Einstein

Say hello to my little friends, R.O. & I.

Yes. Return on investment have become the bane of an entire new media industry. However, avoidance is not the answer.

While the question of “what’s the R.O.I. of social media” is difficult to answer, it is necessary as it forces us to dig deeper. The result is maturity.

This conversation is important as you are expected to answer it not just today, but and also over time.  The source of the question though, may also impede innovation and experimentation. Why?  The answer in of itself is as elusive as the question asked. As much as the previous sentence sounds like a riddle, it is a very real observation. Often it is asked without a clear understanding as to whether or not the answer will actually change the company vision or the current course of business. Sometimes it is genuinely asked to do just that, change the vision and the course of business toward relevance. Either way, this is an opportunity to show how new media enables desired business outcomes.

Before we tackle the question, let me share a quote with you. After hundreds of executive discussions, I’ve stitched together a recurring theme that I believe will help you…

“If you come to me with a request for budget and resources for social media, to make it a priority for our business, you will lose every time…If you tie social media to our business priorities and objectives and demonstrate how engagement will enable progress, you will win every time. Social media must be an enabler to our business, just show me how.”

– Your CEO

Your job is to connect the dots between the value of new media, the expectations of your customers, and the business roadmap the company is operating against.

So, when it comes to R.O.I. in social media, perhaps we’re asking the wrong question.

Again, the answer is difficult, but not impossible to answer. If I ask you, “how are you?” you will probably respond with “fine,” “ok,” “good,” or “great.” But if you take a moment to think about it, each of those answers begs a follow-up question to deepen the conversation, “why?” Or, “why do you say that?” Otherwise the question serves no real purpose other than to casually acknowledge another person or to run through the traditional ritual of easing into a conversation. The same is true for R.O.I.

If we are indeed to discover the “Return,” we need to tie it to more than the “Investment,” we need to understand the circumstances, intentions, and potential impact and outcomes business leaders need to see in order to understand new or foreign opportunities. Said another way, we need to define the “R” that defines tangible success and work out a formula that allows us to find the answers. Therefore, R.O.I is specific to an outcome or a goal, which means that there is no one answer.

To help, Susan Etlinger (@setlinger), my colleague at Altimeter Group, recently published an open research report, “A Framework for Social Analytics.”

The report opens puts ROI in context to help you focus on business value in your social media efforts:

“What is the ROI of social media?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions related to social strategy. While 48% of social strategists reported earlier this year that their primary internal focus is to develop ROI measurements,2 ROI is just one metric in the social business toolkit. Rather than focusing on social media as a monolithic entity, businesses should evaluate it based on its contribution to a range of business goals. Says Richard Binhammer, Strategic Corporate Communications, Social Media. and Corporate Reputation Management, Dell Inc., ‘There is no single ROI for social media.’”

As we see in the executive quote earlier in the post, tying social media to business objectives and metrics helps them see a clearer picture. We have to remember that executives most likely do not use social networks personally. It’s impossible for them to see what you see, therefore taking the extra time to connect the dots helps you make the case and in doing so, brings the R.O.I. answer into focus.

Susan also does a wonderful job of not only showing us how businesses should view R.O.I, but she also helps businesses identify how to develop analytics frameworks that define the “R” or the return for specific business objectives.

Prep work: Assess how your business is measuring R.O.I. on other fronts today

Step 1: Align your strategy with business objectives

Step 2: Determine how you will measure success and also define critical milestones

Step 3: Evaluate your organization’s readiness to measure social media and bridge the gaps

Step 4: Choose the right tools to measure progress and outcomes

Remember, there is no one way to measure R.O.I. There are many business pillars that stand on a solid foundation for growth. Susan introduces the Social Media Measurement Compass to guide businesses as they’re planning social media programs. Remember, social media doesn’t just belong in the marketing department, a social business is customer-centric and social media enables more effective engagement, learning, and adaptation. Therefore, it is the responsibility of other critical business functions to engage.

1. Innovation: Collaborating with customers to drive future products and services

2. Brand Health: A measure of attitudes, conversation ad behavior toward your brand

3. Marketing Optimization: Improving the effectiveness of marketing programs

4. Revenue Generation: Where and how your company generates revenue

5. Operational Efficiency: Where and how your company reduces expenses

6. Customer Experience: Improving your relationship with customers, and their experience with your brand

The three tenets of social business, Connected, Engaged, Adaptive create a transparent relationship with customers that opens the door to meaningful metrics to measure success and improve everything in between. In the end, understanding the relationship between business objectives and social media tactics will create a series of relevant strategies and critical links that in of themselves serve as opportunities for measurement and the establishment of R.O.I.

We cannot measure, what it is we do not know to value…

You can download Susan’s report here and also follow her on Twitter for more insights into metrics and analytics.

Connect with Brian Solis on Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Google+ | BrianSolisTV
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107 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “What’s the R.O.I.? A Framework for Social Analytics”

  1. Bob Taylor says:

    My new favorite article from you my Master! Great job!

  2. Carolyn says:

    Thanks for bringing Susan’s report to our attention. It certainly helps me present better information to my CEO. Or at least present it more clearly. I’m starting to look at social media as an extension of different initiatives to improve various processes similar to the long train of CRM. So much to learn, but at least I’m excited about it!

    • Lmartin says:

      Carolyn, I am the Regional sales director for Netbase.  I would be interested in having the opportunity for you to look at our social analytics software called Netbase.   If you have an email, I can forward on our most recent white paper for your review lmartin@netbase.com  Lori Martin  949 400-1026  Look forward to speaking to you

  3. Anonymous says:

    I love this article!  Brilliant!

  4. Marc Binkley says:

    This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!  thanks Brian and Susan for your efforts.  I’m going to download Susan’s paper and give it a deep read.  Thanks

  5. As Kaplan and Norton point out in the Balanced Scorecard framework (employed by the majority of the global 5000 I understand), intangible assets (eg, reputation, brand, social media engagement) have no value in isolation. They only have value “in the mix”. This is why we find it so difficult to determine a dollar value ROI for things like the Windows 7 upgrade, the rebrand, the training and development programme, the ad campaign, and social media engagement.

    It’s why I extended the framework into the Influence Scorecard in my book The Business of Influence, and I couldn’t agree more with your assertion Brian that “there is no one way to measure R.O.I.” The contribution of social engagement is as unique as your asset and tactical mix, as your strategy, as your business objectives, as your marketplace.

    I’m not entirely clear however how the social media measurement compass fits in. It is far from exhaustive to act as a checklist (eg, it doesn’t list engagement via social media for internal communications, for recruitment, for innovation with suppliers), and I don’t see how it helps with step 4, if I’m reading the sequence above correctly that is.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Like the article but have a question. Should the metric of success be a decline in call center traffic, or an increase in customer connections? I believe every connection is a gift, even complaints, and think customers should be given all options to connect with a company, according to their own personal preference. Whilst it is true that some may prefer to move from the call center to the web, hopefully social media provides an additional outlet for those who did not contact by phone in the past.

    • Joel Pinto says:

      Hi, Denys! Social media will continue to offer an additional venue, not the only one. It’s our responsability to show customers it’s this way. Social media is not meant to replace other marketing venues and tools, it’s simply an additional one. For those who feel more comfortable callling customer service and talking with a live person, call center will continue to be the best option. After all, it’s about developing the relationship focused on your customer. Have a great day!

  7. Joel Pinto says:

    I do find your post, Brian, really convenient specially at this point in time where small business owners are looking to develope their social media presence as a venue to increase their business. It is great the way you put it all together to make it clearer for them to understand. If they approach social media thinking on “pennies and dimes” then they won’t see the real value of developing long term, mutually beneficial relationships with their customers. Sharing it!

  8. Anonymous says:

    What the hell is R O I   Imagine writing a whole article without defining
    what the term you are talking about means. We are not all part of the
    business in-group that understands these things.
    Come on.

    • Tochaboy says:

      Google is your friend then 🙂

    • Aguilera says:

      I go in the same way as you. What is the ROI? I think there should be some basic definition and then, some related examples get out of the article. Confused bit!

    • hanelly says:

      A simple way to look at is this: what is the measurable benefit you get for investing time into an activity.

      Think about it in terms of farming: you spend money on land, you purchase seeds, you work the soil, and you add water. This takes time and money. But, when the seeds grow into plants (as a result of your effort) you now have something you can use: food (which you can eat or sell). 

      The question of ROI (return on investment) is a question of: was all the money I spent on my farming tools and the effort I spent using them worth the food I got out of it? If it was, that’s a win. If it wasn’t, that’s a loss.

      In social media, it works the same way. The time you spend using social media should deliver some sort of results (maybe it is pageviews on your blog, maybe it is customers for your business). 

      If the results you get from the effort are worth more than the amount of effort you put in, then you will be successful. 

      And remember, both the investment (the effort and money you put in) and return (what you get as a result) can be measured in many different ways. 

      Brian is showing some of those different ways in this post so that you can have a framework to measure your effort versus your results.

      I hope that made things better, not worse. Or else this comment has a terrible ROI.

    • ROI = Return on Investment, it is a part of Accounting or Bookkeeping.

    • Jessikahaisley says:

      Maybe he didn’t know he had to dumb it down for someone, in this day & age, who doesn’t know what ROI means. Google things before you make yourself look stupid next time.

    • Anonymous says:

      And I guess karelrei didn’t know he or she was supposed to ask your permission before asking a legitimate question on an open forum, crankypants

    • KarelRei says:

      Who doesn’t know – people NOT in BUSINESS – like retired folklorists. We also read posts, and in my world we know to make writing as clear as possible for ALL.
      SNOT

    • Jnelson says:

      Seriously? 

    • Anonymous says:

      As someone else said, ROI stands for “return on investment” (basically, how much revenue will be generated [return] if a company spends money on something [investment]). It’s not just a bookkeeping or accounting term, though. Decision makers in all business areas use it. For example, if a marketing manager spends $500,000 on an advertisement that leads to $5 million in new business, that would be a good ROI.

      By the way, ignore losers who criticize you for asking an honest question.

  9. Dpjames says:

    I think Kareirei is right.  You have to define your terms, like ROI: return on investment, to be understood properly. 

  10. BarbaraG says:

    Brian, thank you for writing this article! I finally have an answer for my owners who don’t understand marketing or social media and don’t have a clue about what I do.  For the past 20+ years their business didn’t even have a business or marketing plan and I have spent the past 2 years trying to educate them about demographics, social media, SEO, advertising, etc. and their only question is about ROI because that’s the only term they know. I’ve been trying to tell them about investments in time in terms of growth and reach of customer base and ROI isn’t always about dollars and cents, but a longer term investment. But “engagement” and the points on the Social Media Compass are excellent ways to demonstrate it to them. Thank you!

  11. BarbaraG says:

    Brian, thank you for writing this article! I finally have an answer for my owners who don’t understand marketing or social media and don’t have a clue about what I do.  For the past 20+ years their business didn’t even have a business or marketing plan and I have spent the past 2 years trying to educate them about demographics, social media, SEO, advertising, etc. and their only question is about ROI because that’s the only term they know. I’ve been trying to tell them about investments in time in terms of growth and reach of customer base and ROI isn’t always about dollars and cents, but a longer term investment. But “engagement” and the points on the Social Media Compass are excellent ways to demonstrate it to them. Thank you!

  12. Beth Kanter says:

    Hi Brian:

    This is really funny – in 2008 I did a presentation called “How to Think like a Social Media Genius” – using that einstein site – and I used that exact quote too!   I read the quote from a Tweet that Tim O’Reilly shared ..http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/3085209738/  

    Anyway,  working on a book on measurement now – and going deep into the ROI – and I’m banning the use of the word for nonprofits … using “theory of change” instead.

  13. Great post as usual Brian!

  14. Excellent guide, I just downloaded the report from SlideShares, looks very interesting and very detailed.

  15. Brian, 
    Fantastic article. As a business consultant and chair of the business school of a Midwest university I completely agree that any business strategy (such as social media) must fist align with the overall business objectives. So many  business owners get enamored with “shiny things” and create opportunity costs with diverting their resources. 

  16. Worob says:

    Brands often have a difficult time trying to define success – mainly because they typically look at how many fans/followers they are getting on Facebook/Twitter. There are many times a brand will say, “I want X followers by X date” but will almost never have a reason why they have to reach that specific number. Have you encountered this before? How do you respond? How do you counsel a brand on how to determine what “number” goal is right for them, or how to define SM goals in general? (and yes, I realize they shouldn’t be shooting for just numbers, but that question comes up all the time!)

  17. Sebastian says:

    Great infographics and interesting perspective. How do you think Susan defined as the difference between “connected” and “engaged” in the 3 Tenets of Social Business.

  18. Excellent and well researched as always.

  19. Ryck says:

    I am not sure that I learned more about the ROI of social media from this article.  I think you could replace the term social media in your piece with any other activity–e-mail campaigns, telemarketing initiative, etc.–and the article would read the same way.  However, I do wholeheartedly agree that many business people have too narrow and restrictive a  definition of ROI, expecting it to be a simple $100 invested generating a $150 return.  As you identified, you need to understand how an activity–be it social media or any other program–will help an organization achieve its key objectives. Those key goals may increasing revenues, but they may also include increased customer satisfaction, lowered support costs, and the list could go on.  When you consider linking an activity to a corporate goals, it may easier to justify the implementaiton of a new activity, even one based in social media.

  20. Hi Sir Brian, i’m a silent reader of your blog and book: Engage, always learned from your articles i’m also providing my services to some US based businesses as a freelance social media marketer. I think it is still debatable matter in Social Media Marketing, because to understand and get output from social media first of all people/businesses need to understand what is social media is actually “Automation, or Engage” having focus on targeted audience and how much your content is generic and unique.

  21. Patricia says:

    Hello Brian. I appreciated the 4 steps to prep work. Sometimes the preparation towards a project is WAY more important, or even equally important than anything else. If a proper foundation of a project is laid it CAN succeed greatly. If not, the whole campaign can fall flat.

  22. Ying says:

    It is true that social media is not acting alone, but an additional tool in terms of communication other than marketing or traditional PR strategies. ROI for social media actually is hard to measure if measured alone, but regarding measurement outcomes, social media definitely contribute more on credibility, relationship, reputation, trust and confidence on stakeholders. Social media is the trend of future, every business of functions should engage, as you said in the article. It drives to develop a brand new era in which social media function should definitely be brought in in measurement of ROI.

  23. Carla D. says:

    I know this is terrible, but I laughed hysterically at your comment Karelrei. Thanks for that, and for reminding me that Google hasn’t captured all of our souls just yet 😀 

    • Anonymous says:

      Thankyou. Some of us get to the page because of Einstein, not business.
      There are too many initials that are background or context sensitive.
      Enjoy the laughter.

  24. Neil Charles says:

    “Remember, there is no one way to measure R.O.I”

    Yes, there is.

    It’s the amount of money made vs. amount of money invested. You can
    argue about whether the benefits of a marketing activity accrue now or
    later and about how hard they are to measure, but activities with a
    positive ROI make more money for a company than they cost. That’s it.

  25. THANK you! I am so tired of those who expect exact measurables on social media. Even traditional marketing was bs’ing it when they reported ROI. Since it typically takes 7 touches for an ad to register and a customer to typically respond, a time frame within which to measure is virtually impossible. And if the only true measurable is increased sales/profits, there are always external and internal influencing factors that could detract from the campaign results. Even a viral response is not always a guarantee of increased sales just the same as the most-talked-about Superbowl commercial. What counts is recognition and awareness. The rest is up to the business to follow up with good product, sales, and merchandising.

  26. Joanelectricscooter says:

    Great article, i enjoy your articles they are on the heavy side but the art of the internet is heavy.  keep them coming.

  27. wow excellent piece. really summarizes everything well.
    there are just so many benefits of engaging social media – love the way it is summarized in the 6 points to consider

    thanks

  28. This
    has been a burr under my saddle ever since social media marketing took
    off. Nobody doubts that it should be considered and tested, but I’ve
    seen companies shift resources from something measurable and that
    certainly gets good results to something steeped in alchemy and fog…

    I’ve yet to see any real proof that Twitter works better than something
    else, or that advertising on Facebook works better than Google or a
    direct mail piece, or a display ad in the local newspaper for that
    matter. It’s no wonder many CEOs and CFOs still don’t “get it,”
    especially when the new media sales guys cannot provide the metrics. As
    proved during the Great Dot Bomb, eyeballs do not equal revenue.

  29. Tom Estlack says:

    I was actually looking for a open source development framework for pulling in analytics from social media APIs – thinking someone already solved this problem — anyone?

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