To kick off the new year effectively, social media managers should take a few strategic steps to set a solid foundation for their metrics. First, they should capture a screenshot of their follower count across all platforms. This will serve as a baseline for the year. Next, it's important to document average reach and engagement metrics from the previous 30 to 90 days. This data helps in understanding recent performance trends. Exporting the top five to ten posts from last year is also essential. Analyzing these posts for format, topic, and hook can inform future content strategies. It's equally important to identify low-performing posts, as this can highlight areas needing improvement. Managers should also keep track of their posting frequency and document who is engaging with their content, focusing on job titles and companies rather than just raw engagement numbers. Gathering data that shows social media's role as an assisted touchpoint—like CRM notes or audience feedback—adds depth to understanding impact. Finally, collecting real brand-recall moments can illustrate brand presence in the audience's mind. Some readers have shared their preference for tracking this data in spreadsheets rather than using screenshots, which can feel disorganized. Regularly logging these metrics helps maintain a clear view of progress, especially during periods when engagement dips due to algorithm changes. Overall, the post emphasizes the importance of establishing clear baselines to avoid guesswork later in the year. This checklist serves as a practical guide for social media managers to start the year with clarity and direction.