Our Guide to Knowledge Base Metrics: The Last One You'll Need

Alright, you’ve got a knowledge base up and running. Great! But how do you know if it’s actually working? That’s where knowledge management metrics come in.

Knowledge management metrics are essential for tracking and evaluating various aspects of your knowledge base. They provide insights into the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of your knowledge-related initiatives. By measuring platform effectiveness, aligning with strategic objectives, and demonstrating ROI to senior stakeholders, these metrics help you understand how well you are leveraging and managing your intellectual capital.

But let’s be honest, metrics can be a bit overwhelming. There are a ton of them out there, and it’s not always clear which ones actually matter. So, let’s break it down. Here are some of the key metrics you should be tracking, along with some tips on how to interpret them:

Figuring Out What Really Matters

Before you start obsessing over metrics (and trust me, it’s easy to get obsessed), take a step back and ask yourself: “What am I trying to achieve with this knowledge base?”

Seriously, grab a coffee, find a quiet spot, and have a heart-to-heart with yourself (or your team). Are you trying to:

Empower your customers? Do you want them to be able to find answers on their own, without having to wait for a support agent?

Lighten the load for your support team? Could your knowledge base deflect some of those repetitive questions and free up your agents for more complex issues?

Smooth out the onboarding process? Can new hires get up to speed faster with a self-service knowledge base?

Boost sales and revenue? Could your knowledge base help educate potential customers and nudge them towards a purchase?

The answers to these questions will guide your metric choices. Defining objectives is crucial for a successful knowledge management initiative, as it helps in implementing metrics for tracking success. If your goal is to empower customers, you’ll want to track metrics like search success rate and customer satisfaction. If you’re trying to reduce support tickets, you’ll focus on things like the number of knowledge base visits vs. support requests.

You wouldn’t use a hammer to fix a leaky faucet, right?

The same goes for metrics. Choose the ones that will actually help you measure progress towards your specific goals.

The Metrics That Matter (Most of the Time)

Alright, now that you’ve got your goals in mind, let’s dive into the metrics that’ll actually help you track your progress.

1. Search Analytics: This is your window into the minds of your users. What are they desperately trying to find? Are they using the same search terms over and over again, only to come up empty-handed? If so, that’s a glaring sign you need to either create content on that topic or make your existing content easier to find. Additionally, search analytics can provide insights into user behavior and help identify areas for improvement.
2. Most Popular Reads: Think of these as your knowledge base’s greatest hits. Which articles are getting the most clicks? Are they the ones you expected, or are there some surprise winners? This tells you what’s resonating with your users and where you might need to double down on your efforts.
3. Search Box Activity: If your search box is like a ghost town, that’s not a good sign. It means people aren’t even bothering to look for answers in your knowledge base. Maybe they’ve given up hope, or maybe your search function is just plain terrible. Either way, it’s time to investigate.
4. Knowledge Base Visits vs. Support Tickets: This is the ultimate test of your knowledge base’s effectiveness. Are people actually finding answers on their own, or are they still bombarding your support team with questions? If you’re not seeing a decrease in support tickets, your knowledge base might not be doing its job.
5. User Feedback Surveys: Sometimes, the best way to figure out what’s working (and what’s not) is to simply ask your users. A quick survey can reveal a treasure trove of insights – what do they like about your knowledge base, what drives them crazy, and what would they like to see more of? Moreover, user engagement is a crucial knowledge management metric for assessing the effectiveness of the knowledge base.
6. Customer Service Efficiency: This one’s a bit of a bonus metric. If your support team is suddenly resolving issues faster and getting rave reviews from customers, your knowledge base might be secretly playing a role. After all, a well-informed customer is a happy customer.

Measuring Knowledge Base Metrics: Don't Just Guess, *Know*

So you’ve picked your KPIs, now what? Time to put those bad boys to work! Tracking suitable metrics is essential for demonstrating knowledge management success and keeping track of performance over time.

1. Set Up Your Tracking Tools

Most knowledge base software comes with built-in analytics, but you might also want to use Google Analytics or other tools to get a more complete picture. Especially if you have a Customer Service Knowledge Base. Additionally, using a knowledge management platform to track various metrics such as user engagements, frequency of login, and user feedback is crucial to ensure the success and effectiveness of your knowledge base.

2. Metrics in Action: The Nitty-Gritty

1. Page Views: This is the simplest metric, but it can tell you a lot. Which articles are getting the most traffic? Are there any duds that nobody’s reading? This can help you prioritize updates and make sure you’re not wasting time on content that nobody cares about.
2. Number of Articles Updated: This isn’t just about keeping your content fresh – it’s about showing your users that you’re invested in their success. A knowledge base that’s constantly being updated tells them you’re on top of things and committed to providing the most accurate information. This metric is part of the broader knowledge management processes aimed at keeping content relevant and useful.
3. Response Time to Add Requested Information: This is where you get to flex your customer service muscles. How quickly can you turn around a new article when someone asks for it? The faster you are, the more impressed your users will be. Plus, it’ll show your team that you’re listening to their feedback.
4. Average Age of Last Update: This is your knowledge base’s age-o-meter. Are your articles getting regular check-ups, or are they starting to show their wrinkles? A high average age is a red flag that it’s time for a content refresh.
5. Knowledge Base Articles Usage in Support Replies: This one’s a sneaky little metric. Are your support agents actually using your knowledge base? If they’re constantly reinventing the wheel instead of linking to existing articles, you might have a discoverability problem. Or maybe your articles just aren’t that helpful. Investigate.

Maintaining and Improving Knowledge Base Content

So, you’re tracking your metrics like a pro. Now what? It’s time to use that data to actually make your knowledge base even better. The customer support team can use missed search queries to identify content gaps and improve the knowledge base.

Look at your searches and user feedback

Start by taking a good hard look at those search terms. What are people looking for? Are they finding it? If not, why not?

• Check Your Search Results: Are the top results actually relevant to the search query? If not, your search algorithm might need some tweaking.
• Fill in the Gaps: If you see a lot of searches for a topic that you haven’t covered yet, well, what are you waiting for? Get writing! Improving content based on search analytics can enhance self service support and meet customer needs more effectively.
• Optimize Your Content: Make sure your articles are using the right keywords and phrases so they’ll actually show up in search results.

Slite allows your knowledge base to function like an enterprise search engine. Imagine your users typing in a question, and Slite’s AI instantly surfaces relevant articles and information from your company’s verified knowledge base, just like you’d expect from a Google search.

No more wading through endless documents or getting lost in outdated information. Slite’s AI-powered search makes it easy for users to find exactly what they need, fast.

Add New Articles (But Only the Good Kind)

Resist the urge to create articles just for the sake of it. Quantity doesn’t always equal quality. Instead, focus on creating content that truly adds value. Look at your search analytics, talk to your users, and figure out what questions they’re asking. Then, create articles that provide clear, concise, and helpful answers. By focusing on valuable content, you can deliver great self service support and improve customer satisfaction.

And hey, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of creating a ton of new content, Slite’s AI features can lend a hand. Our templates and AI features help you generate high-quality business documentation in a fraction of the time.

Maintain and Improve (It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint)

A knowledge base isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. It’s a living, breathing entity that needs regular TLC. That means updating articles, fixing broken links, and keeping things organized. Regular updates and high user engagement are indicators of knowledge management success.

Think of it like a garden. You wouldn’t just plant some seeds and then walk away, right? You’d water them, weed them, and make sure they’re getting enough sunlight. Your knowledge base is the same way. It needs constant care and attention to thrive.

And just like a garden, your knowledge base will evolve over time. New information will emerge, old information will become outdated, and your users’ needs will change. Slite can help you stay on top of these changes by highlighting outdated documents in its Knowledge Management Panel. You’ll get a clear picture of which articles need a refresh, so you can keep your content relevant and up-to-date.

By constantly tending to your knowledge base and using the right tools (like Slite!), you can create a valuable resource that your users will love – and one that will continue to grow and evolve with your company.

Bottom line, tracking knowledge is really worth it

Tracking numbers isn't the most fun part of managing a knowledge base. But trust me, it's worth it. By keeping an eye on the right numbers, you'll get valuable clues on how to make your knowledge base even better.

They show you what's working, what's not, and how you can fix things. They help you make smart choices, show your boss the value of your work, and make your knowledge base even more awesome over time.

So, don't be afraid to dive into those metrics and see what they're trying to tell you. And if you're looking for a tool that can help you track and understand those numbers, check out Slite.