"Make it count" means to not waste effort or time - to make it effective. "Make every day count." - don't waste a day doing nothing and not affecting anything. "It's our anniversary tonight. Let's go out, celebrate and make it count!"

You've got one chance to live... if you can catch the life preserver that has just been thrown to you... if you catch it you live and if you miss it you die... give it your best try and make it count... do you understand what "count" means? It means you win and live another day. It doesn't count... it doesn't matter, nobody cares... count on me... I will not run away... the Tea Party thinks that clean air doesn't count for much... and last but worst... to be held accountable. Stand and deliver! OK? That's what it means.