Learn how to analyze Instagram with a simple 6-step process that shows you what’s working, removes the guessing, and makes content creation easier.
You’re staring again.
This time it’s at your most recent Instagram post.
You’re urging that “views” number to go up just a little bit more because maybe then it will feel like all the work you put into creating that post was worth it.
And all the while there’s a voice in the back of your head wondering if using Instagram for your business is really just keeping tabs on your view count.
Because there must be more to what it means to analyze Instagram data…right?
What if analyzing your Instagram account looks more like asking the question “What’s working” and gives you the information you need to easily create more content based on that answer?
In my humble opinion, it does.
And honestly, I think it’s pretty life-changing when you start analyzing your Instagram content using these 6 steps and allowing it to change how you create next week’s posts.
6 Steps to Easily Analyze Instagram & Start Creating Content Tomorrow
1. Start With Your Goal
Looking at your Instagram Insights is only going to be helpful if you know why you are looking at them in the first place.
Start by reminding yourself of your goal when it comes to your Instagram business account.
Land more clients?
Expand your audience?
Build trust with your ideal client?
Provide a place for potential clients to see and hear what working with you is like?
Establishing yourself as an expert in the field?
All of these goals are going to impact what number truly matters to your Instagram analysis, and you’ll approach your numbers differently for each.
If you’re wanting to build trust, you’ll pay more attention to engagement metrics (comments, saves, shares, DMs).
Whereas, if you’re looking for your next client, your eyes will be peeled for profile visits and link clicks.
Knowing your purpose for your account allows you to be fully locked in when you go to analyze Instagram to pinpoint what is working to bring you closer to reaching your goal.
2. You Need Some Data
In order to actually analyze Instagram & figure out what is going on, you need to have some numbers to look at.
If you’re currently only pulling up Instagram Insights every time you want to touch base on how your posts are performing, may I lovingly suggest a spreadsheet? 😊
I even have a free one you can use.
Yes, it’s an extra step in the process to go in, collect all the information & throw it into a spreadsheet, but it beats trying to remember which of your last 8 posts had the most profile visits or saves or link clicks.
Trust me…Instagram Insights requires WAY too many clicks to make remembering numbers easy. 😅
Without some numbers to look at, it’s impossible to analyze how your content is performing.
3. Find Your Top-Performing Posts
Now we get to dig into what it looks like to analyze Instagram data!
This starts with hunting for your top-performing post.
Please be careful. “Top-performing” doesn’t automatically mean “most views” or “most likes”.
Your goal for your Instagram account will determine the definition (and number you’re looking for) of “top-performing”.
The first tab in this free spreadsheet helps you identify what that number is based on your goal.
Look through your posts from the last month or quarter and find the three to five with the highest number of profile visits or link clicks or saves or views (whatever number matters most to your Instagram goal).
Then you’re ready to start hunting for some patterns within those top 3-5 posts.
4. Analyze Instagram Patterns
When we talk about how to analyze Instagram posts, you’re really just looking for patterns.
Look at your top three (or five) posts for the month, are there any similarities?
You want to look for patterns around:
- Style (reel, carousel, static graphic, etc.)
- Type (educational, hot take, connection, etc.)
- Topic (which content pillar?)
- Call To Action (comment, DM, link in bio, follow, save, etc.)
Are they all carousels?
Do they all focus on the same topic or idea?
Are they a similar format?
Do these posts have anything in common?
This is where the magic really happens when you analyze Instagram posts that are working.
Uncovering the “secret sauce” behind those top-performing posts helps you understand exactly what’s nudging people to click, save, follow—or better yet, buy.
5. Create Content Based on Those Patterns
To analyze Instagram well, you don’t stop once you’ve found a potential pattern. You take that information & turn it into action.
Now that you’ve uncovered some patterns (or maybe just strong links), it’s time to test it out.
The next time you sit down to create Instagram content, bring this information with you.
If your carousels are sending dozens of people to your profile & generating some link clicks, create another carousel this week.
If your talking head reels are getting your followers to comment and engage, create another talking head reel.
If creating a post about a specific topic in your business always leads people to check out your links, talk about that more.
Creating content for Instagram doesn’t have to be a complicated, mysterious process.
Use what’s working to keep the decisions simple, straightforward, and easy.
6. Continue to Analyze Instagram Data
Commit to making analyzing Instagram posts a regular part of your routine.
You want to make sure the patterns you picked up on are continuing to bring in the action you’re hoping for.
And if you notice a new pattern, you want to be able to bring those ideas into your content creation process as well.
Choosing to be a business owner who takes the time to analyze her Instagram data will only make creating posts for Instagram a million times easier.
Because you no longer have to hem & haw over if you want to make a reel or a carousel this week.
You no longer need to worry about spending too much time talking about this one idea over and over and over again.
Perhaps the biggest win is you know why you are creating each post. You can say goodbye to the nagging doubt that your most recent post wasn’t “as good” as it could have been because you know exactly why you made the choices you did.
So you can close that laptop, exit out of the app on your phone, and truly give your full attention to what’s right in front of you.
Choosing to Analyze Instagram Data is Just the Beginning
You’re about to begin a wonderful adventure of truly understanding what’s going on with your content, so you can spend your time creating posts & reels that work, not just gather dust.
Because having a presence on Instagram is a massive pull to many online business owners like yourself. But it can become something that feels overwhelming, exhausting, and downright discouraging.
Using the information your numbers are saying is one fantastic way to keep your eyes above the ever-changing number of views or updates the app brings your way and remind yourself of what truly matters.
So the next time you sit down and wonder, “What on earth should I create today?” start by spending a few minutes asking “What has done well recently?”.
If the mere thought of Instagram Insights makes you break out in hives, you can have this information without the adverse reaction.
Cut through the content fog and finally know what’s driving clicks and clients, so you can know exactly what’s working & what to create more of by booking a Data Drop.