How To Use Instagram Insights To Improve Social Media ROI

These days, just sharing photos and videos on Instagram isn’t enough to stand out. To really make a difference, you have got to know what’s working and what’s not. That’s where Instagram Insights comes in! If you are using Instagram for business or as a creator, understanding your audience and how they interact with your posts is super important. Instagram Insights is the perfect tool to help you do just that.

What Are Instagram Insights?

Instagram analytics, also known as Instagram Insights, is a built-in tool available to business and creator accounts. It provides valuable data on how your posts and stories are performing, who your followers are, and even the best times to post.

Moreover, Instagram analytics can also guide your decisions when running Instagram ads.  Additionally, Instagram analytics can also inform your decisions on how to set up Instagram shopping. It provides insights into what kind of product posts perform best, helping you highlight products in your Instagram shop that your followers are most likely to buy.

How do I get Instagram Analytics?

Getting to Instagram Insights is pretty simple, but first, you need to make sure your account is set up the right way. Insights only work if you have a Business or Creator account — so if you’re using a personal account, you’ll want to switch. Switching isn’t just for Insights; it also gives you cool extras like shopping features, branded content tools, and the option to run ads.

Once you switch over, checking your Insights is easy. From your profile, you can see which posts or reels your audience likes the most, and get all the info you need to improve your content.

By looking at your Insights regularly, you can keep track of how your account is growing, what kind of posts get the most attention, and when your followers are most active. 

Steps to See Your Instagram Insights

Switch to a Professional Account

If you haven’t done this yet, here’s how:

• Go to your profile and tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
• Tap Settings, then Account.
• Scroll down and select Switch to Professional Account.
• Pick either Business or Creator depending on what fits you best.
• Follow the steps on the screen to finish setting it up.

Open Instagram Insights

Once your account is professional:

• Go to your profile.
• Look for the little bar graph icon at the top right — that’s the Insights button.
• Tap it and you will see a dashboard with all kinds of data about your posts, stories, reels, and overall account activity.

What Kind of Information Can You See?

Instagram Insights breaks things down into three main areas:

• Activity: This shows things like how many people visited your profile, clicked links in your bio, or took action on your page.
• Content: Here you can check how each post, story, or reel is doing — things like how many people saw it, liked it, commented, shared, or saved it.
• Audience: Get to know your followers better — their age, gender, where they are from, and when they are most active on Instagram. This helps you make content they’ll love and post at the right time.

Important Metrics to Watch

To get the most out of Insights, focus on these key numbers:

• Engagement Rate: This tells you how much people interact with your content through likes, comments, shares, and saves. It’s better than just looking at likes because it shows who’s actually paying attention and taking action.

• Reach and Impressions: Reach is how many unique people saw your post. Impressions is how many times your post was shown (even if the same person saw it multiple times). If your impressions are way higher than your reach, it means people are coming back to your post more than once, which is a great sign!

• Audience Demographics: This gives you a snapshot of who your followers are — their age, gender, location, and when they’re online. Knowing this helps you create posts that really speak to them and post when they’re most likely to see it.

So basically, switching your account and checking your Insights regularly is a great way to learn what’s working, connect better with your followers, and grow your Instagram presence without guessing.

Using Analytics in Instagram to Improve Social Media ROI

Now, let’s dive into how you can practically use analytics in Instagram to boost your social media return on investment (ROI).

Find Your Best-Performing Posts

Instagram analytics show you which posts got the highest reach and engagement. By reviewing this data, you can identify patterns and discover what content resonates best with your audience. Maybe it’s short videos, carousels, or behind-the-scenes stories. Double down on what’s working, and you’ll likely see your ROI climb.

Post at Optimal Times

Another way to leverage analytics in Instagram is to look at when your followers are most active. The “audience” section in Insights shows peak times and days your followers are online. Posting at these optimal times ensures your content has the best chance of being seen immediately, boosting engagement rates significantly.

Customize Content to Your Audience

Instagram analytics don’t just show you when your followers are active; they also provide demographic data. Are most of your followers between 18-24 years old, or do they skew older? Understanding this helps you tailor your messaging, tone, and style to match their preferences, increasing the likelihood that they’ll engage with your content and convert.

Improve Story Performance

Stories have become a crucial component of Instagram marketing. Insights offer analytics specifically for your stories, such as tap-forward rates, exits, and interactions. If viewers frequently tap forward or exit your stories early, it might indicate your content isn’t holding their attention. Use this feedback to create more engaging, interactive content like polls, quizzes, or countdowns.

Experiment with Various Content Formats

Instagram lets you share all kinds of content—like photos, reels, carousel posts, IGTV videos, and stories—each one engaging your followers in a different way. One smart way to use Instagram Insights is to try out these different formats and see how they perform. The Insights dashboard shows you how much reach and engagement each type of post gets. This way, you can figure out what your audience likes best.

Measuring Your Success: Instagram Insights

Using Instagram analytics regularly isn’t a one-time thing—it’s an ongoing process. Continuously monitor your metrics to see what’s improving and what’s not. Regularly tweaking your strategy based on analytics will consistently improve your ROI.

Wrapping Up

Use this Instagram insights guide again and again, and you’ll continually refine your reach, influence, and bottom line. So what are you waiting for? Jump back in, dig into your dashboard, and let your data light the way.

If you’re ready to take things to the next level—like scaling ad spend, exploring Instagram shopping deeply, or weaving Instagram insights into a larger marketing strategy—chat with a seasoned digital marketing agency in Dubai – GTECH, who can help amplify your efforts with expert guidance and execution.