If you're posting regularly but not seeing results, Instagram metrics can point out what's holding your content back. In this article, we'll explain what they are and discuss 7 important performance indicators that you need to analyze for your profile growth. We'll also share the reasons why you should track them. To wrap it up, you'll see how Pippit can simplify the process by organizing and displaying all your metrics in one place.
What are the Instagram metrics
Instagram metrics are data points that track how well your content performs. Common ones include reach (how many people see your post), impressions (how often it's shown), engagement rate (likes, comments, shares), follower growth, and saves. These metrics give you important data to understand what content works best and how users interact with your account. Businesses use this data to improve their strategy and attract more viewers.
According to Hootsuite, the average Instagram engagement rate throughout the top niches is 3.5%, which shows how important it is to track performance and adjust based on actual user behavior.
Top 7 Instagram engagement metrics to track
Account performance
Before focusing on individual numbers, you first need to know the total number of interactions, such as likes, comments, shares, saves, profile visits, and even website clicks. You're not just checking what got attention; you're tracking how everything connects. It gives you a starting point to compare what's working in different posts, reels, or stories.
Likes
Likes are the most basic way someone interacts with a post. A double tap means they paused, even for a second, and felt something. You won't always get deep insight from a heart emoji, but if a post is getting liked more than others, it usually points to a pattern you can't ignore. People are showing approval, and that's worth noticing.
Shares
When someone shares your content, it means they thought others needed to see it, too. These posts and short stories usually spread faster and go further, even if the original likes were lower. You can often trace high reach or spikes in impressions back to a single post that got shared widely.
Comments
Comments give you a window into how people think. It takes more effort to type a thought than tap a heart, so every comment says the viewer was more engaged. These messages, whether it's praise, questions, or even criticism, show you which posts opened a conversation. It's where you spot what truly connects with someone.
Followers growth
Followers' growth might not tell you how good your content is, but it shows how much new attention your profile is drawing. If you get a sudden increase in the follower count, you probably posted something that caught on. On the flip side, a decrease in this metric could mean your content feels repetitive. You can't focus on this number alone, but it still points to visibility and reach over time.
Total impression
Every time your post shows up on someone's screen, it counts as an impression. It doesn't matter if they scroll past or engage. Even though Instagram Insights doesn't always show impressions clearly anymore, you'll still find them through tools like Meta Ads Manager or Pippit's social analytics dashboard. According to Social Sprout, the average Instagram reach is about 3.50%. So, you can compare your impression to reach to learn if you've reached new people.
Engagement rate
Engagement rate measures how many of the people who saw your post actually interacted with it. It pulls everything together (likes, shares, comments) and puts it against your total reach. A low rate can show that people are seeing the content but ignoring it. A higher one means they didn't just scroll by but stopped and reacted.
How to track your Instagram metrics with Pippit
Pippit is a smart tool for creators, marketers, and small business owners who manage Instagram content daily. It suits those sharing products, promoting events, or growing a brand. You can schedule your IG posts up to a month ahead using its auto-publisher. The social media analytics section tracks likes, comments, shares, impressions, follower changes, and engagement. It highlights what's performing well and what's not.
3 easy steps to use Pippit for measuring Instagram metrics
If you want to track your Instagram analytics with Pippit, it takes only a few steps:
- STEP 1
- Connect your Instagram account
Go to the Pippit web page, click Start for Free, and use your TikTok, Facebook, Google, or any other email to register for a free account. After you access the main workspace, click your profile image and choose "Account Authorization." Now, select "Details" next to "Instagram" and choose "Link." This will open a new window where you can connect your Instagram account.
- STEP 2
- Publish your content
In the next step, go to "Publisher" and click "Schedule." Choose your Instagram account from the "Publish To" menu and click "Upload" to bring in your media file. You can then enter the description, add hashtags, set time & date, and hit "Schedule" to publish it to your account.
- STEP 3
- Track metrics through analytics
Finally, go to "Analytics" from the left menu panel. Here, you can check followers, impressions, and engagements under the performance tab. For deeper insights, open the "Content" tab to see the likes, comments, and shares for each post. This gives you a full view of how each post performs.
Key features of the Pippit Instagram metrics tracker
- 1
- Auto content publisher
Pippit's social publishing tool lets you schedule Instagram content up to 30 days in advance. You can upload media, write captions, add hashtags, and set the exact posting time. Once scheduled, the post goes live without manual effort. This way, your feed stays active and you have enough free time to focus on content planning.
- 2
- Analytics dashboard
The analytics panel tracks followers, engagement, impressions, and overall account activity. Under the Performance tab, you'll see total metrics that include engagements, impressions, and follower growth. The Content section breaks down likes, comments, and shares for each post. This gives you a clear view of what's performing and what needs improvement.
- 3
- Powerful video generator and editor
AI video generator turns product links, text, photos, or documents into short Instagram videos. It adds a script, voiceover, and avatars to match your content style. After the video is ready, you can fine-tune it using Pippit's editor. The editing space includes tools to trim, crop, merge, and rearrange clips. You can also adjust audio, apply filters, and stabilize shaky footage. It also has smart features that include face retouching, camera tracking, and AI color correction to give your videos a clean, professional finish.
- 4
- Advanced image editing tools
The image editor in Pippit lets you adjust brightness, crop photos, and apply filters to match your content style. You can overlay text, add stickers, and frame visuals with shapes or color blocks. These tools work well for customizing Reel covers or highlighting details in carousel posts. Each option is easy to access and designed for fast edits.
- 5
- Sales poster generator
The Poster tool turns short text prompts into scrollable, eye-catching Instagram posters for business and marketing. You can choose a style, choose a reference layout, and the tool designs a complete promotional graphic automatically. The Layout-to-Poster feature reshapes basic text and product images into ready-to-share visuals for sales, launches, or product highlights.
Why track Instagram metrics
- Learn from past campaigns
Every social media marketing strategy leaves behind clear data that shows how people reacted to what you shared. By reviewing past performance, you can compare posts with high and low engagement. This reveals which formats, captions, or upload times worked best.
- Test new strategies
Instagram metrics let you compare results and measure shifts in engagement or reach. Once you've tested a few ideas, the numbers start to speak clearly. You're not posting on instinct anymore but are adapting based on facts. This approach removes guesswork and gives your content more direction.
- Monitor growth over time
Growth often shows up through slow, steady changes in your numbers. Tracking Instagram performance metrics weekly or monthly shows how your content shapes audience behavior. A gradual rise in followers, impressions, or engagement shows progress. A drop signals a shift in interest. You begin to see what's gaining attention and what's being ignored.
- Attract brand deals
When brands evaluate creators for partnerships, they go straight to the data. Most brands review engagement rate before offering deals. A high follower count is not enough if the audience isn't active. By tracking your metrics, you gather proof that your content gets seen and interacted with. That credibility matters when pitching to sponsors.
- Identify trends
When you track metrics, they show which post styles, hashtags, or content types gain sudden traction. You get an early signal, while others rely on instinct. This edge matters in fast-moving platforms like Instagram.
Conclusion
In this article, you explored the 7 key Instagram metrics that include likes, shares, comments, impressions, engagement rate, follower growth, and account performance. You also saw how tracking these numbers can reveal what's working, show progress, and open doors to brand deals. To simplify that entire process, Pippit gives you the tools to schedule posts, review analytics, and improve content direction. Start using Pippit today and track what actually moves your Instagram forward.
FAQs
- 1
- Can I track Instagram analytics for free?
Yes, you can track basic Instagram analytics for free through Instagram's built-in Insights, but only if you have a business or creator account. These insights include metrics like reach, impressions, profile visits, and engagement on individual posts. However, the data is limited in detail and disappears after a short period, which is why it's harder to compare results over time or track patterns. To get a clearer, longer-term view of your performance, Pippit offers a more structured way to monitor your Instagram activity. It shows impressions, engagements, post-by-post breakdowns, and overall account performance and updates automatically, so you don't have to dig through disappearing insights.
- 2
- How do I analyze Instagram stories metrics?
To analyze Instagram Stories metrics, go to your Instagram profile, tap the menu, then open Insights. Under Content You Shared, select Stories. Here, you'll find metrics such as impressions, reach, taps forward, taps back, exits, and replies. Pippit takes it further by organizing your story metrics alongside your posts and reels. You can compare story performance over time and adjust your strategy based on complete data.
- 3
- Is there a free Instagram metrics tracker?
Yes, Instagram Insights is a free tool available within the app for business and creator accounts. It gives you access to reach, impressions, engagement, and audience activity metrics. However, the data is limited to recent posts and lacks deeper comparisons, trend views, or cross-content analysis. Pippit fills in those gaps by tracking your entire posting history with visual summaries and performance highlights through its social media management tools. It shows how engagement changes and lets you manage content and analytics side by side.
