Week 15 Part B: What We Can Learn from FaceBook and Other Analytics

 Even though I did not have that many posts this month, checking Instagram insights was still helpful. I did not expect to learn much, but once I opened the analytics, I realized there is a lot of valuable information available. It is not just about likes or views. It is about understanding how people are connecting with what you share.

One of the first things you see is your account reach. It tells you how many accounts saw your content and how that number changed compared to the previous period. This helps you know whether your content is gaining attention or needs some adjusting. You can also see profile views and how many people tapped on your website link. If you are running a business, then these numbers really matter because they show whether people want to know more or even make a purchase.

Another helpful section is content interactions. It breaks down how people are engaging with your posts. You can see likes, comments, shares, and saves all in one place. Saves especially stood out to me because they show that someone liked you content enough to save it. Saves can tell you more than a like ever could.

Instagram also shows data on followers. You can see the age range, gender, and where most of your followers live. There is even a graph showing the days and times your audience is most active. This is something I did not pay attention to before, but it makes a difference. If you know when people are online, you can post at those times and possibly get more engagement just from better timing.

Each post has its own breakdown too. You can see how many accounts it reached, how people found it like from hashtags, the explore page, or their feed, and what actions they took after seeing it. If a post gets more attention through the explore page, that is a sign your content is reaching new people. If most of the views come from your followers, then thats how you know you need to adjust your strategy to reach further people.

Analytics help you narrow down what is working and what is not. Even with just three posts, I was able to notice small things that can guide me moving forward. It showed me how important it is to check the numbers and understand what they mean. That way, instead of just posting and hoping for the best, you can strategize based on what your audience is actually responding to.

I want to start using these tools more consistently. Not just to grow a following, but to make sure the content I share is useful and reaching the right people.