Decoding Instagram Insights and Analytics
Instagram’s latest algorithm update has left many marketers and content creators wondering how their accounts can thrive on a platform that’s now driven by views. This single metric replaces “Accounts Reached,” “Accounts Engaged,” “Interactions,” AND “Watch Time” across all posting formats (Reels, photos, carousels, stories, and live videos). So now that Instagram has fundamentally shifted the way that user success is measured, what does this mean for social media marketing?
Well, prioritizing views is Instagram’s way of helping us place less importance on follower counts. Instead, Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri advises users to focus on engagement, stating that “if you actually want to get a sense for how relevant an account is, look at how many likes they get per post and how many views per Reel.” Interactions are your keys to success—and that can comprise anything from saves, likes, comments, or shares. Of course, it’s virtually impossible to completely disregard how many followers you have. But being able to prove that your community doesn’t ignore your content and actually values what you post is certainly a valid reason to start brainstorming content that inspires action.
Source: @creators on Instagram
Our in-house research shows that shorter, more “ambiguous” content is performing best on social media right now. We attribute this to view count being Instagram’s new top metric. So it’s important to give more consideration than ever to how you can really grab someone’s attention as quickly as possible. Think about what would prompt users to not scroll past your content, to save your post, like it, or even share it with someone else. Stop their fingers mid swipe!
If you’re trying to understand how your content is doing on Instagram, Adam Mosseri also recommends keeping an eye on sends per reach. This is equally as important as the “Views” metric, as it ensures your content is discoverable. Because over 50% of what people see on Instagram is now AI-recommended, share-worthy content makes or breaks social media success. Instagram’s algorithm influences more than half of the home feed, so potential reach on this platform is just about limitless. Anyone can come across your profile—and because Instagram is prioritizing views above all other insights, your SM strategy might need a refresh as well to focus on content that sparks immediate engagement.
So create content that will boost viewership. Make users do a double take. Experiment with different posting formats, from snappy Reels to graphically dynamic carousels, and track what gets the most traction. The more you refine your Instagram strategy around this new update, the better your chances of thriving in this view-centric environment.
Trust us, millions of followers really don’t matter. Engagement is the driving force behind Instagram success these days, and that’s something we’ve seen firsthand with clients like Bonakdar Aesthetics. Just check out our in-depth case study!
