Instagram Analytics Made Simple: What To Track and Why It Matters

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Obsessing over Instagram analytics? Or maybe you’re avoiding them altogether? In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I’m breaking down a simple, stress-free way to track your Instagram performance—without getting lost in the numbers. Learn which key metrics actually matter, how to repurpose top-performing content, and why checking analytics too often can do more harm than good. Plus, I’m sharing my personal tracking system that makes content planning so much easier. If you want to grow your reach and engagement without overcomplicating things, this episode is for you!

Things I cover inside the episode:
✨ The only Instagram metrics I track monthly (and why you don’t need to track everything).
✨ How to use analytics to work smarter, not harder—aka repurpose what’s already working!
✨ The biggest mistake business owners make with Instagram insights (and how to avoid it).
✨ Why checking analytics daily is a waste of time—and what to do instead.
✨ A peek inside my personal content tracker and how it helps me post consistently without burning out.

Why You Shouldn't Stress Over Every Post's Performance

As a business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the performance of individual posts. You might feel frustrated when a post doesn’t take off, but not every piece of content is meant to. Em Connors, host of The Creative Bodega podcast, shares her own experience:

"Not every post blows out of the water—not even close. Once every two weeks, I have something that really lands. The rest is all about building the 'know, like, and trust' factor."

The key takeaway here is not to bash yourself if a post underperforms. Different types of content serve different purposes—some are for engagement, others for education, and some are simply to maintain a consistent presence. If a post doesn't do well, it’s okay to move on or tweak it for a different format.

The Big Misconception: You Can Only Post Content Once

A common mistake business owners make is thinking they can only share a piece of content once. This is far from the truth! Em emphasizes:

"You're giving yourself way too much credit if you think all your followers saw what you posted the first time."

Not everyone will catch your post the first time around. Plus, there are countless ways to present the same message. Reposting high-performing content or reformatting it into a new type of post can save you time and boost your reach.

How to Reuse Content Effectively

• Change the format: Turn a carousel into a reel or vice versa.

• Update visuals: Refresh the design using Canva or new images.

• Repurpose captions: Use parts of an old caption in a new post.

Em’s Proven Instagram Analytics Strategy

Em has a simple yet effective system for tracking Instagram analytics without the overwhelm. She only checks her insights once a month, focusing on the key performance indicators (KPIs) that matter most to her business:

• Number of posts, stories, and reels created

• Views and accounts reached

• Engagement rate, which she calculates by dividing accounts engaged by total views

• Comments, saves, shares, and follows (for posts only)

Em tracks all of this in her Analytics Tracker Spreadsheet, which is available for under $20 (link to purchase this resource). She prioritizes engagement rate, aiming for between 1-5%—a goal that becomes more challenging as your account grows.

Pro Tip: Focus on What Works

Instead of analyzing underperforming posts, Em looks at her highest-performing content and uses it as inspiration for future posts. This saves time and keeps her mindset positive.

What Instagram Analytics Can Tell You About Your Content Strategy

Analytics aren't just numbers—they're valuable insights into your audience's behavior. Here's what you can learn:

• Which formats perform best: Carousels vs. reels vs. static posts

• What topics resonate most: Identify your top-performing content themes

• Optimal posting times: When your audience is most active (Tip: Use Later, a social media scheduling tool, to find this information. Link to Later's website)

Em notes that even her most loyal followers often don’t remember seeing recycled content. So if a post worked well before, it’s worth sharing again.

How to Avoid Obsessing Over Analytics

If you're someone who tends to overanalyze, Em suggests limiting your analytics check-ins to once a month. This is similar to her experience with nutrition tracking apps—it’s easy to get too deep in the data and lose sight of the bigger picture.

"I do the minimum. I honestly do the bare minimum in everything I do. I don't want to do any more than I have to," Em shares.

Set a specific time each month to review your analytics, record the data, and move on. Protecting your mental load is crucial for long-term success.

Actionable Strategies to Boost Your Instagram Performance

Here are some practical ways to improve your content strategy using your analytics:

1. Post at the Right Time for Your Audience

• Use Instagram Insights or tools like Later to determine optimal posting times.

• Consider your own schedule and capacity to engage. Em, for example, prefers posting early in the morning to interact with her audience throughout the day.

2. Create More of What's Working

• Analyze your top-performing posts and replicate the style, format, or topic.

• You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—reuse content that your audience already loves.

3. Experiment with New Formats

• If a reel didn’t do well, try turning it into a carousel.

• Test different headlines and visuals to see what catches your audience's attention.

4. Track Consistently Without Burnout

• Em suggests keeping an Analytics Tracker Spreadsheet open on your desktop for easy access.

• The goal is to learn from your analytics, not let them control you.

Final Takeaways

Instagram analytics might seem intimidating, but they are an invaluable tool when used correctly. By focusing on a few key metrics and tracking them consistently, you can make data-driven decisions that boost your reach and engagement.

• Start with one or two metrics, like engagement rate or saves.

• Use your analytics to refine your strategy—without obsessing over every post.

• Remember: consistency is key. The more data you have, the better insights you'll gain.

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  Resources & Links Mentioned in this episode:
  🔗 Grab my Instagram Analytics Tracker (the easiest way to track your content performance, for just $19!)

  🔗 Check out Later.com, where I schedule & post my content!