How to Use Instagram Insights to Drive Growth and Engagement

Instagram analytics are essential for consistent account growth. They offer important insights into what truly connects with your audience AND are a direct guide to what content you NEED to be posting. 

How to access your analytics: 

First, make sure you have a professional (business or creator) Instagram account. 

On your profile, tap the "professional dashboard" button in your bio or go to the menu in the top right corner and click on “insights”. 

Once you are inside your professional dashboard, you'll get an overview of key metrics and can dive deeper into specific content for a more detailed look. Keep in mind that these insights are available for content posted since you switched to a professional account.

Why do Instagram analytics matter for growth?

✅ Content Optimization: Analytics show you which content your audience is engaging with the most, helping you fine-tune your strategy for better results. The more engagement you get, the more Instagram’s algorithm will boost your visibility. (Repurposing top performers, is one of the main strategies that helped me gain 173K Instagram followers.)

✅ Goal Alignment: Whether you’re aiming to grow your followers, increase story views, or drive traffic to your website, analytics help you stay on track and make sure your strategy is aligned with your goals.

✅ Campaign Measurement: Running a campaign? Analytics allow you to track its performance and see where adjustments can be made to improve results.

This keeps the message clear, actionable and focused on helping your audience understand why they should care about analytics.

Key Instagram Metrics You NEED to Pay Attention to for Real Growth

Here’s a breakdown of the key Instagram metrics that can help you reach NEW eyes and boost engagement to bring in more paying customers for your biz: 

Impressions: This tells you how many times your content has been viewed in total.

Reach: Reach shows the number of unique accounts that have seen your content. Impressions will always be higher than reach since one person can view your content multiple times. High impressions mean your content is engaging enough for people to revisit.

Engagement Rate: This shows how much interaction your content is getting compared to your follower count. To calculate it, use this formula: (Total Engagements / Follower Count) * 100. Keep an eye on this metric to track trends and ensure your strategy is working.

Follower Growth: A steady increase in followers means your content is attracting and keeping people interested. While it might seem like a vanity metric, follower growth expands your potential reach and has a positive impact on other important metrics like engagement.

Get the Instagram Algorithm to Favor Your Content

Now that you’re familiar with the key metrics, let’s talk about how you can improve them. First up is reach, which is essential for growing your audience. Here are tried and tested strategies (from yours truly) to help you get more EYES on your content.

• Create Engaging Content: Experiment with different formats like videos, photos, and text to see what resonates best with your audience. Keep your Reels short (under 90 seconds) to increase the chances of being recommended. Need fresh reel & post ideas? Check out my free Reels challenge

• Collaborate with Other Creators: Use features like Collabs and Enhanced Tags to tap into new audiences and expand your reach.

• Optimize for Search: Include relevant keywords in your captions, bio, and hashtags to help people discover your account through Instagram's search function. Tune into this podcast episode for my SEO strategy on Apple or Spotify! 👀

• Use the Favorites Feature: Encourage your most engaged followers to add you to their Favorites list to ensure your posts appear higher in their feeds.

• Monitor Your Insights: Regularly check your insights to identify trends, understand what's working, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Use These Story Insights to 10X Your Views

Don't forget about Instagram Stories! Analyzing your Story insights can help you understand what resonates with your audience and how they interact with your content.

• Story Replies: This metric tracks the number of direct messages you receive in response to your Stories. High reply rates indicate that your content is sparking conversation and building relationships.

• Story Exits: Story Exits show you how many times people swiped away from your Stories. Monitor this metric to identify content that isn't resonating or if your Story series is too long.

To boost your Story engagement, try these tips:

• Use Interactive Stickers: Incorporate polls, quizzes, and question boxes to encourage audience participation.

• Experiment with Different Formats: Try a mix of photos, videos, and text to keep your Stories fresh and engaging.

• Post at Optimal Times: Pay attention to when your audience is most active and schedule your Stories accordingly.

By understanding and leveraging Instagram analytics, you can make data-driven decisions that fuel growth and engagement. Remember, it's not just about posting content; it's about creating content that resonates with your audience, aligns with your objectives, and keeps you ahead of the ever-evolving Instagram algorithm.

Want to learn more about Instagram strategy and hear inspiring stories from creators?

• Listen to Call Her Creator on Apple or Spotify 

• Follow Katelyn Rhoades for more social media tips and inspiration! 

Create Your First Digital Product: A Beginner’s Guide

Unlock Your Digital Product Potential

Are you ready to create your first digital product but don't know where to start? Well, you’re in the right place! Whether you're an entrepreneur, influencer, or creator looking to grow your income and audience, launching a digital product is an incredible way to do so.

In this guide, I'll walk you through the entire process—from brainstorming ideas, validating your product with your Instagram followers, designing your product, and pricing it to make sure it resonates with your audience. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you already have a growing Instagram following, I’ve got the steps covered for you!

Step 1: Finding the Right Digital Product Idea

Before you dive into creating your first digital product, it’s crucial to know what your audience needs. The key is to offer a product that solves a problem or fills a gap. For example, if you’re using Instagram to grow your followers, you might notice what resonates the most with your community.

Tip: Leverage Instagram polls and engagement metrics to understand your audience’s pain points. Here’s how:

• Instagram Stories Polls: Ask your followers what they struggle with the most (e.g., fitness tips, productivity hacks, digital marketing advice, etc.). Your followers will give you honest feedback that can help shape your product.

• Analyze Your Instagram Engagement: Check which posts get the most likes, comments, or shares. This shows you the type of content that people are truly interested in.

For instance, if you're in the fitness niche and your followers are asking for quick workout routines, you might consider creating an eBook or a digital fitness guide.

Example: A fitness influencer with a strong Instagram presence could create a "7-Day Fitness Challenge" digital download or a monthly workout planner to meet the growing demand for fitness-related content. This product would tap directly into your audience's need for easily accessible, at-home fitness resources.

Step 2: Creating Your Digital Product

Now that you've identified the type of digital product to create, it’s time to get to work! This part can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to approach it:

Start with an Outline:

• What are the key topics or lessons your digital product will cover?

• Break down your content into easily digestible sections. If you’re creating a course, module-based content works best. If it’s a digital download, organize the information into pages or sections.

Use Simple Tools to Create Your Product:

• Google Docs: Write out your content in a simple, organized format. It's the perfect tool to plan and draft your ideas.

• Canva: For design purposes, use Canva. This tool has hundreds of templates for things like eBooks, checklists, and worksheets, making your product look professional.

• ChatGPT: If you need help writing content, ChatGPT can be an excellent assistant. For example, you can use it to generate ideas or help you with writing paragraphs for your guide.

Pro Tip: Make sure your Instagram audience knows you’re creating a new product! Keep them updated with sneak peeks, polls, and behind-the-scenes content. This keeps your community excited and engaged before the product launches.

Step 3: Designing and Branding Your Digital Product

Designing your digital product is just as important as the content you create. A well-designed product looks more professional, builds trust with your audience, and keeps them engaged.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Branding: Make sure your digital product aligns with your Instagram branding. Use the same fonts, colors, and style that you already use on your social media to create a cohesive look.

• Graphics and Photos: Incorporate eye-catching visuals. Use high-quality stock images or original photos that resonate with your audience. Tools like Canva make it easy to add visuals that enhance your content.

• User Experience: Keep it clean and easy to navigate. No one wants to struggle to read through your content, so make sure everything is clearly laid out.

If you’re creating a fitness guide, for example, include images of exercises, motivational quotes, and possibly before-and-after images to inspire your customers.

Step 4: Pricing Your Digital Product for Maximum Profit

Now comes the fun part—pricing! Setting the right price for your digital product can make all the difference in its success. Here’s how to get it right:

1. Know Your Audience’s Willingness to Pay: For example, if you have a following of Instagram users interested in fitness, they might expect to pay between $20-$50 for a fitness guide. But if your community is newer or smaller, it might be better to start with a lower price point.

2. Consider Competitor Pricing: Research other digital products in your niche and see how they’re priced. This helps you understand where you stand in the market and how to position your product competitively.

3. Create Value-Based Pricing: If your digital product offers tremendous value—like a comprehensive, step-by-step guide—you can price it on the higher end. For smaller products, like a checklist or template, you might want to price it lower.

Pro Tip: Once you’ve launched your digital product, keep an eye on the sales. If you’re not getting the response you expected, consider running a limited-time promotion or adjusting the price.

Ready to Launch Your First Digital Product?

Now that you’ve learned the steps to creating your first digital product, it's time to put your plan into action! Remember, the key to success lies in knowing your audience, offering a product that solves their problems, and promoting it consistently on Instagram.

Creating a digital product is an amazing way to grow your brand, provide value to your community, and even generate passive income. So, get ready to dive into your digital creation journey, and don’t forget to share your process on Instagram to keep your followers engaged! 

Tune into Call Her Creator on Apple or Spotify  for more expert tips on growing your social media, building your brand, and turning your passion into profit!