← Back to App

How to Use InstAnalyzer

Complete guide to metrics comparison and analysis

Overview

InstAnalyzer provides comprehensive analytics and metrics comparison capabilities for Instagram profiles. You can track changes over time and compare performance across different time periods.

Key Features:
  • Analyze any public Instagram profile
  • Track follower growth and engagement over time
  • Compare multiple reports for trend analysis
  • Export data to Excel and HTML formats
  • Automatic engagement rate calculations

Available Metrics

Profile-Level Metrics

  • Followers Count - Total number of followers
  • Following Count - Total number of accounts being followed
  • Posts Count - Total number of posts on the profile
  • Total Likes - Sum of likes across all analyzed posts

Post-Level Metrics

  • Individual Post Likes - Number of likes per post
  • Engagement Rate - Calculated as (likes ÷ followers) × 100
  • Post Date - When each post was published
  • Post Content - Caption/text content of each post

How to Compare Metrics

1. Automatic Growth Indicators

When you analyze the same profile multiple times, growth indicators automatically appear showing +/- changes next to current metrics in green (positive) or red (negative). This compares the current report with the previous report for the same profile.

2. Comparison View

Click the "Compare" button when viewing analysis results to see a detailed comparison table. This requires at least 2 reports for the same profile to enable comparison.

3. Engagement Rate Analysis

Engagement rates are automatically calculated for each post and color-coded: Green for ≥2% (good), Red for <2% (needs improvement). This helps identify high-performing content.

Step-by-Step Comparison Process

1Generate Initial Report

  • Enter Instagram username
  • Set date filters if needed (optional)
  • Click "Analyze Posts"
  • Wait for analysis to complete

2Generate Follow-up Reports

  • Analyze the same profile again after some time has passed
  • The extension automatically detects existing reports for the profile
  • New reports are added to the comparison database

3View Comparisons

  • Click the "Compare" button in the analysis results
  • View the comparison table showing metric names, values for each analysis date, and percentage changes

4Interpret Results

  • Positive percentages (+) indicate growth
  • Negative percentages (-) indicate decline
  • Compare engagement rates to identify content performance trends

Understanding Engagement Rates

Engagement Rate Formula: (Post Likes ÷ Profile Followers) × 100

Engagement Rate Benchmarks

Rating Percentage Range Description
Excellent >6% Outstanding performance, viral content potential
Good 2-6% Above average engagement, quality content
Average 1-2% Typical engagement for most accounts
Below Average <1% May need content strategy improvement

Factors Affecting Engagement

  • Content quality and relevance
  • Posting frequency and timing
  • Audience size (larger accounts typically have lower rates)
  • Account niche and industry

Calculation Methods and Formulas

1. Growth Difference Calculation

Formula: Current Value - Previous Value = Growth Difference
Example:
• Previous Followers: 1,000
• Current Followers: 1,150
• Growth Difference: 1,150 - 1,000 = +150 followers

This appears as a green "+150" indicator next to the current count.

2. Percentage Change Calculation

Formula: ((New Value - Old Value) ÷ Old Value) × 100 = Percentage Change
Example:
• First Report Followers: 1,000
• Latest Report Followers: 1,200
• Calculation: ((1,200 - 1,000) ÷ 1,000) × 100 = 20.0%

Result displayed as "+20.0%" in the comparison table.

3. Total Likes Calculation

Formula: Sum of all individual post likes = Total Likes
Example:
• Post 1: 150 likes
• Post 2: 200 likes
• Post 3: 175 likes
• Total: 150 + 200 + 175 = 525 total likes

4. Average Engagement Calculation

Formula: (Total Likes ÷ Total Posts ÷ Followers) × 100 = Average Engagement
Example:
• Total Likes: 525
• Total Posts: 3
• Followers: 5,000
• Calculation: (525 ÷ 3 ÷ 5,000) × 100 = 3.5% average engagement

Number Parsing and Special Cases

The extension handles various Instagram number formats:

  • "1,234" → 1234 (comma as thousands separator)
  • "1.2K" → 1200 (K = thousand)
  • "1.5M" → 1500000 (M = million)
  • "liked by user1 and 50 others" → 51 (adds 1 for the named user)

Best Practices for Metrics Comparison

1. Consistent Timing

  • Analyze profiles at regular intervals (weekly, monthly)
  • Consider time zones and peak activity periods
  • Account for seasonal variations in engagement

2. Date Filtering

  • Use date filters to compare specific time periods
  • Compare similar timeframes (e.g., month-to-month)
  • Account for special events or campaigns

3. Multiple Metrics

  • Don't rely on single metrics
  • Look at growth trends across all metrics
  • Consider engagement quality vs. quantity

4. Export and Archive

  • Download reports for long-term tracking
  • Keep Excel files for detailed analysis
  • Use HTML reports for visual presentation

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: "Compare" button is disabled Solution: Generate at least 2 reports for the same profile
Issue: Growth indicators not showing Solution: Ensure you have previous reports for comparison
Issue: Engagement rates seem low Solution: Check if follower count is accurate; large accounts typically have lower rates
Issue: Inconsistent data between reports Solution: Instagram may have updated their interface; retry analysis

Tips for Effective Analysis

Pro Tips:

  1. Track competitors by analyzing their profiles regularly
  2. Identify your best-performing content types through engagement rates
  3. Monitor follower growth patterns and engagement trends
  4. Use date filters to analyze specific campaigns or time periods
  5. Compare your metrics against industry benchmarks
  6. Look for correlations between posting frequency and engagement

Privacy and Limitations

  • Only works with public Instagram profiles
  • Respects Instagram's rate limiting (maximum 3 attempts per operation)
  • Does not store or transmit personal data
  • Analysis is limited to visible post information
  • Engagement calculations are based on likes only (not comments or shares)

Export Options

  • Excel Export: Contains all post data with engagement calculations, suitable for detailed analysis and charting
  • HTML Export: Visual report with embedded images, good for presentations and sharing