Are Your Posts Popping Off or Falling Flat? Here’s How to Know
Whether you’ve got a full social team or you’re flying solo, it’s important to know if your posts are actually helping your brand—or just eating up time and resources. The last thing you want is to throw together content just to keep up, without knowing if it’s making an impact.
We’ve all been there, staring at our latest post and wondering, “Is this actually working?” Not every post is going to be a viral hit, and that’s okay. Social media success isn’t just about big numbers; it’s about knowing what’s resonating with your audience and why. The good news? You don’t have to guess.
That’s where checking in on your analytics comes in. And no, not just glancing at the numbers to see if they’re high or low, but actually understanding what they mean and using them to fine-tune your strategy. Today, we’ll walk you through how to assess your posts’ performance, take a closer look at Instagram and LinkedIn analytics, and explore ways to refine your strategy moving forward.
What Does 'Performing Well' Actually Mean?
As a brand, you should be able to define what success looks like for you. A high-performing post isn’t just about racking up likes, it’s about whether it’s achieving your specific goals. So performing well = achieving marketing goals.
Trying to boost brand awareness? Track reach and impressions.
Looking to drive traffic? Keep an eye on link clicks.
Want to grow your email list? Monitor sign-ups and subscriber growth.
Hoping to attract press inquiries, sponsors, or partners? Engagement from key stakeholders and direct inquiries will be essential.
The metrics that matter most depend on what you’re trying to achieve.
And don’t forget context. A post that does well for one brand might not mean success for another, so don’t stress if your competitors are getting more likes. For example, a nonprofit might prioritize meaningful comments and shares over pure follower growth, while an e-commerce brand may focus on conversions. Instead of chasing generic “good” numbers, focus on what actually moves the needle for your brand.
Instagram Analytics – Beyond the Like Count
After a week or two of consistent posting on Instagram, head over to Instagram Insights to evaluate your content’s performance. To access this, make sure your account is set to either business or creator. From your profile, go to the dashboard, then tap on Insights.
Your Instagram analytics should be assessed based on your specific goal, whether it's increasing engagement, expanding reach, or driving more saves and shares. Here’s how to interpret your data to determine if your post is meeting your objectives.
Key Metrics to Watch & What “Good” Looks Like on Instagram
Engagement Rate: If your goal is engagement, a strong performance means your post is receiving above-average likes, comments, and shares compared to your previous content.
Signs it’s doing well: You’ll notice a mix of thoughtful comments (not just emojis), people tagging others, and high share/save numbers.
If engagement is low: Experiment with posts that encourage interaction, such as polls, open-ended questions, or interactive carousels.
Reach vs. Followers: If your goal is brand awareness, your content should be reaching significantly more people than just your followers. This means your posts are showing up on the Explore page, in hashtag searches, or being shared widely.
Signs it’s doing well: A high number of non-followers reached and an increase in new profile visits and followers.
If reach is low: Boost your reach by posting more Reels and carousels—Instagram has confirmed these formats are prioritized for non-followers because they’re interactive. Additionally, optimize hashtags, use trending audio, and collaborate with other accounts to expand visibility.
Stories & Reels Performance: If your goal is retention and engagement, check if your analytics show people are watching most of your Story or Reel without dropping off too early.
Signs it’s doing well: A high completion rate (viewers watch through to the end), responses to interactive stickers (polls, Q&A, quizzes), and more taps forward than exits.
If drop-off is high: Hook viewers quicker, shorten your clips, or add captions to keep them engaged.
By assessing your analytics in relation to your goal, you’ll gain a clearer picture of what’s working—and what adjustments might be needed to optimize your strategy. For more Instagram analytics tips check out our previous blog on the topic!
LinkedIn Analytics – More Than Just Impressions
To evaluate how your LinkedIn posts are performing, head to your LinkedIn profile, click on ‘Me’, and select ‘View My Posts’ to check stats on reach, clicks, and engagement.
Your LinkedIn analytics should (again) be assessed based on your specific goal—whether it’s increasing visibility, driving traffic, or fostering meaningful engagement. Here’s how to track your progress:
Key Metrics to Watch & What “Good” Looks Like on LinkedIn
Impressions vs. Engagement: If your goal is visibility, it’s important to track whether your post is just being seen or if people are interacting with it. Impressions show how often your content is seen, but engagement tells you whether it’s sparking action.
Signs it’s doing well: Your post is receiving likes, comments, shares, and sparking meaningful conversations.
If engagement is low: Focus on engagement opportunities that will keep your audience on the platform such as polls, linking to other sites too often limits interaction opportunities.
Click-Through Rates (CTR): If your goal is to drive traffic to your website or profile for a specific reason, the CTR tells you if people are clicking on your links after viewing your post.
Signs it’s doing well: A high and consistent CTR is rare and a strong indicator that your audience is highly interested in exploring more of what you have to offer even if that means leaving the platform.
If CTR is low: Ensure your posts have a clear CTA (Call-to-Action), like "Learn more" or "Check out my profile," to encourage clicks. However, if people are clicking but not converting, the issue may lie with your messaging or website experience rather than your social content. Social did its job—now it’s time to optimize the next step in their journey.
Comment Quality: Look beyond the number of comments—evaluate the quality of the responses. Are people leaving thoughtful comments or just generic phrases like “Great post”?
Signs it’s doing well: You’ll see detailed comments, sharing personal experiences, asking questions, or providing insight that adds value to or starts the conversation.
If comments are generic: Encourage meaningful engagement by asking specific questions or prompting thoughtful responses.
Testing, Tweaking, and A/B Marketing for Better Results
If you’ve reviewed your analytics and came to the conclusion that there’s room for improvement, consider implementing some of these general testing and tweaking strategies to fine-tune your approach and boost your results:
A/B Testing: Test different versions of your posts to see what resonates most with your audience (A/B Testing). For example, try comparing images versus video, or short captions versus longer ones, to gauge which format drives more results.
Experimenting with Timing: Your audience’s activity varies throughout the day, so it’s worth testing different posting times. Try posting in the morning versus the afternoon to identify when your posts get the most attention. It also wouldn’t hurt to experiment trying to post on weekends, maybe that’s when your audience is most active!
Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Including a CTA in your posts can prompt more engagement. Whether it’s asking followers to leave a comment, click a link, or tag a friend, a clear CTA encourages action.
Test Posting Frequency: Finding the right posting frequency is key. Experiment with posting more often or spacing out your posts to see what schedule works best for your audience’s engagement.
Vary Content Themes: Keep your content fresh and engaging by mixing up themes. Try alternating between educational, entertaining, and promotional posts to keep your audience interested and engaged over time. The secret is finding the perfect way to talk about the same thing in many different ways multiple times. Once you have that down you’re golden.
By continuously testing and tweaking your approach based on what your analytics are telling you, you’ll see the difference in your analytics and be able to refine your strategy to make smarter, more data-driven decisions for your brand moving forward.
Data is Your Friend, But Experimentation is Key
Figuring out if your posts are making an impact or just filling space on social media doesn’t have to be complicated. By analyzing your analytics and fine-tuning your strategy with clear goals in mind, you can make informed, data-backed decisions to help your brand thrive.
If you have any questions or want more tips on boosting your social presence, feel free to reach out! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest social media news, we care about your success and want you to stay ahead of the game always.