Facebook Insights: Your Full Guide + Top Alternatives

Team Locowise posted on 23 February 2024

Understanding Facebook Insights is crucial for anyone looking to enhance their social media presence. With comprehensive data on audience behavior, post engagement, and content performance, this insights tool provides essential insights for optimizing your Facebook strategy.

Whether you’re managing a small Facebook business page or a large portfolio of client social media accounts, the ability to analyze and adapt based on this information can significantly impact your online success. This guide delves into the functionalities of Facebook Insights, offering practical advice and answering common questions to help you make the most of your social media efforts.

What is Facebook Insights?

Facebook Insights is a built-in tool on Facebook’s platform where users who have access to a business page can access data and insights on the performance of the business page.

Imagine you have a magic book that tells you everything about how your friends react to your stories. You’d know who loves your tales about space adventures or who enjoys your cooking stories the most, right? Now, if you’re someone who shares stories on a Facebook page, not just for fun but maybe for your business or a hobby, there’s something similar called Facebook Insights.

Facebook Insights is like a smart helper for your Facebook page. It’s a tool that gives you a sneak peek into how people interact with your posts. Think of it like a behind-the-scenes look at your Facebook page, showing you what’s hot and what’s not.

Here’s what it can tell you:

Who’s Watching? You get to see who’s looking at your posts. Are they mostly women or men? Young folks or the more experienced crowd? This helps you understand who enjoys your content the most.

What Do They Like? It shows you which posts people loved and which ones they scrolled past. Did they like your photo of the sunset, or did the video of your dog doing tricks get more laughs?

When Are They Online? This part is super cool because it tells you when most of your followers are checking their Facebook. It’s like knowing the best time to throw a party when you know everyone can come.

Using Facebook Insights is like having a conversation with your audience without them saying a word. You learn what makes them tick, what catches their eye, and when they’re most likely to see your stories. It’s all about making your Facebook page more exciting and engaging for your followers by understanding them better.

And the best part? It’s not complicated. Facebook lays out all this info in neat charts and graphs, so you don’t have to be a detective to figure it out. Whether you’re sharing your passion for painting, running a page for your local café, or just spreading positive vibes, Facebook Insights helps you do it better.

So, next time you’re on your Facebook page, take a peek at Insights. It’s like having a map to the treasure of more likes, shares, and smiles. And who doesn’t want that?

How do you find Facebook Insights?

Finding Facebook Insights is like going on a mini treasure hunt on your Facebook page. But don’t worry, it’s an easy adventure, and you don’t need a map or a compass! Here’s how you can uncover this treasure chest of information to help your Facebook page shine:

If You’re on a Computer:

• Start Your Journey: First, make sure you’re the captain of the ship, meaning you should be an admin or have a role on the page that allows you to peek into Insights.
• Open the Secret Door: Go to your Facebook page. You’ll see a bunch of tabs running across the top or down the left side, like Home, Posts, Videos, and more.
• Find the Magic Word ‘Insights’: Among those tabs, there’s one labeled ‘Insights.’ Click it! If you don’t see it right away, look for a ‘More’ tab – it might be hiding in there.

If You’re on a Mobile Device:

• Grab Your Magical Device: Pick up your smartphone or tablet where you have the Facebook app.
• Visit Your Digital Kingdom: Open the Facebook app, and go to your page. You’re looking for something called ‘Page Manager’ or ‘Business Suite.’ It’s your command center!
• Seek the ‘Insights’ Scroll: Once in the Page Manager or Business Suite, you should see the ‘Insights’ option. Tap it, and you’re in!

Through the Looking Glass: Meta Business Suite

If you’re really into making your page the best it can be, there’s another doorway to Insights – the Meta Business Suite. It’s like Facebook Insights but with a few extra magic potions:

• Enter the Suite: Log into Meta Business Suite on your computer or through its app on your mobile device.
• Discover Insights: Here, you’ll find ‘Insights’ clearly marked. Click or tap it to dive deeper into the magic of your page’s performance.

No matter how you get there, once you’re in Insights, it’s like having a crystal ball. You can see all sorts of cool stuff about your page and how people interact with it. Whether you’re checking in from a computer or a mobile device, or even exploring the enchanted lands of the Business Suite, Facebook Insights is your gateway to understanding your audience better.

What about accessing Facebook Ads insights?

Facebook Ads Insights gives you information on how any of your boosted posts or paid ads are performing on both Facebook and Instagram. Here’s how you can access them:

• Go to Ads Manager: Start by logging into your Facebook Ads Manager. This is the central hub where all your advertising campaigns are managed and monitored.
• Select Your Campaign: In Ads Manager, you’ll see an overview of all your campaigns. Click on the campaign you want to analyze to drill down into more detailed insights.
• Review Performance Metrics: Once you’ve selected a campaign, you’ll be presented with a range of metrics such as reach, impressions, click-through rate, and conversion data. These metrics are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of your ads.
• Customize Your View: You can customize the columns and data points you see to match your specific interests or the goals of your campaign. This customization allows you to focus on the metrics that matter most to your strategy.
• Analyze and Optimize: Use the insights gathered to understand what’s working and what isn’t. This analysis is key to optimizing your future campaigns for better performance.

The Important Metrics to Check Out on Facebook

With the export functionality and the ability to integrate your Facebook page with external tools, there’s a lot you can do with Facebook data. But here are some key metrics that you get right out of the box with Insights:

1. The Crowd Gatherers: Page Likes & Followers

• Page Likes: Think of this as your fan club. When someone likes your page, they’re giving you a thumbs-up, saying, “Hey, I like what you’re doing!” Watching how your likes grow is like watching your fan club get bigger.

• Followers: These are the folks who’ve signed up to see your stories in their news feed. More followers mean more people are tuning in to what you’re sharing.

2. The Storytellers: Posts Reach & Engagement

• Posts Reach: This tells you how many people saw your posts. Imagine you’re telling stories around a campfire. Reach is like counting how many people are sitting around the fire, listening.

• Engagement: This is all about how people interact with your posts. Likes, comments, shares, and reactions are all part of this. High engagement means your stories are so captivating that people can’t help but respond.

3. The Audience Portrait: Demographics

• Who’s Watching: Insights give you a peek at who’s in your audience. Are they young adventurers or wise sages? From nearby lands or distant realms?

• When They’re Online: Knowing when your audience is scrolling through Facebook helps you figure out the best time to post. It’s like knowing the perfect time to open the curtains for your big show.

4. The Explorer’s Path: Page Views & Actions

• Page Views: This counts how many times people visited your page. It’s like tracking footprints to see how many explorers stopped by your hidden cove.

• Actions on Page: Actions are what people do when they visit your page. Did they click the “Call Now” button, or did they find their way to your website? These actions are clues to what interests your visitors the most.

5. The Magic of Video: Video Views & Engagement

• Video Views: If you share videos, this metric tells you how many viewers tuned in. It’s like counting the audience at a movie premiere in your very own theater.

• Engagement: This dives deeper into how people interact with your videos. Did they watch till the end, or was it a brief glance? Captivating videos keep eyes glued to the screen.

6. The Echo in the Valley: Post Reactions, Comments, & Shares

• Reactions: These are the immediate feelings your posts evoke. A heart, a laugh, a surprised face – each reaction is a pulse of emotion from your audience.

• Comments & Shares: Comments are the conversations sparked by your posts, while shares are your stories being passed around like legendary tales. Both are signs of a truly engaged audience.

Remember, the journey through Insights is not just about numbers; it’s about stories, connections, and bringing your page to life. 

Alternative Tools to Facebook Insights

While Facebook Insights is a powerful tool for understanding your page’s performance, exploring other platforms can offer additional insights and functionalities. Here are five alternative tools that can enhance your social media analytics:

1. Locowise

Locowise offers a robust analytics platform that goes beyond basic metrics to deliver actionable insights. 

With its ability to track growth, engagement, and content performance across multiple social media platforms, it provides a comprehensive view of your social media health. 

Key features include competitor analysis, hashtag tracking, and detailed automated reporting, all designed to optimize your social media strategies effectively. Locowise’s benchmarking tool allows you to measure your performance against industry standards, giving you a clear picture of where you stand in your sector.

You can also leverage AI-driven predictive analytics, so your reporting instantly becomes a useful strategy tool, rather than a time-consuming regular admin task. Check it out for yourself – Start a free trial!

2. Hootsuite Analytics

Hootsuite Analytics provides an overview of social media performance, with tools for tracking post engagement and overall campaign effectiveness. It’s useful for managing multiple accounts and streamlining reporting processes.

3. Sprout Social

Sprout Social offers analytics that help you understand audience engagement patterns and content performance. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to gather insights for social media strategy development.

4. BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo focuses on content analysis, offering insights into what content is performing well in your niche and identifying key influencers. It’s particularly useful for content marketing and trend analysis.

Facebook Insights Tips and Tricks

Here are a few handy tips and further info that we may not have covered above:

Is Facebook Insights gone?

No, Facebook Insights hasn’t vanished into thin air. It’s very much available but has evolved over time. If you’re managing a business page, you can access Facebook Insights directly from your Page’s menu. It’s your go-to place for data about your Page’s performance.

How do I get audience insights on Facebook?

To dive into your audience insights, head over to your Facebook Page and click on the ‘Insights’ tab. Here, you’ll find a wealth of Facebook audience insights, including demographics, page likes, and engagement patterns. Use these insights to tailor your content to your audience’s preferences.

Is Facebook Insights the same as Facebook Analytics?

Facebook Insights and Facebook Analytics were once two separate entities, with Analytics providing more in-depth data analysis. However, Facebook has streamlined its tools, integrating many Analytics features into Insights, making it a one-stop shop for your data needs.

What does Impressions mean on Facebook Insights?

In the realm of Facebook Insights, “Impressions” refers to the number of times your content is displayed, regardless of whether it was clicked or not. Think of it as the potential eyeballs on your post, offering a glimpse into your content’s reach.

How do I export Facebook Insights?

Exporting data from Facebook Insights is like packing a treasure chest of knowledge. Simply go to the Insights section, find the ‘Export Data’ option, and choose the data type and date range you need. Voilà! Your data will be ready for download in an Excel or CSV file.

How far back can I see on Facebook Insights?

Facebook Insights allows you to journey back in time, offering data from when your Page was created. However, the level of detail may vary for older data. For most metrics, you can view detailed data up to 2 years back, providing a rich historical perspective on your Page’s performance.

Can I look at Reels performance on Insights?

Yes, you can now peek into the performance of your Reels through Facebook Insights. This feature lets you see how your Reels are resonating with your audience, providing metrics like reach, engagement, and playtime, helping you fine-tune your video content strategy.

How can I improve my Page’s engagement using Insights?

To boost your Page’s engagement, dive into the ‘Posts’ section within Insights to see which types of content resonate most with your audience. Look for patterns in posts with high engagement and replicate those elements, whether it’s the format, topic, or posting time.

Why are my Page Likes not increasing?

If your Page Likes have hit a plateau, it might be time to analyze your content and audience engagement strategies. Use Insights to see which posts are performing well and consider investing in targeted Facebook ads to reach a broader audience.

Facebook Insights to Wow Your Clients and Power Enhanced Social Strategies

Analyze, audit, and report on your Facebook performance effortlessly with the Locowise Facebook analytics tool.

Discover how your account is performing and how content is building your profile with the best Facebook analytics tools. Locowise insights go above and beyond what you can discover from Facebook itself, so no stone is left unturned. 

See for yourself! Get started with a free trial today.