How to audit an Instagram account in just 30 minutes (+Free checklist)

3 min readDec 7, 2020

How to do your own Instagram Audit (without hiring me)

Do you find that you are following all the “rules” and yet they don’t seem to work for you? It’s time for an Instagram audit. While there are plenty of marketing consultants that offer this service (including me) it will cost you between $50 — $500 depending on the level of analytics depth.

But even if you pay an “expert”, it doesn’t mean they all know what they’re doing.

So, if you want to save some $$ and buy yourself a nice Xmas prezie instead — do the Audit yourself!

Here’s how to get started with a self-audit:

Tools you need:

✅ An Instagram business account

✅ A mobile device/laptop

✅ An analytics software. My recommendations are:

Sharemyinsights https://sharemyinsights.com

Iconosquare https://iconosquare.com

Note: both come with free trial, and I encourage you to try them

✅ (Optional) A competitor analysis tool Ninjalytics https://ninjalytics.com (also free)

✅ An Instagram Audit checklist/blueprint (download free below!)

Step 1: Forget that it’s your account (look at your profile)

Take a step back and look at your account as if you were seeing it for the first time. If your offer clear? Do first time visitors know where to buy and how to contact you?

Step 2: Define your purpose on Instagram

More about thinking of the future. What is your main goal? Where do you want to be in 6 months time? Is it to hit a sales quota or growing an audience to a certain number?

Now do a list of your last 30 posts. Does each post help you achieve those goals? If no, strike them off.

Step 3: Check your metrics (last 30 days — 6 months)

Use an analytics tool like @sharemyinsights_com to check your Instagram performance over the past 6 months.

Audience growth/decline (vs competitors)
Engagement rate change (vs competitors)
Top posts by engagement/saves/comments
Top posts format (image, video, carousel)
Download your top hashtags list
Take a screenshot of your statistics charts so you can compare it in the future

Do you see your competitors growing faster than you? Use https://Ninjalytics.com to find the hashtags your competitors are using and see what’s fuelling their growth. (Did they buy followers?)

Step 4: Optimise your account with an audit checklist

Download my Instagram Audit checklist and use it to optimise your account. Follow these best practices for bio, content, hashtags, captions and engagement and watch your account grow!