Instagram to Looker Studio: setup guide

Tracking your Instagram performance is easier than ever with Looker Studio, where you can visualize your key metrics and monitor your account’s growth in real time. If you manage an Instagram account for your brand or clients, connecting it to Looker Studio allows you to track engagement, audience growth, and content performance.

There are two main ways to connect your Instagram data to Looker Studio:

• Automatically, using a partner connector like Catchr.
• Manually, using Google Sheets as an intermediary.

Why connect Instagram to Looker Studio

Connecting your Instagram account to Looker Studio helps you analyze key social media metrics, monitor growth over time, and automate reporting. Instead of switching between the Instagram app, Meta Business Suite, and spreadsheets, you can visualize everything in one dynamic report.

With Looker Studio, you can:

• Track your followers, reach, impressions, engagement rate, and content performance.
• Identify your top-performing posts, reels, and stories.
• Measure audience demographics and growth trends.
• Combine Instagram data with other platforms like Facebook, TikTok, or Google Analytics for a complete marketing overview.
• Automate your reporting and share live dashboards with your team or clients.

In short, connecting Instagram to Looker Studio gives you a clear, real-time picture of your social media performance.

Method 1: Connect Instagram to Looker Studio using Catchr (recommended)

For most marketers and social media managers, the automated connection is the most efficient and scalable option. It uses the Instagram Graph API to pull your account and post insights directly into Looker Studio.

How it works

Partner connectors like Catchr act as a bridge between Instagram and Looker Studio.
Once authorized, Catchr connects to your professional Instagram account and automatically imports your profile and post performance data.

Your metrics and dimensions refresh daily, so your reports always reflect your latest engagement and audience data, no manual updates needed.

Steps

1. Create a new data source on Looker Studio
   • Go to the Looker Studio homepage.
   • Click on Create → Data source.

2. Search for Instagram
   • In the search bar, type Instagram.
   • From the list, select a certified connector such as Catchr.

3. Authorize your Catchr and Instagram accounts in Looker Studio
   • Click Authorize to link your Catchr account with Looker Studio.
   • Then, authorize again to sign in to Instagram and allow access to your accounts.

4. Choose your account(s)
   • Select one or multiple accounts to include in your report.
   • (Optional) Start from a prebuilt Looker Studio template to save time.

5. Click Create report
   • Click Create Report to finish the setup.
   • Your Instagram data, including followers, impressions, reach, likes, comments, and engagement rate, will automatically load into Looker Studio and refresh daily.

Common Use Cases

Connecting Instagram to Looker Studio allows you to track your performance in real time and build automated dashboards.

• Social media managers monitor engagement rate, followers, and top-performing content.
• Agencies automate client reporting and deliver branded dashboards.
• Brands track audience growth and analyze post types over time.
• Marketing teams combine Instagram data with other social platforms for unified reporting.

To help you get started faster, Catchr provides ready-to-use Looker Studio templates for Instagram.

Instagram overview dashboard template

The Instagram overview dashboard gives you a complete view of your account performance in one place. Track key metrics like followers, reach, impressions, and engagement rate to understand your overall growth and visibility on Instagram.

Instagram followers dashboard template

The Instagram follower dashboard helps you analyze your audience growth and demographics. Monitor new followers, unfollows, growth rate, and audience distribution by age, gender, and location to better understand who engages with your content.

Instagram post insights dashboard template

The Instagram post insights dashboard focuses on your content performance. Identify your top-performing posts, reels, and stories by tracking likes, comments, reach, saves, and engagement rate. Use these insights to refine your content strategy and boost audience interaction.

Method 2: Connect Instagram to Looker Studio using Google Sheets

If you prefer a free, manual method, you can use Google Sheets as an intermediary between Instagram and Looker Studio. This approach is simple but requires regular exports or automation via tools like Zapier, Make, or Meta’s Export API.

How it works

You’ll export your Instagram performance data (from Meta Business Suite or third-party tools) and import it into Google Sheets. Then, you’ll connect that spreadsheet to Looker Studio using the built-in Google Sheets connector.

Steps

1. Export your data from Instagram
   • Go to your Facebook Business Manager.
   • Open the Insights tab.
   • Switch from Facebook to Instagram Insights using the toggle next to your profile picture (top right corner).
   • Select the type of insights you want to export — Results, Audience, or Content.
   • Choose a date range, then click Export → CSV.
   • If you selected Content Insights, wait until the data finishes loading, then download the CSV file.

2. Create a new data source in Looker Studio
   • Go to the Looker Studio homepage.
   • Click on Create → Data source.

3. Connect the Google Sheets connector
   • In the connector list, search for Google Sheets.
   • Select it and, if prompted, authorize access to your Google account.

4. Choose your Instagram Google Sheets
   • Select the spreadsheet and worksheet containing your Instagram export.
   • Click Connect to link your data to Looker Studio.

5. Create your Instagram report
   • Click Create Report to start building your dashboard.

Which method should you choose?

If you want dashboards that refresh automatically and always reflect your latest Instagram data, Catchr is the most reliable solution. Google Sheets remains a good option for simple or one-time reports.

FAQ: Instagram and Looker Studio

Can I connect multiple Instagram accounts?

‍Yes. Catchr supports multiple Instagram Business accounts in a single Looker Studio report.

Are Instagram data updates automatic?

‍Yes, with Catchr your data refreshes daily. Google Sheets, however, requires manual exports or automation tools.

Can I combine Instagram with other platforms?

‍Absolutely. You can blend Instagram data with Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, or GA4 for cross-platform social media analysis.

What data can I pull from Instagram?

‍You can access metrics such as followers, impressions, reach, engagement rate, likes, comments, and content performance. See Catchr’s documentation for the full list of available Instagram fields.

Is the Catchr Instagram connector free?

‍Catchr offers a free trial to connect your Instagram account to Looker Studio. After the trial, a paid plan is required to keep your data automatically synchronized and access advanced features.

Make Instagram work with Looker Studio

Connecting Instagram to Looker Studio helps you track your growth, analyze engagement, and understand what drives your audience. Whether you use the manual Google Sheets method or automate everything with Catchr, you’ll transform your social data into actionable insights that drive better content and results.