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Connecting Instagram

Complete guide to connecting your Instagram Business or Creator account to bluekona.ai.

Connect your Instagram account to bluekona.ai to unlock powerful insights about your content performance, audience engagement, and growth opportunities.

Prerequisites

Account Requirements

  • Instagram Business or Creator account (not a personal account)
  • Facebook Page linked to your Instagram (required for API access)
  • Admin access to both Instagram and the linked Facebook Page

Why Instagram Business/Creator?

Instagram's API only provides analytics for Business and Creator accounts. Personal accounts don't have access to insights data.

Don't worry - Upgrading to Business or Creator is:

  • ✅ Free
  • ✅ Reversible
  • ✅ Keeps all your content and followers
  • ✅ Adds professional features

Connection Methods

Instagram connections are managed through Facebook's OAuth system because Instagram is owned by Meta (Facebook).

Method 1: Connect via Facebook Page (Recommended)

This is the easiest method if your Instagram is already linked to a Facebook Page.

  1. Go to Settings > Social Connections
  2. Click Connect Facebook
  3. Follow the Facebook OAuth flow
  4. Grant permissions including Instagram access
  5. Both Facebook Page and linked Instagram will be connected

Method 2: Direct Instagram Connection

  1. Navigate to Settings > Social Connections
  2. Click Connect Instagram
  3. You'll be redirected through Facebook OAuth
  4. Log in and select your Facebook Page
  5. Instagram account linked to that Page will be connected

Converting to Business/Creator Account

If you have a personal Instagram account, here's how to upgrade:

Step 1: Link to Facebook Page

  1. Open Instagram app
  2. Go to Settings > Account
  3. Select Switch to Professional Account
  4. Choose Business or Creator
  5. Follow the prompts

Step 2: Connect Facebook Page

  1. After switching to Professional, go to Settings
  2. Select Account > Linked Accounts
  3. Choose Facebook
  4. Log in and connect your Facebook Page

Step 3: Connect to bluekona.ai

Now you can connect your Instagram Business account through bluekona.ai.

OAuth Connection Process

Step 1: Initiate Connection

From your bluekona.ai dashboard:

  1. Click Connect Platform or go to Settings
  2. Select Instagram
  3. Click Connect Instagram

Step 2: Facebook Authorization

You'll be redirected to Facebook's OAuth page:

  1. Log in to Facebook (if not already logged in)
  2. Review the permissions requested
  3. Approve access

Step 3: Permissions Granted

bluekona.ai requests these read-only permissions:

Instagram Permissions

  • instagram_basic - Access to basic account information
  • instagram_manage_insights - Read analytics and insights
  • Access to profile info, media, and engagement metrics
  • pages_show_list - View Facebook Pages linked to Instagram
  • pages_read_engagement - Read engagement data

Why we need these:

  • Retrieve your Instagram metrics (followers, reach, impressions)
  • Analyze post performance (likes, comments, saves, shares)
  • Access Reels and Stories insights
  • Track audience demographics

Step 4: Select Page

  1. Facebook shows your Pages
  2. Select the Page linked to your Instagram
  3. Confirm selection

Step 5: Complete Connection

  1. You're redirected back to bluekona.ai
  2. Success message appears
  3. Instagram account is now connected
  4. Data sync begins automatically

What Data is Collected?

Account Metrics

  • Username and profile information
  • Follower count and growth trends
  • Account reach and impressions
  • Profile views

Content Performance (Last 14 Days)

  • Feed Posts: Likes, comments, saves, shares, reach
  • Reels: Views, likes, comments, saves, shares, plays
  • Stories: Views, reach, impressions, interactions

Content Analysis

  • Post captions and hashtags
  • Media types (photo, video, carousel, Reel)
  • Publishing timestamps
  • Engagement rates

Audience Insights

  • Demographics (age, gender, location)
  • Active hours
  • Top locations
  • Follower growth patterns

Understanding the Dashboard

After connecting, your Instagram account appears in Social Connections:

Status Indicators

  • Connected - Active and syncing data
  • Token Expiring Soon - Reconnection needed soon
  • Token Expired - Click reconnect
  • Error - Connection issue

Account Information Displayed

  • Profile picture
  • Username (@handle)
  • Follower count
  • Last sync time
  • Connection status

Token Management

Instagram tokens (via Facebook) expire after 60 days.

When Token Expires

  • Status changes to "Expired"
  • You receive a notification
  • Cannot run new audits
  • Historical data remains safe

Reconnecting

  1. Click Reconnect button
  2. Re-authorize through Facebook OAuth
  3. Connection restored
  4. Resume audits immediately

Running Instagram Audits

Single Platform Audit

  1. Navigate to Dashboard or Analysis
  2. Click Start Single Platform Audit
  3. Select Instagram
  4. Wait 2-5 minutes for results

The AI analyzes:

  • Content performance by type (Posts vs Reels)
  • Best performing content themes
  • Optimal posting times
  • Hashtag effectiveness
  • Engagement patterns
  • Growth opportunities
  • Reels vs Feed performance

Cross-Platform Audit

If you have multiple platforms connected:

  1. Click Start Cross-Platform Audit
  2. Instagram data is analyzed alongside other platforms
  3. Get unified insights across channels
  4. Identify content that works across platforms

Content Types Analyzed

Feed Posts

  • Single images
  • Carousels (multiple images)
  • Videos (non-Reels)

Metrics tracked:

  • Likes, comments, saves, shares
  • Reach and impressions
  • Engagement rate

Reels

  • Short-form videos
  • Trending audio usage
  • Reels-specific metrics

Metrics tracked:

  • Plays and views
  • Likes, comments, shares, saves
  • Average watch time
  • Reach beyond followers

Stories

  • 24-hour temporary content
  • Story highlights

Metrics tracked:

  • Views and reach
  • Replies and interactions
  • Exits and taps forward/back

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

"Instagram account not found"

  • Verify your Instagram is a Business or Creator account
  • Ensure Instagram is linked to a Facebook Page
  • Check that you selected the correct Facebook Page

"Insufficient permissions"

  • Grant all requested permissions during OAuth
  • Instagram permissions must be approved
  • Try reconnecting and accepting all permissions

"Page has no Instagram linked"

  • Link Instagram to your Facebook Page first
  • Go to Instagram Settings > Linked Accounts > Facebook
  • Connect your Page, then try again in bluekona.ai

Data Not Appearing

No posts showing:

  • Ensure you have published content in the last 14 days
  • Wait 5-10 minutes for initial data sync
  • Check that posts are public (not private account)

Incomplete metrics:

  • Some metrics require Business account (not Creator)
  • Very new posts may not have full data yet
  • Stories expire after 24 hours

Missing Reels:

  • Ensure Reels are public
  • Reels must have insights enabled
  • Check account isn't restricted

Account Type Confusion

Personal vs Business:

  • Only Business and Creator accounts work
  • Personal accounts don't provide API access
  • Switch to Professional account (it's free)

Creator vs Business:

  • Both work with bluekona.ai
  • Business accounts have more features
  • Creator accounts focus on content metrics

Privacy & Data Security

What We Access

  • Public profile information
  • Published content and analytics
  • Engagement metrics
  • Audience demographics (aggregated)

What We Don't Access

  • Direct messages
  • Private account data (if account is private)
  • Deleted or archived content
  • Login credentials

Data Storage

  • Metrics stored for historical analysis
  • Access tokens encrypted
  • Data used only for your insights
  • Not shared with third parties

Disconnecting Instagram

From bluekona.ai

  1. Go to Settings > Social Connections
  2. Find Instagram account
  3. Click Disconnect or Remove
  4. Confirm action

Result:

  • Connection removed immediately
  • Past audit data preserved
  • Can reconnect anytime

From Instagram/Facebook

You can also revoke access from Instagram's end:

  1. Open Instagram app
  2. Go to Settings > Security
  3. Select Apps and Websites
  4. Find bluekona.ai
  5. Click Remove Access

Or from Facebook:

  1. Go to Facebook Settings
  2. Apps and Websites
  3. Remove bluekona.ai

Best Practices

For Optimal Results

  • Keep tokens active with regular audits
  • Maintain consistent posting schedule
  • Ensure Business/Creator account setup is complete
  • Run audits weekly for trending insights

Content Strategy

  • Compare Feed posts vs Reels performance
  • Track hashtag effectiveness
  • Identify best posting times
  • Monitor engagement patterns

Multiple Instagram Accounts

  • Connect each account separately
  • Each requires its own Facebook Page link
  • Track performance individually
  • Compare across accounts

Common Questions

Q: Can I connect multiple Instagram accounts? A: Yes, but each must be linked to a different Facebook Page and you must have admin access to each.

Q: Will bluekona.ai post on my Instagram? A: No, we only have read-only access. We cannot post, edit, or delete content.

Q: What happens to my data if I disconnect? A: Historical audit reports remain in your account, but we stop collecting new data.

Q: Do I need to stay logged into Instagram? A: No, once connected via OAuth, bluekona.ai maintains the connection independently.

Q: Can I switch back to personal account? A: Yes, but you'll need to reconnect if you switch to Professional again later.

Next Steps

Need help? Visit our troubleshooting guide or contact support.