The Community section shows available follower totals, gains, losses and audience reports. A snapshot, a period value and a demographic distribution answer different questions.
Definitions by platform
| Platform | Using the reports | Individual metrics and calculations |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Analytics | Metrics glossary | |
| Facebook Analytics | Metrics glossary | |
| TikTok | TikTok Analytics | Metrics glossary |
| YouTube | YouTube Analytics | Metrics glossary |
Data basis and freshness
ContentMate imports platform data regularly in the background, aggregates it and displays it from its own database. Opening a dashboard, switching tabs or changing periods does not trigger a live request to Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
Distinguish three levels:
- Period activity: Reported actions or observed changes within a time window. TikTok values are derived from imported video totals; an older publication can continue generating activity.
- Publication cohort: Posts published during the period, with their available imported lifetime values. These can include interactions generated after the publication date.
- Snapshot: A count such as followers or an audience distribution. These values are not summed across days.
Today/Yesterday may use an hourly view. An hourly chart does not mean the platform provides new complete data every hour. Import time, aggregation time and data time describe different things. Processing delays, permissions and report limits can leave gaps. The display does not promise real-time data or a fixed six-hour schedule.
Missing is not zero: Zero is a reported or correctly calculated value with no activity. A dash, “Unavailable” or an incomplete series must not be treated as zero in your own calculations.
Open this section
Open Analytics, choose the account and the relevant tab. The period filter determines the included reports; exceptions are labelled in their respective views.
KPI Cards
A KPI card shows a metric and, where available, its comparison value, change and small trend chart. Check data freshness and notices about unavailable or incomplete data. A dash is not a confirmed zero. Not every platform supports every card.
Page Followers
The imported follower total for the displayed reference date, not a sum of daily totals. A count of 1,000 on Monday and 1,010 on Tuesday gives a newer count of 1,010, not 2,010. Facebook Page likes are a separate metric. The latest imported count may differ from the platform’s current display.
Followers Evolution
Facebook uses reported gains and losses: net growth = followers gained − followers lost. For example, 40 gains and 15 losses gives +25. Instagram and TikTok net change is calculated from matching imported follower snapshots: ending count − starting count. A suitable earlier measurement is required. A net change of +25 cannot distinguish 25 gains and no losses from 40 gains and 15 losses. A missing baseline is not replaced with zero.
Gained Followers
Reported new followers during the period, where the platform provides this metric and it has been imported. Do not equate this with positive changes in follower totals: 30 gains and 20 losses increase the count by only 10. A missing gains value does not mean nobody followed.
Lost Followers
Reported losses during the period, displayed as a positive count and subtracted when calculating net growth. An unchanged total does not prove there were no losses: gains may have offset them. TikTok losses are not invented from total counts.
Profile Visits
Profile visits reported by Instagram, where the report provides them. Visits are not unique visitors or follows. An unavailable profile-visit metric cannot be reconstructed from views, profile actions or follower growth.
Follows from Content
Follows attributed to content by the Instagram report, where available. This attribution metric is not automatically equal to all new followers of the account. The platform determines which action is attributed to which content.
Profile Activity
Profile actions or attributed profile activity included in the Instagram report. Scope and availability depend on the source; do not indiscriminately add website clicks, contact actions and all profile visits. See the separate definitions in the Instagram metrics glossary.
Paid vs. Organic Fans
A Facebook breakdown by paid and organic origin, where the relevant report is available. “Fans” or Page likes must not be equated with all followers. The split is not estimated without an imported origin report. It cannot by itself establish financial advertising ROI.
Charts
Charts use imported and aggregated data. Check axis units, time granularity and gaps. A daily series, a current total and the lifetime values of published posts are not interchangeable. Percentages and averages must not simply be added across days.
Follower Growth Chart
The history of imported follower totals. Each point is a count, not a number of new followers. Earlier missing measurements cannot be reconstructed from today’s total; a late start to the series may reflect when importing began.
Gained & Lost Followers Chart
The history of reported gains and losses, where available. Both can occur at the same time. Compare their difference with net growth; do not replace missing losses with zero or read the series as a list of individual people.
Top Countries
The available distribution by country. Read which audience it describes: followers, reached accounts and viewers are different populations. Platforms may withhold small groups for privacy. Percentages of a reported subset do not prove full coverage of all followers. Note any notice that the selected period does not apply to this snapshot.
Top Cities
Available cities for the audience described by the report. A top list is a subset; an omitted city does not automatically have zero people. Country and city lists need not total the same amount because of thresholds and coverage. The TikTok connection used here does not provide this data.
Profile Visits History
The history of Instagram’s reported profile visits, where that source is available. Other community metrics do not replace missing data. Check definition and freshness before comparing a spike with a campaign.
Follows from Content History
The history of Instagram’s reported content-attributed follows, where that source is available. Other community metrics do not replace missing data. Check definition and freshness before comparing a spike with a campaign.
Profile Activity History
The history of Instagram’s reported profile activities, where that source is available. Other community metrics do not replace missing data. Check definition and freshness before comparing a spike with a campaign.
YouTube comparison
YouTube
- Total subscribers are a snapshot; subscriber gains and losses use daily values reported by YouTube.
- Net subscriber growth = subscribers gained minus subscribers lost during the period.
- Countries, age, gender, and subscription status depend on available reports. YouTube may withhold small groups for privacy; city data is not inferred from them.
See YouTube analytics.
Compare values meaningfully
- Compare the same platform, metric definition and period. There is no universal threshold that makes an engagement rate “good”.
- Separate counts, unique reach, total snapshots, averages and ratios. A high number alone establishes neither quality nor a particular cause.
- Check import and aggregation status, account permissions and gaps. An empty view after connecting may be waiting for its first import.
- When values differ from the platform, compare the same account, report, period and data freshness. Historical values may be corrected later.