Leaving behind conventional marketing channels, social media is one of the biggest engagement hotspots today!
However, getting more engagement isn’t the sole factor based on which you can judge the performance of your social media marketing. That’s why it is important to have an engagement rate calculator at hand.
In this article, we will discuss how you can calculate engagement rate without any hassle.
Engagement rate is the ratio of total interactions (likes, comments, shares) divided by your total followers or reach. It shows the level of interaction your audience has with your content relative to your following size.
Simply put, this metric is used to measure how well your audience interacts with your content. It tells you whether people are paying attention to what you post and if they’re truly connecting with it. But why does that matter?
Think about it: if you’re posting regularly on social media but receiving minimal likes, comments, or shares, it could mean your content isn’t resonating with your audience. The engagement rate gives you a clear picture of how engaging your posts are, helping you tweak your strategies to get better results.
When you’re managing a social media account, it is easy to get stuck on follower count or content reach. But here’s the thing – now that the algorithms are showing us content (on Explore or FYP) based on user interest and relevance, follower count isn’t as important as it used to be. What really matters now is how your audience is interacting with your content, and that’s where engagement rate comes in.
Engagement rate tells you how much your audience is genuinely connecting with your posts. A high engagement rate means your followers like your content. It’s not just about how many people see your content, but how many are actively liking, sharing, and commenting. This is the true measure of content effectiveness.
So, let’s summarize why is engagement rate important for marketers:
Calculating engagement rate is simple, and once you understand the formula, you’ll be able to track it easily. Here’s the general formula:
Engagement Rate = (Total Engagements / Total Followers) x 100
Let’s break it down:
By multiplying the result by 100, you get a percentage that shows how engaged your audience is with your content.
But honestly, repeating this process for different profiles at regular intervals can be quite hectic. That’s why we have created an Instagram Engagement Rate Calculator to make your reporting and strategy tasks a bit similar.
All you need to do is enter your Instagram username, and our tool will automatically fetch recent posts and their metrics—like likes, comments, and shares—calculating your engagement rate, average likes, and average comments.
So, whether you’re an influencer or a business marketer, this calculator will help you measure your engagement rate in seconds and keep reports updated without any extra hassle! 🙂
Every social media platform has its way of measuring engagement. Here are some of the common engagement metrics you might come across:
Social Media Platform | Engagement Rate Metrics |
Likes, comments, shares, reactions, profile visits | |
Twitter (𝕏) | Reposts, replies, mentions, branded hashtags |
Reactions, comments, clicks, shares | |
Likes, comments, pins | |
YouTube | Likes, comments, shares, saves, downloads |
Likes, comments, reposts, shares via message, custom button clicks |
To know more about each metric in detail, give Social Media Metrics: 5 Social Media Metrics You Need to Track a read.
Now that you know how to calculate engagement rate, let’s understand how it can benefit your social media strategy in the long run.
Sure, it can be a great addition to your monthly reports to help show the content improvement over time. On the other hand, calculating engagement rates can also be beneficial for your personal growth.
If your social media engagement rate is lesser than your competitors’, you can make some changes to your current strategy. Here are some ways for the same:
4 posts in one day and nothing for the rest of week isn’t a good posting strategy to follow. Instead, you need to distribute posts throughout the week to give your audience some breathing space, but at the same time not let them forget you.
You can also think of it this way–posting regularly keeps your brand top of mind and increases the chances of interaction.
Tip: Create a content calendar to ensure you’re posting consistently, whether it’s daily, weekly, or at regular intervals.
What kind of content is your audience most interested in? Find out their interests, challenges, and preferences, and make content that will meet their needs.
Tip: Use insights from your social media platforms to see what types of posts are getting the most engagement. Focus on creating similar content.
Don’t be afraid to ask your audience to engage with your content. Asking questions, running polls, or inviting followers to share their opinions can drive more comments and interactions.
Tip: Add calls-to-action (CTAs) like “What do you think?” or “Tag a friend who’d love this!” in your posts to encourage comments and shares.
For example: Here’s how we generate user engagement by posting polls on Instagram Stories for @vaizleoninsta:
Hashtags help expand the reach of your posts, making them discoverable to a larger audience. But it’s not just about using popular hashtags; focus on relevant, niche hashtags that will attract your target audience.
Tip: Research hashtags that your followers are likely to search for and use a mix of popular and niche hashtags in your posts. You can use Vaizle’s free hashtag generator for the same!
Engagement is a two-way street. Responding to comments, liking posts, and engaging with your followers on their content can encourage them to interact with you more often. The more you engage with them, the more likely they are to engage back.
Tip: Set aside time each day to reply to comments and messages, and interact with posts from your followers or those in your industry.
People love sharing content that resonates with them. Creating shareable content—whether it’s informative, funny, or emotional—can help increase your engagement rate.
Tip: Focus on creating content that encourages your audience to tag their friends, share on their stories, or post on their own feeds.
Timing can have a big impact on engagement. Posting when your audience is most active can lead to higher interaction rates.
Tip: Use social media insights to determine when your audience is online and schedule your posts accordingly to maximize engagement. Or simply try Vaizle’s free Best Time to Post tools.
You need to know how to calculate engagement rate because this metric reflects how well you’re connecting with your audience. By calculating and tracking your engagement rate, you gain valuable insights into which content resonates most, what your audience loves, and how to optimize your strategy for better results.
Anything between 1-5% is generally considered to be a good engagement rate. The more followers you have, the harder it can be to hike up the engagement metrics.
To calculate the engagement rate, you need to first add up the number of total engagements received in the form of likes, comments, shares, etc. Divide that value by the total number of followers you have and multiply by 100%.
Common engagement metrics on social media platforms include likes, shares, comments, shares via private messages, profile visits, etc.
Arushi is a proficient SEO and ASO specialist with a 5-year track record working for B2B and B2C organizations. Currently, she is heading SEO strategy for Vaizle and helping businesses improve their online presence. A mountain girl at heart, she likes to recharge her creative abilities by taking long walks and listening to podcasts.