.svg){kind=small}
Whether you're looking to compile data and evaluate trends, easily conduct outreach to your target audience, or find and connect with influencers, learning how to scrape Instagram data can reap a power ROI. The power of web scraping, in general, is incredibly vast - but even more so on this particular social media channel.
You can quickly and easily gain access to important data like relevant hashtags, profile URLs, location data, following/follower lists, and more. Just imagine what you can do with all that information!
That's why today, we're going to teach you everything you need to know about scraping data on Instagram. We'll explain what exactly this process is and what it entails. Then, we'll take a deep dive into the benefits you stand to gain by taking the time to learn how to scrape data on Instagram. Of course, we'll finish up this article by teaching you how to scrape Instagram data with two different approaches.
As you can see, we've got quite a bit to cover and we value your time - so let's get right into the topic at hand!
First Things First - What Exactly Is Instagram Scraping?
First things first - what is Instagram scraping? As the name sort of implies, this is the process of using tools to extract valuable data from Instagram. Sure, you can log in to the platform and pull this information manually if you'd like - going profile by profile, hashtag by hashtag. But what if you could pull all this information you need in a matter of seconds with just the click of a button?
That's what Instagram scraping is all about. It allows you to automate this tiresome, meticulous process with the help of API. You can run your scrape and leave your computer to grab a cup of coffee or open another tab up to work on other tasks while the web scraping tools work their magic. You can return to be greeted by a list chock-full of important data.
The question is - what can you use that data for? Why is Instagram scraping something worth doing? We touched on it just a bit earlier, but let's explain all the benefits you stand to gain by learning how to scrape data on Instagram.
Why Scrape Instagram Data?
If you're here reading this guide, chances are, you already know why you should learn how to scrape data on Instagram. Nevertheless, we're going to break down all the data that can be extracted through Instagram scraper tools. We'll also outline the specific groups of people who have the most to gain from this powerful, underutilized marketing tool.
All The Data You Can Scrape On Instagram
Any publicly available data on an Instagram account that you can see for yourself manually is available to be scraped. That includes:
- Image URLs
- How many likes a given post generates
- List of comments on a given post
- Hashtag data
- Location data
- Following/follower data
Pretty cool, right? Now comes the question - what can be done with that data, and what groups of people can benefit from implementing web scraping into their operations?
Who Can Benefit From Scraping Instagram Data?
Anyone who needs access to the data available on Instagram can benefit from scraping it. However, the specific groups of people who are going to benefit the most from automating their data analysis efforts are:
- SaaS Owners
- Marketing Analytic Platforms
- Software Engineers
These three groups are the most common we see leveraging the power of Instagram web scraping. However, just about anyone can use these tactics to their advantage. For example, as a business owner, you can build powerful, targeted marketing campaigns with the data available on Instagram's platform. You can even use the data to find and connect with influencers to grow your audience (or just snipe their audience yourself!). Or, you can use the data to conduct market sentiment analysis - granting you powerful insights into trends.
As you can see, there are so many ways you can leverage the data on Instagram in your favor. With all this power, though, comes great responsibility. This begs the question - is it even legal to scrape data on Instagram? Let's take a look at what you need to be aware of.
Is It Legal To Scrape Instagram Data
Yes - it is perfectly legal to scrape data from Instagram. At least, provided you aren't accessing private information that lies behind a login. Stuff like passwords, for example, is protected data. Scraping anything that cannot be accessed manually right on the profile's page is a violation of privacy, and would be considered illegal.
However, everything we've discussed as it pertains to Instagram scraping up to this point is perfectly legal. So, without any further ado, let's teach you how to scrape Instagram data effortlessly.
How To Scrape Instagram Data: Two Approaches
There are two ways you can go about scraping Instagram data. You can build your own scraping bot or you can simply use a scraping tool. One of these is far easier than the other. So, we'll save that approach for last. First, let's talk about building your own python bot.
Build Your Own Python Bot
If you have experience coding and want to take matters into your own hands, you can build your own scraping tool. It just requires Python2.7 or Python3, pip or pip3, Firefox, and some knowledge of Python and data manipulation. We know that for a lot of our readers, this sounds like a lot. But we actually recently wrote a step-by-step guide on how to build an Instagram python bot.
There, you'll get walked through the exact process of how to bring your own scraper to life. The beauty of this approach is you don't have to pay monthly for your data scraping needs. However, it is a time-consuming process - and it does require experience coding, which can make it a nonoption for some readers. Don't worry - there is a second approach. And this one requires virtually no expertise in coding or scraping whatsoever! Allow us to discuss Instagram scrapers.
Use An Instagram Data Scraper (Preferred Approach)
If you want a stress-free, intuitive approach to scraping data from Instagram, look no further than Instagram scraper tools. These make it incredibly easy to extract data that you need with just a few clicks. While scraper tools are better than others, we highly encourage you to take this approach. It saves you time and simplifies everything - so you don't have to fumble over code. Instead, you just click a few buttons, and voila - you're presented with all the data you need.
Whether you want to scrape likes from Instagram posts or gain access to hashtag data, location data, and more - there is one tool that stands apart from the rest: SocialScrape.
Our Instagram scraper tool exceeds the capabilities of any other currently on the market. It can handle large requests without failing, something other scrapers miss the mark on. It's far and away the most reliable solution you have access to. The best part? It's super intuitive, too. You simply paste a user's "@" into the tool. Select the data you want to pull, and it will be delivered to you quickly. It's that easy.
Plus, your privacy is kept secure. Your IP address is never at risk of being compromised. And if you need something custom built, we can help bring it to life so your scraping vision becomes a reality. Sound too good to be true? Just try it out yourself and see - your first 100 scrapes are free!
Final Thoughts On How To Scrape Instagram Data
At this point, you know everything there is to know about Instagram data scraping. We've covered what exactly this tactic is, what it can do for you, and of course, how to scrape Instagram data. There is just one thing left to do - head over to SocialScrape and try it out yourself risk-free. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Unlock the power of web scraping for yourself today! Looking for further reading? Check out our related article on how to find the best hashtags for Instagram growth.
