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Instagram Graph API vs. Data365: Which One is Best for Your Business?

Instagram is one of the most popular social networks, which provides a wide range of opportunities for various brands. The main thing is to collect data correctly and conduct ongoing analysis. Moreover, the network itself provides a tool to collect data yet there are some aspects to keep in mind.

In this article, we will talk about the capabilities of Instagram Graph API and compare it with an alternative scraper from Data365.

Internal social media tools include many useful features but their capabilities are still limited. And one of the most indispensable helpers for parsing is the Application Programming Interface.

What Is Instagram Graph API?

Through the use of Instagram's open API, users get a lot of features to collect and analyze data to build an effective marketing strategy. It's possible to study the Instagram Graph API tutorial and practice, but on the condition that you have programming skills or you work in the field of social media listening.

Although the Graph API is much more limited than the previous version, it gives developers some options (for instance, to receive and publish data). To access the collected information, you will need a business account or login details for the creator's account.

However, this product still allows you to create applications that interact with Instagram, and can also be used to:

Below we will consider how exactly you can get certain data using the GraphQL API.

Data365 APIs

Data365's Application programming interface is designed specifically for social media listening product developers and social network analytics companies. Unlike other similar products, Data365 API allows you to extract from all social networks, incl. and Instagram, large amounts of data:

Thanks to the free trial for a week, you can make sure if this solution fits you and then choose the most suitable pricing plan: basic, standard, or premium. Whatever the service package used, you will have access to all the data. In addition, even with a free trial period Data365 provides the technical support.

For example, using the Instagram API, you can track tagged posts and collect data about users or posts that contain a specific hashtag or geolocation. In other words, if you work in the field of social media listening, monitor brands, and influencers, or are involved in media intelligence, Data365's APIs will become your indispensable assistant.

So let's compare which of the solutions could be more suitable for your needs.

What Is the Data365 API?

receive and post media,

manage and respond to comments,

determine media where other users have mentioned a customer's brand,

search for tags,

obtain metadata and key metrics about other companies and users.

receive data about public posts of any user, including content, media, likes etc.,

collect post's comments,

search for hashtags to determine the post where it was mentioned,

obtain data about public profiles, including the list of followers,

collect all key metrics for your analytics.

Instagram GraphQL API Tutorial: Basics, Background, Components, Features

Instagram GraphQL

Instagram GraphQL is a syntax that describes how to query data and is basically used by SMM specialists to download the information they were looking for and collecting. With its help, you can specify what data to accumulate, aggregate, and analyze using the type system. But before considering the Instagram API Graph, let's pay attention to the historical base.

SQL is a declarative programming language that is used to create, modify, and manipulate data in databases. This language supports four basic query operators: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. Using SQL, you can ask the database for exactly what is needed. For example, when it is necessary to "get" all users named Maria from the database, this can be done using the query: SELECT * FROM USERS WHERE FirstName = "Maria".

There are several ways to solve this problem using REST:

Instagram GraphQL API combines the power of SQL and REST on the client side. This product takes ideas developed for manipulating data in a database and uses them on the web. Therefore, with a single GraphQL query, you can get all the necessary data at once.

Instagram GraphQL Query

With these commands, Facebook Graph API Instagram gets the required data from the server. The Query request type in GraphQL is analogous to GET in REST. Queries are strings that are sent in the body of an HTTP POST request. Please note that all types of requests in GraphQL are sent via POST.

Parts of detailed Query in Instagram GraphQL API

query {
users {
fname
age
}
}

In response to this request, the server sends data in JSON format. The structure of the response corresponds to the structure of the request.

Query describes the data to be retrieved from the server. For example, using the code below, you can get the fname and age of all users in the database.

data : {
users [
{
"fname": "Joe",
"age": 23
},
{
"fname": "Betty",
"age": 29
}
]
}

Successful operations return JSON with the key "data" and with the key "error", while unsuccessful ones return JSON with the key and an error message. This makes it convenient to handle errors on the client side.

Instagram GraphQL Schema

Working with the Facebook Instagram Graph API server always starts with Schema development. It consists of two interrelated objects: TypeDefs and Resolvers. In order for the server to work with all GraphQL types, they need to be defined. The typeDef defines the list of types that are available in the project. The second object was discussed above.

After defining the types, you need to add their logic. This is necessary so that the server knows how to respond to client requests. This task is solved using the Resolvers described earlier.

GraphQL example

Before using the Facebook API, get an Instagram account. This is one of the main disadvantages of this data collection and analysis product.

In other words, the GraphQL Instagram API provides a level of access not available to regular Instagram users. There is a more thoughtful, multifunctional and convenient alternative — Data365 API.

Define an endpoint on the server that will serve users from the database named Maria.

Define a common endpoint to get all users and filter the resulting list on the client side.

Instagram Data365 API Tutorial: Basics, Background, Components, Features

Data365 API

Data365 API is based on a REST syntax. This approach has some differences from Graph syntax, which has both its advantages and disadvantages. Using REST API queries you will be able to collect only that type of data which is relevant and not to get all in one.

Step 1. Create request

Create a POST request to start the update process. POST request enables you to receive updated data directly from the social network. At this stage, we call upon the social network and update the Data365 databases in conformance with your request.

To fetch Instagram data you will need to define the type of data in which you're interested in and then to follow the next algorithm:

E.g. Create task (POST request) to update a profile

Step 2. Get status

If the url callback was not specified, the next step is to make a GET request to get the updated status of your POST request.

created - task in line
pending - update coming
finished - successfully completed
fail - completed with an error
canceled - task canceled by user
unknown - if the update did not start

E.g. Get status of an update task for a profile

Step 3. Get data

Create a GET request to get cached data from the databases of Data365

E.g. Fetch cached data for a profile

API response always contains fields:

This API works primarily with endpoints, which are multiple REST-based web service URLs to access much of Instagram's overall functionality:

Data 365 Instagram API Query

Using the POST and GET queries of the Data365 API, you get the necessary data from the web version of Instagram, and then you collect the cached data from the Data365 database. Please note that in order to receive data or update previously received data, you need to send a POST request.

The request reflects the data that will be requested from the web version of Instagram.

Here is an example of information that can be requested for the public profile.

To collect all fetched data from the database you will need to send a GET request with the parameters that correspond to the structure of a POST request.

All the results are provided in JSON format.

If the parameter callback_url was specified when creating the task, then a POST request will be made to this URL after the update is completed. In this case, you can skip subsequent Steps 2 and 3.

The field data.status will display the current update status

Repeat this step until the update is complete

data - contains the data that the request should return. May be empty

error - contains an error code in the field code and error description in the field

message. May be empty if there is no error.

status - ok, if the request is ok, fail - if any error occurred

"Instagram Profile" allows you to collect data on public profiles by ID or username. View its posts, stories, followers and followings, suggested profiles.

Retrieve lists of followers.

"Instagram Profile search" allows you to search for public profiles using keywords such as name and surname and get basic information of these profiles.

"Instagram location search" get Instagram posts searching by internal Instagram ID of the target location.

"Instagram Hashtag search" allows you to search for public posts, namely for posts with a specific hashtag.

"Instagram Profile" allows you to collect data on public posts by ID. Collects medias, url of photo or video, comments, likes, and tags.

The Data365 Instagram API allows you to accumulate:

Data365 API Tutorial: Unique Features and Data to Obtain

Using this information, collected both manually (for one-time tasks) and automatically according to a pre-configured algorithm (for standard operations), developers and SMM specialists can identify influencers and monitor the effectiveness of the customer's advertising campaign.

Main Features and Specific Functionality

Instagram API: guide to search and filter

Data365 provides a wide range of functionality for its users, which includes both standard queries and data, and unique features:

It should be separately mentioned that you can always monitor your API usage stats.

This API solution uses a mentions/credits system that includes a fair billable system so you only pay for the data received. There is an endpoint that allows you to check how many mentions (credits) you have used in a certain period of time.

Data to Obtain

Scrape Instagram Profiles

Data365 API allows you to get valuable data (incl. demographics and post engagement) for influencer marketing with the help of simple queries. With the Data365 Instagram API, you can get a lot of data from profiles, pages, posts, and comments:

Data about users;

Publications;

Engagement in brand discussions to the client's server.

You can sort the post you want to get by date.

This API implements the most efficient search, thanks to which it is possible to sort and collect Insta posts by specific hashtags and location.

You can download avatar photos to the s3 bucket.

The Data365 Instagram API recognizes the gender and age of users by their photos in the account, determines the business category, and whether a person is subscribed to a particular group.

You can fetch carousel images for posts.

You can use monitoring tasks. Tasks created in our product can be either "one-time", created for specific tasks, or automatically updated. The second method allows you to monitor the same type of data in accordance with the prescribed conditions for a specified time.

The request can be customized to suit your need, for example, to set up the correct request or add new features that will make your monitoring incomplete.

Scrape Instagram Profiles — obtaining information based on a database of IDs or usernames: number of followers and followings, content and number of posts, username and ID, biographical data, photos, gender and age (including for accounts that do not have them).

Instagram Search for profiles and posts by hashtags or locations. Enter a list of all hashtags or location IDs in the query and you will receive a list of users or posts that meet the specified criteria. The received data can be immediately transferred in JSON form for analysis, or you can configure sorting by date (publication period), text or language.

Scrape Instagram Post to download information about posts. It can be a single post and you can get data by its ID, or it can be a post found by a tag or owned by a specific user. You can also get likes and reactions to posts. This feature allows analysis based on post content, user IDs, geolocations, engagement data, and URLs of attachments.

Comments and Replies can also be collected by the API, which will give you information about the owner. This will allow you to analyze how the public reacts to the post, as well as analyze the audience.

As follows from the article above, both APIs allow you to get the following:

Data365 or Facebook Graph API: Get Instagram Insights

Data:

Capabilities:

Remember that for Instagram Graph API in order for a third party to collect data, it is needed to provide login information under your account, which is not convenient and secure.

Unlike the GraphQL Instagram API, Data365's product provides the same functionality and more, but without the need to disclose the client's personal data. In addition, if the client needs to expand the functionality of the product, Data365 experts will always individually approach the issue, consult, and help to adjust the API to the requirements.

Outcome

In this article, we reviewed the main functions and advantages of the Instagram Graph API and Data365 API. Both products allow you to collect all the valuable data to improve your marketing efforts, better understand your target audience, track trends, and many more. It's up to you to choose the one that suits you best yet making decision, consider certain limitations of the Instagram Graph API:

In its turn Data365 Instagram API allows you to get maximum data and without being limited by many restrictions:

And that's all for a fair price. You can get more details about Data365 API by leaving a request and managers will provide you with all the needed information.

Metadata and metrics for other business accounts (for example, for example, the number of subscribers and media objects);

Information about media objects of a certain business profile (number of comments or likes);

Public photos and videos that have been tagged with the hashtag you are interested in;

Reach, views and various actions in relation to a particular user/community;

Titles, comments and media objects in which the profile you are interested in has been tagged or @mentioned.

Get an idea about the business you are studying.

Extract data from specific hashtags.

Track trends.

Keep abreast of the latest news.

Create advertising campaigns.

Add photos from Instagram to the site.

Track the performance of an event or campaign.