function calculateReachRate() {
// Get input values using 'var'
var reachInput = document.getElementById("totalReach").value;
var followersInput = document.getElementById("totalFollowers").value;
var resultBox = document.getElementById("resultBox");
var resultDisplay = document.getElementById("reachResult");
var analysisDisplay = document.getElementById("reachAnalysis");
// Validation logic
if (reachInput === "" || followersInput === "") {
alert("Please fill in both fields.");
return;
}
var reach = parseFloat(reachInput);
var followers = parseFloat(followersInput);
if (isNaN(reach) || isNaN(followers)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers.");
return;
}
if (followers <= 0) {
alert("Total Followers must be greater than zero.");
return;
}
if (reach 100) {
analysis = "Viral Status: Your reach exceeds your follower count! This usually indicates a post has gone viral, been shared widely, or appeared on the Explore page/For You feed.";
} else if (reachRate >= 30) {
analysis = "Excellent: You are reaching a significant portion of your audience. High visibility indicates strong algorithm favorability.";
} else if (reachRate >= 15) {
analysis = "Good: This is a healthy reach rate for most established accounts.";
} else if (reachRate >= 5) {
analysis = "Average: This is typical for accounts with larger followings where organic reach is naturally throttled.";
} else {
analysis = "Low: Your content might be getting suppressed by the algorithm or is not resonating with your current audience.";
}
analysisDisplay.innerHTML = analysis;
}
How to Calculate Reach Rate: A Guide for Social Media Marketers
In the world of social media analytics, "vanity metrics" like likes and follower counts often take center stage. However, if you truly want to understand the visibility of your content, you need to know how to calculate reach rate. Reach rate provides a clear picture of what percentage of your audience actually sees your content, offering insights that raw impression numbers cannot provide.
The Core Formula:
Reach Rate = (Total Reach ÷ Total Followers) × 100
What is Reach Rate?
Reach rate is a percentage metric that measures the number of unique accounts that have seen a post or story relative to the size of your audience (usually your follower count). Unlike Impressions, which count the total number of times a post is displayed (including multiple views by the same person), Reach counts unique individuals.
Calculating this rate helps you normalize your data. For example, getting 1,000 views is impressive if you have 1,000 followers (100% reach rate), but concerning if you have 100,000 followers (1% reach rate).
Reach vs. Impressions: The Key Difference
When using the calculator above, it is vital to input the "Reach" number, not "Impressions."
Reach: The number of unique people who saw your post.
Impressions: The total number of times the post was seen (Reach × Average Frequency).
Using impressions in the formula will artificially inflate your rate and give you an inaccurate measurement of unique audience penetration.
How to Use This Reach Rate Calculator
To get an accurate calculation, follow these steps using your social media insights (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or TikTok):
Find your Unique Reach: Go to the analytics or insights tab of the specific post you want to analyze. Look for "Reach" or "Accounts Reached." Enter this into the first field.
Find your Follower Count: Enter your total number of followers at the time the post was published into the second field.
Calculate: Click the button to see your percentage.
What is a Good Reach Rate?
Benchmarks for reach rates vary drastically depending on the platform and the size of your account. Generally, as your follower count grows, your organic reach rate tends to decrease.
Small Accounts (Under 10k followers): Often see reach rates of 20% to 35%. High engagement creates a tight-knit community.
Medium Accounts (10k – 100k followers): Typically aim for 10% to 20%.
Large Accounts (100k+ followers): Often settle around 5% to 10%.
If your calculator result shows a rate over 100%, congratulations! This means your content is being seen by non-followers, likely via hashtags, shares, or the "Explore" page.
Why is My Reach Rate Low?
If your calculated rate is lower than expected, consider these factors:
Algorithm Suppression: Using banned hashtags or posting low-quality video can limit visibility.
Timing: Posting when your audience is offline reduces the initial engagement velocity required to push the post further.
Content Fatigue: If your content style has become repetitive, followers may stop pausing to view it, signaling the algorithm to stop showing it.
Calculating Campaign Reach Rate
While the calculator above is designed for single posts, you can also use it for entire campaigns. Simply sum up the unique reach of the campaign (ensure you are looking at unique account data across the campaign period) and divide by your total followers. This helps in reporting ROI to clients or stakeholders.