PostEaseReach and impressions describe exposure, not impact
Reach counts how many accounts saw a post. Impressions count how many times it was shown, including repeats. Neither says whether the post landed. Treat both as context for the numbers below, not as a result worth optimizing on their own.
Watch time matters more than a single "view" for video
For Reels and video posts, total time spent watching, including someone replaying a short clip, is a stronger signal of real performance than a view count. A view is counted the moment content appears on screen, whether or not anyone watched it through.
Sends are worth watching specifically
Since sends relative to reach is one of the ranking signals Instagram's own leadership has named directly, check how often a post gets shared in DMs, not only how often it is liked or commented on. It is one of the more reliable ways to judge whether a post genuinely resonated.