In this article
Learn how to use Historical Data to analyze activity from before your tracker started, including how to:
Request backfill data for keywords, hashtags, or accounts
Capture pre-tracker moments like launches, events, or crises
Include historical posts in dashboards and reports
Understand platform-specific historical data limits
Overview
Keyhole starts collecting data the moment you create a tracker. But what if the most important activity happened earlier? With Historical Data, you can pull in posts from before your tracker started—giving you a complete picture of campaign performance, trends, and audience response.
Historical Data is available with most Enterprise plans and is priced based on volume and date range.
Key insights to look for
Engagement spikes before your tracker started: Reviewing early data helps explain trends that began before real-time tracking.
Changes in sentiment leading up to a key moment: Shifts in tone before a launch or crisis can highlight early reactions you otherwise would’ve missed.
Recurring themes or keywords: Historical patterns may reveal topics or concerns that consistently show up across time.
Gaps in reporting or dashboards: Including historical posts can give clients or teams a more complete picture of campaign performance.
Watch this video to see how to request Historical Data
Real-Time Tracking vs. Sample Data
When you create a tracker, Keyhole begins pulling in data in real time. To help you preview your dashboard, you may also see a small sample of older posts.
What is sample data?
A limited set of older posts (up to 200, depending on platform)
Instagram: Posts from the past 24 hours
Appears before the “Tracker Created” line in your dashboard
Helps visualize trends, but is not complete
To fill in everything from before your tracker started, you’ll need to request Historical Data.
Platform Availability
Each platform has its own limitations on how far back data can be retrieved.
Platform | Historical Data Availability |
X (Twitter) | Data available as far back as 2015 |
Hashtag posts from professional accounts (last 24 hours); keyword and @mentions from authenticated accounts in Watchlist or Profile Analytics only | |
TikTok | Not currently supported |
Up to 90 days of posts from accounts in Watchlist or Profile Analytics | |
YouTube | Up to 30 days of data for channels in Watchlist or Profile Analytics |
News, Blogs, Forums | Varies by source; many go back several months |
How to Request Historical Data
You can request Historical Data in three ways. The steps are the same across each option:
Option 1: From Listening & Campaigns
Go to Listening & Campaigns
2. Click Get Historical Data
3. In the popup, specify:
Tracker
Search terms
Platform
Date range
4. Click Continue to review:
Remaining Monthly Quota
Estimated Backfill Volume
5. Click Confirm to submit your request
Option 2: From the Tracker
Open the tracker
Click Historical Data next to the tracker name
Follow the same steps as above
Option 3: From Using the Left Menu
Open the tracker
Click Historical Data in the left-hand menu
Follow the same steps as above
Once your request is submitted, you’ll receive a notification when the data is ready.
Get Help
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