Impactstory

ImpactStory is a web-based platform that helps researchers create a public profile showcasing the online impact of their research—beyond traditional citations. It aggregates both altmetrics (online mentions, views, saves, social media) and conventional metrics for outputs like articles, datasets, software, presentations and other doi content.
Launched by the non-profit of the same name, it is open-source software and integrates with identifiers like ORCID and DOI metadata. 

Why it matters

• Traditional citation counts don’t capture many ways research has influence (e.g., software usage, policy mentions, social media discussion). ImpactStory expands that view.
• By having a profile that shows both classic and altmetrics, you (or your lab) can demonstrate visibility, reach, and engagement of research outputs—useful for reporting, grant proposals, institutional metrics.
• Because it’s non-profit and open-source, it aligns with open science goals and transparency in impact measurement.

How it works (in broad strokes)

1. You create or log into ImpactStory and link your ORCID or enter DOIs, URLs, or other identifiers for your research outputs. 
2. ImpactStory collects data about those items (e.g., downloads, Mendeley saves, Twitter mentions, GitHub forks for software) and displays summary metrics on your profile. 
3. You can publish your public profile, which others (colleagues, funders) can view to quickly see your output, the types of outputs (not just articles), and their online engagement.
4. You may use the profile in institutional or personal reporting: linking to it, embedding screenshots, or exporting metrics for slides/presentations.

Key features & advantages

• Broad output types: Works with articles, datasets, software, slides, etc—not just journal papers. 
• Altmetric integration: Offers view into social media, saves, discussion, not just citations. 
• Open and free tier: At minimum you can create a profile for free and show basic metrics.
• Good for reporting & visibility: Especially useful for labs or researchers wanting to present impact in a broader sense (e.g., for funding, institutional review).

Limitations / things to watch

• The altmetrics tracked are not exhaustive, many mentions or outputs may not be captured depending on data sources. 
• Metrics still need context: high online engagement doesn’t always equate to scientific quality or peer-valued impact—interpretation matters.
• If you rely purely on these metrics for evaluation, you may miss deeper qualitative aspects of research impact (e.g., policy change, practice adoption) not captured online.
• Depending on your discipline or region, altmetric coverage may be weaker (fewer mentions in social media or online platforms) compared with more established fields.