One of my favorite follows on Instagram right now is Brock Johnson. He’s an Instagram “coach” who consistently puts out practical, no-fluff advice on how to use the platform better.
He just dropped his Instagram predictions for 2026, and I wanted to break them down. You should read his caption for the full context, but here’s my take and how I’m thinking about applying it.
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First, here’s what’s OUT.
Educational posts
I’ve been saying this for a while: strictly educational posts don’t perform unless there’s some entertainment or storytelling baked in. The days of reading a script straight to camera about the importance of a home inspection are long gone. Education alone isn’t enough anymore. In fact, it turns people off. People aren’t scrolling to learn; they are scrolling to be entertained.
Hashtags
Just forget about hashtags. They do nothing.
Fancy graphics
Anything that feels overly polished or overdesigned tends to underperform now. Instagram is rewarding content that feels human, not corporate.
“Read the caption” Reels
Put the actual content in the Reel. Filming a three-second clip and dumping the real value in the caption isn’t clever anymore. People are tired of misdirection and bait.
Overthinking every post
2026 should be about volume. Worry less about engagement and more about consistently showing up. Test as much content as possible.
Disconnected content
Every time you post, whether it’s text, a carousel, or a video, put yourself in the viewer’s seat and ask: Does this make sense in two seconds? Can someone immediately understand what this post is about? If they have to strain for even a moment, you need to redo it. Confusion kills engagement.
Chasing trends & hacks
Trends can still be fun for a quick spike, but they’re not a sustainable long-term strategy. Don’t build your entire presence around them. It starts to feel like you’re just after “likes” as opposed to trying to create content that’s actually FOR your audience.
Now let’s break down what’s IN.
Edutainment posts
Education plus entertainment. Storytelling and humor are what make information stick. The goal is value without feeling like a lecture. This is a great example from Selene Hanna:
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SEO keywords
I’ve been saying this for a while. Keywords are the new hashtags. Be intentional with the words in your captions, the phrases you say on camera, and your text-based hooks. Clearly state what the post is about. This improves searchability and significantly extends the shelf life of your content.
Casual carousels
Think photo dumps. Yes, structured carousels with hooks, value, and a strong close still matter, but sometimes casual works better. Look at how Gen Z posts. They just photo dump. Byron even did this in his New Year’s post: just a bunch of photos, no overthinking.
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FaceTime Reels
Talk to the camera like you’re talking to a friend. No “content voice.” No yelling hooks. “Here are FIVE reasons…” can still work, but it doesn’t land the same way it used to. Instead, set the camera up like a FaceTime call and just talk.
Theoni Rapi (Not Ur Daddy’s Lender) does this perfectly. Her videos feel like she’s actually on FaceTime with you, and that casual energy is why they work.
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Just. Press. Post.
No explanation needed.
Series & challenges
Everyone is talking about “signature series,” and there’s probably a reason for that. Brock Johnson is doing one right now where he reads through his followers’ list. Simple, repeatable, recognizable.
Consistent effort
This one’s obvious.
BONUS: Joining a community
One of the easiest ways to help you stay consistent is by joining a community that helps you grow on Instagram with social media templates, video scripts, and live office hours with The Broke Agent (me) to audit your content.
And it just so happens we do all that in BAMx: Here is your 7-Day Free trial.
Anyway, great stuff from Brock Johnson. Go follow him. And if you’re curious, here are my 2026 New Year’s resolutions:
A little public accountability going into the New Year!
