The Instagram Playbook for 2025 & 2026

If Instagram feels like it changes every five minutes, you’re not wrong. In this episode, I break down what’s actually working on Instagram right now—from reels and stories to dark social metrics—and what business owners should focus on heading into 2026.

We’ll talk about Instagram’s latest algorithm updates, the rise of DMs and discoverability, and how to build a strategy that’s sustainable and human.

If you’ve felt like you’re constantly catching up with Instagram’s changes, this episode is your reset.

In this episode of the podcast, I talk about:

• What Instagram’s AI-powered algorithm really looks for
• The two placements performing best right now
• How to use DMs and “dark social” to grow trust
• Why shareability and watch time matter more than likes
• How to adapt your strategy without burning out

This Episode Was Made Possible By:

Riverside All-in-One Podcast & Video Platform

Visit Riverside and use the code DREA to get 15% off any Riverside individual plan. We use it to record all our podcast interviews: https://onlinedrea.com/riverside

Go to the show notes for all the resources mentioned in this episode: https://onlinedrea.com/378