Instagram Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2026 (Part 1): Why Instagram Feels Harder Right Now

Send us Fan MailInstagram feels harder than it used to. Your views might be down. Your reach might feel inconsistent. Your content might feel like it is disappearing into the void.This is not your fault.In this Strut It episode, I kick off a four part series on Instagram Marketing Trends and Predictions for 2026. I break down what is actually happening on the platform using real data from two massive studies that analyzed more than 44 million posts and nearly 2 million accounts.You will learn why reach is down, why competition is up, and why this shift is secretly the best opportunity small businesses have had in years.What You’ll Learn 00:00 – Why Instagram feels harder right now 03:02 – What two major studies reveal about reach, Reels, and competition 08:10 – Why more content means less average reach 09:27 – How the algorithm has shifted toward recommendations and DMs 12:21 – Why small accounts are growing faster than big ones 16:06 – What resonance over reach really means for your business 17:01 – Why views and income are not the same thing 15:09 – How I grew my business by 300 percent with lower average views 20:11 – Why niche content now beats broad content 20:41 – How shareable content wins in 2026 24:00 – Why community matters more than ever 24:56 – Why Reels still matter and how to think about them differently 25:51 – The three strategic takeaways you need to focus on this year Resources MentionedJoin the Hot Reels VIP Waitlist: Free Guide: Monetize Your IG Guide: WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRYApply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.