Instagram is slowly turning into Netflix. Here’s what that means for creators & brands Sounds dramatic? Maybe But it’s exactly what the new Instagram algorithm is nudging toward In 2025, Instagram quietly evolved from a “scroll” app into a “streaming” platform rewarding Reels that hook attention, build narratives, and keep people watching like episodes in a binge-worthy series Let’s unpack what’s really happening 1) The Algorithm Update That Changed Everything: Instagram now ranks Reels using retention and engagement signals– watch time,– rewatches,– skips,– DM shares, &– completion rates In September 2025, two critical updates made this shift official: > Reel retention + skip metrics were added to analytics> Multi-part linking launched, letting creators connect Reels into series (e.g. Part 1 → Part 2) Adam Mosseri even called it “a new era of binge-worthy mini-shows.” So yes, episodic storytelling is now baked into Instagram’s growth engine 2) Why “Episodic Reels” Are the New Meta: Content Creators and brands that build repeatable series see up to 2–3x more recall and engagement Because audiences don’t just follow your brand, they follow your story For Creators: Start a “Challenge Series” (e.g., 30 days of design, fitness, or product building) For Brands: Think “Skin Coach Diaries,” “Stylist Selects,” or “Barista Stories.” Real faces + recurring characters = trust and retention Remember: one viral Reel won’t build a brand, A well-told series will 3) How to Optimize for This Algorithm – Hook hard in the first 3 seconds, reduce skips– End with cliffhangers, push viewers to tap on “Next Reel” – Track retention metrics: if people drop off early, shorten your narrative – Encourage DMs: Instagram now boosts content shared privately Even hashtags matter less today Instagram favors organic discovery powered by watch time and authenticity signals 4) Practical Steps to Win in 2025: – Repurpose your best-performing Reels into multi-part stories– Build 10-episode seasons around your niche– Use the new iPad app for Reels editing — it’s optimized for series creation– A/B test episodic vs random posts to find what your audience “binges”– Embed storytelling across Reels, Carousels, & Stories for a unified brand universe This isn’t about gimmicks. It’s about attention architecture, building narrative loops that make your audience care enough to come back The Big Takeaway: Instagram’s future belongs to storytellers, not sellers If YouTube built the long-form universe, Instagram is now building the short-form multiverse, one where creators evolve into showrunners & brands become media houses The question for 2026 isn’t “What Reel should I post?” It’s, “What story am I telling next week?” Start Today Audit retention metrics, build your universe. Storytellers own 2026, sellers won’t Who’s piloting a series? Drop ideas below
Training the New LinkedIn Algorithm.
LINKEDIN IS CHANGING This change isn’t about chasing higher reach It’s about training the algorithm intentionally Because LinkedIn just rolled out its biggest transparency update yet The 360brew Report: – It finally explains what the platform actually rewards now and it’s not hustle, frequency, or hacks – The new algorithm is no longer rewarding activity – It’s rewarding coherence Let’s decode that for a second * The old game was simple:Post daily. Engage with everyone. Stay “active.” * The new game? Much smarter and much deeper. So, Write for LinkedIn’s reasoning engine. – Position yourself as an authority in your domain through consistent, coherent signals. Here’s how to train this new system to work for you: 1. Profile = Your Personal Brochure – Your profile is now your most important SEO/GEOon LinkedIn– The headline and first paragraph of your “About” section carry the most weight– Front-load your value, talk about who you help, how you help, and why it mattersA Keep it consistent with your content themes.– The AI reads this context while ranking your posts– Think of it as your executive summary: short, sharp, and story-led. 2) Content = Your Case Studies – Every post is a new data point for LinkedIn’s algorithm– It learns what you stand for by what (and how) you post– Go deep, not broad. Coherence > Virality– Structure your logic clearly: data, lists, or frameworks perform better because they signal expertise – Mix 3 core post types for balance: i) Credibility – authority led insightsii) Connection – personal, storytelling postsiii) Conversion – actionable, valuable lessons – Here’s a little-known insight: when users pause on your content for just 3 seconds,– LinkedIn interprets it as high relevance and scales your reach accordingly– So clarity & depth now matter more than polish 3) Engagement = You’re Training the Algorithm: – Your engagement activity is part of your “coherence score.” It’s how LinkedIn maps your professional identity– Don’t like or comment randomly– Leave thoughtful comments only on topics you want to be known for.– Engage 10 minutes before posting, this “warms” your feed and primes visibility In short, every interaction is a signal You’re not just networking you’re teaching the algorithm who to associate you with This shift means it’s no longer about performing It’s about positioning The creators and professionals who win here will treat LinkedIn as a long-term ecosystem, not a short-term stage Train the machine with intention and it will reward you with the right visibility, not fleeting reach So, how are you training your LinkedIn algorithm lately? Are you even doing it, if not- what are you waiting for? May be this post, haha Go for it now, pay attention, all the best
The Creator Playbook.
I had watched an interview of Tanmay Bhat with Varun Mayya quite some time ago, it made a lot of sense These are hard-earned lessons from the trenches of India’s digital ecosystem These were lying in my notes app, putting it out here, most things beautifully put by Tanmay, he indeed is a master of words I have modified a few things based on knowledge that I have gathered too Reaching 1K, 10K, 100K, 500K, 1 Million followers/subscribers isn’t just luck, it’s a result of systems, storytelling, & showing up relentlessly Whether you’re at follower 54 or 540K, this post is your playbook to build a scalable content engine from scratch 1) Find Product-Market Fit for ‘Enjoyment’: – Before you look for an audience, find what lights you up– Create around a topic you’d stick to for 3+ years– Test formats: video, writing, audio to find your medium– Use early feedback as guidance, not gospel– The best creators blend passion with market need 2) Build the Most Overlooked Skill: ‘Writing’ – No matter your platform, writing powers every hook, script, title, & caption– Great writing helps you:• Structure ideas that stick• Create emotional or intellectual payoff writing is a long-term leverage 3) Play for Asymmetric Returns: – One video can change your life– 1 out of 50 posts may go viral– Growth is spiky, not linear– Each post is a ‘lottery ticket’ with better odds through consistency– Show up often enough to get lucky 4) Master Retention: The Secret to Growth – Likes don’t scale, retention does– Open with curiosity– Add tension or mystery– Deliver a surprise halfway “oven moment”– Refresh visuals every 30/60 secs– Close with insight or clarity– Platforms reward content that keeps people watching 5) Short-form vs Long-form: – Use Both– Start with short-form to build confidence & audience habit– Evolve into long-form for trust and monetisation– Rule of thumb:. Short-form gets you discovered. Long-form earns you loyalty & money 6) Monetisation: Think Beyond Ads – Top content creators don’t rely on one stream– Courses & Coaching are high-margin, scalable impact– D2C Products: product opportunity– Consulting/Services: when businesses want your playbook 7) Build Your Content Team – Solo is fine to start but scale needs leverage and tribe– Start with freelancers: editors, writers, producers – Hire for:• Speed• Storytelling – Build small but sharp teams 8) From Creator to Company: – Content is the entry point, business is the outcome– Build IP, not just posts– Step out of ‘creator only’ mode into operator/founder mode– The best creators evolve into content entrepreneurs 9) Track What Matters: – Ignore vanity metrics, focus on:• Retention rate• Watch time• RPM• Repeat viewership• Engagement/impression• Upload velocity ‘Top creators aren’t guessing, they’re optimising’ ‘This Is a Marathon, Not a Meme’ ‘The creator economy isn’t a trend, it’s a revolution’ ‘Start today, not someday’