f you’ve been feeling the pressure to spend your entire week filming and editing videos just to stay relevant, we have some very good news for you.  At Social Media Academy , we’ve been looking at the latest data on what businesses are actually posting in 2026, and the results are clear: The era of "video at all costs" is officially over. Here is how the smartest brands are telling their stories this year. The Breakout Star: The Carousel (+24.6%) 📈 Carousels (those "swipeable" posts with multiple images) have exploded this year. They’ve jumped from a tiny fraction of content to nearly a quarter of everything we see online. Why it works: Our data shows that Carousels get 12% higher engagement than videos on average. Why? Because they keep people on your post longer as they swipe through your tips. They are the absolute best way to share educational content or "B2B" advice without needing a film crew. The Reliable Backbone: Images (+7.7%) 🖼️ Don't listen to anyone who says "photos are dead." With nearly 60% of all posts being single images, they remain the reliable backbone of a successful feed. A high-quality, professional photo still stops the scroll better than almost anything else. The Video Reality Check (-34.6%) 📉 This is the big one. We’ve seen a massive drop-off in video volume. It’s not that video doesn't work; it’s that brands are stopping the "filler" content. People are only hitting "record" when they have something high-impact and valuable to say. Quality has officially beaten quantity. Stories and Reels: Strategic & Intentional While Stories are up slightly (+1.6%) as a tool for building "behind-the-scenes" trust, Reels have dipped slightly (-1.1%). The "Reels or Die" panic has settled down. Short-form video is now just one tool in the box, rather than the whole box itself. Expert Insight: Why "The Swipe" is a Win for You At Social Media Academy , we love Carousels because they are a massive win for busy business owners. They are faster to produce than video. They are easier to approve and schedule. They drive more saves and shares because they provide actual value. Want to master "The Swipe"? Not sure how to turn your expertise into a high-performing Carousel? We can help. At Social Media Academy , we offer single-session training on Content Creation & Storytelling . We’ll show you how to create "swipeable" content that builds trust and gets your audience engaging with your brand. Book your Content Masterclass with Social Media Academy today.

At Social Media Academy , we don’t believe in follow-the-leader marketing. We look at the numbers. Our latest data has revealed three major shifts that will define how you grow your business this year.  If you want to stay ahead of your competition, here is what you need to know about the 2026 landscape. 1. The Threads Takeover is Real 📈 If you’ve been "waiting and seeing" with Threads, the wait is over. Between January and December, engagement and posting volume on the platform grew by over 300% . It’s no longer a playground for early adopters; it’s a pillar of modern social strategy. The 2026 Strategy: Move your "hot takes," quick tips, and community conversations here. It is the perfect place for text-based engagement that actually gets seen. 2. The LinkedIn "Source of Truth" 🏢 There’s been a lot of talk lately about personal profiles being the only way to grow on LinkedIn. But the data tells a different story: LinkedIn Company Page activity is steadily climbing. In an era of AI-generated noise and "influencer fatigue," people are looking for a source they can trust. Your Company Page has become that source of truth . The 2026 Strategy: Don’t abandon your Page for personal profiles. Think of it as a "Hub and Spoke" model. Your employees (the spokes) generate the interest and traffic, but your Page (the hub) is the verified portfolio that actually converts those leads into customers. 3. The Mid-Week Power Surge 🕧 When you post is just as important as what you post. While Wednesday remains the powerhouse for engagement, Thursday is rapidly catching up as the second most active day for social activity. The 2026 Strategy: Front-load your high-value, "must-see" content for Tuesday through Thursday. This is when your audience is most active and ready to engage. Save your experimental or lower-stakes posts for the weekend dip.

Social Media in 2026: Where Should Your Business Actually Be? If you feel like social media is changing faster than you can keep up with, you aren’t imagining it. We’ve just analysed the Platform Shift 2025 data, and the landscape for 2026 looks very different than it did even twelve months ago. At Social Media Academy , we’re all about making sure you don’t waste your energy on platforms that don’t move the needle. Here is our "straight-talk" breakdown of where the smart money is going this year. The "Big Two" are Changing Facebook remains the undisputed king for local community reach, holding a massive 44.6% of the share. For example, if you are a local shop or service in Liverpool, you still HAVE to be here. However, with a slight dip of -1.8%, it’s no longer about posting for the sake of it; it’s about being an active part of the community. Instagram has seen a significant shift, with a -7.7% dip in volume. The era of "quantity" is over. In 2026, it’s all about Quality Storytelling . One really good, "human" Reel or a series of authentic Stories is worth more than ten polished but soulless grid posts. The Big Winners: X and LinkedIn The biggest surprise this year? X (formerly Twitter) is back with a bang, seeing a 6.1% resurgence . It is once again the go-to place for real-time brand presence and being part of the global conversation. Matching that growth is LinkedIn Company Pages , also up by 6.1% . This is now the essential anchor for B2B authority. It’s where people go to do their "due diligence" to see if you really are the expert you claim to be. Coupled with LinkedIn Profiles (up 0.4%), employee advocacy is a priority for any serious brand in 2026. The New Kids & The Specialist Pillars Keep an eye on Threads and Bluesky . They may have a small slice of the pie right now, but they are the "early adopter" choices for niche communities. If you like being ahead of the curve, these are the places to start experimenting. Don’t ignore TikTok . While its total share is still just 1.0%, the volume of content has tripled year-over-year. It’s no longer just for viral dances; it’s a powerhouse for brand discovery. Meanwhile, YouTube remains a static but solid pillar for those committed to long-form video and Shorts. Our 2026 Strategy Advice: Don't try to be everywhere. Pick the top 3 platforms where your specific niche actually hangs out. Prioritise Trust. With Google Business updates becoming more selective (-3.2%), make sure your profile is "high quality" rather than just "frequently updated." Be Human. Whether it’s a LinkedIn Profile or a TikTok video, people in 2026 want to buy from people they trust, not faceless logos. Confused about where your business fits in the 2026 mix? Book a single-session "Strategy Audit" with Social Media Academy . We’ll look at your current stats and help you decide exactly which platforms deserve your time—and which ones you can safely ignore.

You’re posting, but the audience isn’t responding. You feel like you’re shouting into the void. We’ve worked with hundreds of independent businesses, and the ones who win aren't luckier—they just follow a simple, repeatable checklist. We call these the Four Pillars of Maximum Engagement. If you follow these four simple rules, the algorithms (and your audience) will reward you. Pillar 1: Conversation is Currency Most people treat social media like a megaphone—they shout their offer and walk away. That's wrong! Social media is a two-way conversation . Engagement is the algorithm's fuel. Your Action: Stop posting and start asking. Every piece of content should include a question. Respond to every comment, even if it's just a simple emoji or "Thanks!" The more you talk back, the more the platform shows your content. Pillar 2: Consistency Wins the Day We see clients post ten times in one week, then vanish for three. That doesn't work. The algorithm rewards consistency because it tells the platform that your page is reliable. Your Action: Stick to a simple schedule (like the checklist we gave you!). It's better to post two great pieces of content every week without fail than ten pieces one week and zero the next. Build trust by always being there. Pillar 3: Use All the Tools You can't just post a photo anymore. Every social platform wants you to use all of its shiny new toys: Stories, Reels, Carousels, Polls, and Live Videos. Your Action: Don't just post your main content. Share it to your Stories . Use a Poll to ask your audience's opinion. Use a Reel to show a quick tip. The platforms reward you for using the features they want you to use, giving you a boost in visibility. Pillar 4: Go Back and Dig This is the secret weapon: Don't just engage with the people who comment on your posts. Go out and engage with them first. Your Action: Dedicate time each day to go to your audience's profiles, scroll through their feeds, and leave genuine comments on their content. Like their photos, share their useful posts, and show them you’re listening. That energy always comes back to you! If you're ready to stop being ignored and start seeing real results, you don't need a miracle; you just need a better system. We can show you how to build the habit that turns those four pillars into daily success.

End the Year Smart: Your Secret Weapon for a Profitable January