What Should I Actually Be Doing on Social Media in 2026?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so here’s my top advice for marketing and social in 2026:

Facebook and Instagram are back on top and they’re not going anywhere. Discovery is alive again on these platforms.

TikTok is still powerful, but people are changing how they use it. 

Social Media Platforms are being used as search engines. Make Content that answers questions.

Speaking of search engines, SEO is dead. AEO is alive and well. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, AEO is simply Answer Engine Optimization. You want your content to be easily understood by AI powered algorithms and search engines. Think clear answer-question formats. 

Keep your videos short. Like offensively short. No more millennial pauses – get straight to the point preferably in the first 2-3 seconds. 

Don’t sleep on long-form videos either. People are seeking depth alongside short videos. This builds authority.  Think Podcasts, YouTube Educational Videos, Repurpose longer insights. 

Speaking of Podcasts, let’s make sure our show notes are blog style for that AEO, so you can actually get found. What’s working right now? Making your title a question that people would naturally ask in Google. Like Why Do You Get Anxiety Right Before You Fall Asleep?

Unpolished=REAL HUMAN they want the raw, real-life you. 

Show your face. I’m sorry. I know. But people buy from people, not brands.

Use AI, but don’t let it erase your personality. AI is great for a jumping off point, but then it’s up to you to take it the rest of the way. The more AI content floods the internet, the more your quirks, stories, and voice matter. 

Build content that survives algorithm mood swings. Saveable tips. Repeatable frameworks. 

Create smaller communities. Think substack, bulletin boards, texts, private feeds where people actually talk back. People want that community feel, without leaving their house.

Three sleeper platforms: Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Threads. These have a lot of users, but not a lot of people producing content. Increasing reach for anyone who shows up. 

Make your content Value-Dense. Get in, Teach Something, Leave. In other words, tell them what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them. 

People are done watching videos that talk a lot but say nothing. Again people want to feel something as they scroll. They want to connect with you, make it easy for them.

Most of you will read this and keep posting like it’s 2023. 2026 is a comeback year. Think Depth, Clarity, and Building a community that YOU love.

If you’re stuck, you know where to find me.

And if you’re curious as to what I’m working on in 2026, you can find out here.