Shiny New Clients! Podcast Summary

Episode: The 2026 Instagram Algorithm Update (and the ONLY part that matters)

Host: Jenna Harding
Guest: Molly Donlin (Magic Marketing Machine alumna)
Date: April 6, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Jenna Harding dives into the recent 2026 Instagram algorithm update and demystifies what truly drives visibility and engagement on the platform. Jenna argues that despite frequent changes to the algorithm, the core principle of success on Instagram remains the same: create content that people want to touch—especially content that's shared via direct messages. The episode provides actionable, mindset-driven strategies for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to grow their client lists through intentional, share-focused Instagram content.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Only Algorithm Secret That Matters

• Jenna quickly dismisses the anxiety around every new algorithm tweak, boiling Instagram success down to one principle:
  • "None of the updates ever actually matter as long as you know one thing. And that thing is get people to touch your posts." (01:30)
• "Touch" means active engagement: not just likes but intentional actions like shares and DMs.
• In Jenna’s words, the most important engagement in the 2026 update is shares—specifically, when users tap the paper airplane icon to send your content via DM:
  • "The new Instagram algorithm in 2026 really wants people tapping the paper airplane and sharing your content amongst each other." (03:00)

Why Shares Are Instagram’s New Favorite Metric

• Jenna explains that Instagram now prioritizes building community and conversation, echoing last year's push for more direct messaging.
  • "Instagram's eyes—this means creating community, creating conversation." (03:20)
  • Meta's ownership of WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram DMs is a big part of this integrated strategy.
• She highlights how her most-shared content (B Roll Reels ideas) benefits from this change:
  • She discovered followers share them between their business and personal accounts as reminders.
  • "I have all these inflated shares. And then the algorithm sees people are sharing the post, and then the algorithm sends that post to more people ... because it's getting the exact engagement that the new algorithm wants it to have." (04:35)
• Notably, these shares are not random—they are functional and relevant to her audience, which sends a positive signal to Instagram’s algorithms.

What Makes Content Shareable?

• Jenna transitions to coach listeners on how to make their content share-worthy.
• She emphasizes the "paper airplane" share button and asks:
  • "What can you say that’s going to get people hitting the little paper airplane button?" (05:30)
• Three types of shareable content are teased, with a real-life success story from a client inserted before the practical ideas.

Client Testimonial: Molly Donlin's Instagram Transformation

(Guest Segment, 05:45–09:12)

• Molly Donlin, a Reiki master and Magic Marketing Machine (MMM) alumna, shares her story of struggling with Instagram despite TikTok popularity.
  • "I had a Reiki training program…getting eight people in was like pulling teeth. I just did not know how to sell. I only knew how to make growth content." (06:10)
  • MMM's approach helped Molly find her voice and authentic content style. She went from burnout and low sales to:
    • First post-MMM launch: 75 students (August 2022)
    • Over 250k Instagram followers, 17,000+ email subscribers
    • Sold-out programs and a waitlist of 1,800+
  • On MMM’s impact:
    • "What MMM really helped me find, is how to do my thing, how to do it Molly's way… that's really the thing that sets MMM apart." (08:45)

The Psychology of Sharing: Social Currency & Emotional Drivers

(09:12–End)

• Jenna breaks down why people share content—social currency, emotion, and relatability.
  • Political/Cause-based shares: Amplify social values.
  • Entertainment: The joy of making someone laugh.
  • "You kind of inherit that laugh, right? If you saw a meme that's going to make your friend Susan laugh…you now have social currency." (09:55)
• Viral content almost always stirs emotion (from joy to outrage).
  • Reference: Jonah Berger’s research on why content goes viral.
  • Classic viral stories (cookie recipe myth) succeed because of emotional storytelling.
• Information spreads best when it matters to your followers, not just you.
  • "It can't be you that's passionate. It needs to be your ideal client … your followers need to be passionate about the spread." (11:10)
  • Direct calls to share also work:
    • “Make a post that says, share this with someone who, blah blah blah…”
    • Adventure posts: “Share this to someone who you want to go here with.”

Jenna's Challenge: Focus on Five Shares

• Set a simple, immediately actionable goal:
  • "What if you only had one job and it is to get five shares? Five shares this week." (12:20)
  • By aiming for a small number of highly-shareable posts, you start exercising and strengthening the "shareable content" muscle.

Notable Quotes

• Jenna Harding: "None of the updates ever actually matter as long as you know one thing. And that thing is get people to touch your posts." (01:30)
• Jenna Harding: "The new Instagram algorithm in 2026 really wants people tapping the paper airplane and sharing your content amongst each other." (03:00)
• Molly Donlin: "I learned how to sell my services. I learned how to enjoy making content again. I learned how to put my personality into my content again." (07:00)
• Jenna Harding: "Every viral post has an emotional driver. Even take like a viral cookie recipe … even that is still an emotional response in its own way." (10:15)
• Jenna Harding: “What can you post second get shared this week? What if you only had one job and it is to get five shares? Five shares this week.” (12:20)

Key Timestamps

• 00:02–02:15 – Jenna introduces the show, the algorithm update, and why the details barely matter.
• 03:00–05:30 – Shares as the engagement Instagram values most; Jenna’s B Roll Reels case study.
• 05:45–09:12 – Molly Donlin’s client testimonial: From burnout to viral growth and joy.
• 09:12–12:00 – The psychology of sharing: social currency, emotion, and viral storytelling.
• 12:00–end – Jenna’s actionable challenge: Build your “share muscle” by aiming for just five shares.

Action Steps for Listeners

1. Stop stressing over minor algorithm changes. Focus your energy on making shareable content.
2. Brainstorm posts that create social currency, stir strong emotion, or convey information your audience cares to share.
3. Actively encourage shares, either through direct calls-to-action or by crafting content that people just naturally want to pass along.
4. Challenge yourself this week: get five genuine shares and celebrate each one.

Jenna leaves listeners feeling empowered, shifting the Instagram growth conversation away from technical tweaks and towards authentic, community-building content that brings real, shiny new clients.