I break down what's been shifting on Instagram lately, cutting story volume down and tripling engagement, using the layout feature to combine posts, and why trial reels are still one of the most slept-on tools in the creator space. I also get into how I structure brand deals in tiers tied to view counts, why one-off sponsorships kill your credibility, and what the Tiktok vs Instagram conversation looks like. Plus a new creative director project just landed, a Yankees game, a rave, an after-party at my place, and the snowball that's starting to roll in New York City. Chapters: 00:00 – How cutting down to five to seven stories a day tripled story engagement 03:49 – Using Instagram's layout feature to collapse multiple food photos into one story 05:33 – What trial reels actually are and why the Wegmans video going viral started there 07:43 – Tiktok vs. Instagram, growth rates, and which one is actually better 09:27 – Remixing viral content and why reposting the same video keeps working 11:20 – Trending music as a reach hack 13:01 – Does your Instagram grid need to be aesthetic, and why cover photos matter more than you think 14:17 – A secret brand deal just signed, a 120-year-old Buffalo company, and her grandma's connection to it 15:29 – The Hartman's Distillery shoot, what a real creative director day looks like, and why one-offs kill your credibility 18:15 – Why becoming the cheesy sponsored creator is the fastest way to lose your audience 19:00 – Tiered brand proposals and why you shouldn't get paid by a brand until your content actually performs 20:43 – Yankees game, a rave, and getting added to a group chat called Ibiza Come on the pod, sponsor an episode, collab, or just reach out  ⁠▫️ https://linktr.ee/maditellsall Follow my world outside the podcast (food, tailgates, health, behind-the-scenes life) ⁠▫️ https://linktr.ee/madelinehall.nyc Thanks for being here guys. Like, share and subscribe! Catch me yap same time next week, bring snacks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices