✉️ Welcome to the BPM Newsletter - Business, Performance, Marketing insights for DJs and creative entrepreneurs

Let’s be real for a second.

I’ve been looking at the 2026 benchmark reports that just dropped, and the numbers are a bit of a wake-up call. Instagram engagement is basically flatlining at 0.48%. TikTok is up, but comments are down across the board.

What does that actually mean for you?

It means people are becoming "passive scrollers." They’re watching, but they aren't talking. And if they aren't talking, they definitely aren't booking you.

If you’re still trying to "beat the algorithm" by using the same old trending sounds and pretty pictures, you’re fighting a losing battle. The game has changed. You don't need more likes; you need to give people a reason to stop scrolling and actually save your stuff.

This is what I’m seeing right now:

Most DJs and business owners are stuck in what I call the "Curator Trap." You’re posting content that looks like everyone else’s. When your profile looks like a generic photo album, the algorithm doesn't know where to put you—so it puts you nowhere.

3 things you can do this week to stay ahead:

1. Stop hiding: The data shows passive engagement is up. You need to break that cycle by getting your face on camera and using your actual voice. People book people, not logos.
2. Focus on the "Save": Since comments are dropping, the "Save" is your new best friend. Give them a tip, a track, or a strategy so good they have to keep it for later.
3. Fix your "Signal": If your bio and your grid don't tell me exactly what you do in 3 seconds, you’ve already lost the lead.

I’ve been eating my own cooking, too.

I ran my own profile through my BrandOS Signal Score last week and I hit a 74/100. Not bad, but not where I want to be. It showed me exactly where I was being too "corporate" and not "human" enough.

I’m fixing mine—are you fixing yours?

If you want to stop guessing and get a clinical look at why your page isn't growing.

• Grab a single platform audit for £19
• Or get the full 4-platform suite for £47

Stop working for the algorithm and start making the algorithm work for you.

Talk soon,

Paul Hutchinson CEO, Rockin Social Media Agency Follow the journey: