At the end of 2025, I shared two podcast episodes breaking down my best and worst Instagram content from the year. And when I teased those episodes on Instagram, I got a lot of questions about how I actually decide what makes a post “good” or “bad.”

The obvious answer is data. I look at analytics, engagement, and performance. But the deeper answer (and the one that’s mattered way more for the long-term growth of my business) is that there’s a metric I care about even more than what Instagram shows me.

For years, I’ve relied on what I call my ground beef metric to gauge whether my content is actually doing what it’s supposed to do: building connection, trust, and relationships that eventually lead to inquiries and bookings.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what my ground beef metric is, why vanity metrics don’t tell the full story, and how to tell if your Instagram content is actually working, even when the numbers feel confusing or discouraging.

We’re talking:

1. Why Instagram metrics matter (but shouldn’t control your emotions)
2. The real reason posts sometimes don’t perform, even when they’re good
3. What the ground beef metric is and how to use it to gauge audience connection
4. Why Instagram Stories play such a big role in building trust
5. How connection compounds over time into inquiries and bookings
6. What to focus on if you want Instagram to feel easier and more fun again

If you’ve ever felt frustrated looking at your Instagram analytics, questioned whether your content is “working,” or wondered why posting feels so emotional sometimes, this episode will give you a totally different way to measure success.

Links & Resources

1. 📱 Join my free Instagram Consistency Challenge: maddiepeschong.com/ig
2. 💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12-month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients
3. 📝 Blog: Read more tips and tools to grow your brand photography business
4. 🔄 Listen to my Best & Worst Instagram Content episodes (and how I evaluated them)
5. 💬 Questions or episode ideas? DM me on

I’m going into 2026 with the goal to scale my business. And that means I’m creating a lot of content.

Not just to create more content, but because I know, from years of data and experience, that when my content is done well, it actually moves the needle in my business.

For most people who end up working with me, their journey starts on Instagram and then leads to my podcast. That tells me everything I need to know about how important content is. The problem is that creating more content can feel overwhelming fast, especially when you’re already wearing all the hats.

In this episode, I’m walking you through how to repurpose content as a photographer so your content can go further in 2026 without burning you out.

We’re talking:

1. What content repurposing actually looks like for photographers
2. How to create one primary piece of content and break it into more pieces of content
3. Why long-form content is the foundation of a strong content strategy
4. The biggest mistakes I see photographers make with micro content
5. How often you should really be posting and emailing

If content has ever felt like a hamster wheel, or you’ve found yourself staring at Instagram wondering what to post, this episode will give you a much clearer, more sustainable way to approach it. 🎧 Press play to learn how to make your content work harder for your business in 2026.

Links & Resources

1. 📱 Join my free Instagram Consistency Challenge, starting January 5: maddiepeschong.com/ig
2. 💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12 month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients (and get access to Rebecca - a customGPT to help with content!)
3. 📝 Blog: More tips and tools to grow your personal brand photography business
4. 🔄 Learn about the Vicious Visibility Cycle (Apple podcast; blog)
5. 💬 Questions or episode ideas? DM me on Instagram!

Let's Connect:

1. Website: maddiepeschong.com
2. Instagram: @maddiepeschong

If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.

It’s easy to feel like you’re constantly behind on your marketing, especially during busy seasons of life and business. When client work piles up, marketing often becomes the thing you promise you’ll “get back to later”… until later never comes.

In this episode, we’re talking about why your photography business needs a real marketing system and how something as simple as a weekly Marketing Monday can completely change the way you show up, attract clients, and create momentum in your business.

Marketing Monday is a dedicated, non-negotiable block of time each week to work on your business, not just in it. It’s the system that helps you stop panic-marketing, stay consistent even when life is chaotic, and build demand year-round instead of reacting when inquiries slow down.

We’re talking:

1. Why relying only on referrals eventually stops working
2. How weekly marketing time keeps your pipeline full
3. Why consistency matters more than doing “all the things”
4. What actually counts as marketing (even when you’re not posting)
5. How to reduce decision fatigue and mental load around content
6. What to do during a Marketing Monday (and what not to stress about)

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a feast-or-famine cycle, struggled to stay consistent, or wished marketing felt simpler and more sustainable, this episode is for you.

Links & Resources

1. 📱 Join my free Instagram challenge, starting January 5: maddiepeschong.com/ig
2. 💻 Get coached in Rebrand, my 12 month program for photographers ready to book more brand photography clients
3. 📝 Blog: More tips and tools to grow your personal brand photography business
4. 💬 Questions or episode ideas? DM me on Instagram!

Let's Connect:

1. Website: maddiepeschong.com
2. Instagram: @maddiepeschong

If you loved this episode, leave a review! It helps other photographers find the show and keeps us creating content you actually want to hear.