The Talking-Head Stories Content Plan
Three to four feed posts a week plus a daily talking-head story is where trust and sales are built.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~weeks to results
- Steps
- 4
- Confidence
- 84%
Solomon offers a concrete, low-overwhelm content cadence built on two pillars: consistent feed content and a daily talking-head story. She recommends three to four feed pieces Monday through Thursday, skipping Friday as a poor engagement day, and crucially showing up once a day on an Instagram story with your face to camera. Reels perform when they open with a hook — a subliminal visual cue like tapping a necklace, or starting mid-script rather than with a name-and-intro. She notes Instagram is favoring 30–90 second reels over 7–8 second loops. But stories are where the real conversion happens: reach and trust build in feed, but the 'I want to work with this person' decision happens in stories.
Origin
Solomon distilled this from a decade-plus on Instagram since 2013 and from feedback where clients told her a specific story made them think differently or got them over the fence to buy.
Core principles
- 01Talking-head content — you speaking to camera with authority, education, inspiration, or entertainment — is winning again.
- 02Instagram stories are where audiences actually convert to buyers.
- 03Every reel needs a hook, visual or verbal, in the first moment.
- 04Consistency beats volume; a sustainable cadence prevents burnout.
- 05Longer-form reels (30–90 seconds) now earn more reach than 7–8 second loops.
How to run it
- 1
Post 3–4 feed pieces a week
Create three to four pieces of in-feed content Monday through Thursday, mixing carousels and reels as you like.
Pro tip Take Fridays off — it's a crap day for engagement, so go for a walk instead.
- 2
Show up daily on a talking-head story
Appear at least once a day on an Instagram story with your face to camera, sharing something rather than just reposting.
Pro tip A repost is not the same as showing your face and speaking directly.
- 3
Hook the scroll
Open reels with a subliminal or pitstop hook — a sound, a gesture like tapping a necklace, or a scroll-stopping visual.
Pro tip Start mid-script with 'Yes, but did you know...' instead of 'Hi, my name is'.
- 4
Favor longer-form reels
Lean toward 30–90 second reels, which Instagram is currently favoring for reach and engagement over 7–8 second loops.
Pro tip Short loops may get more views but less reach, saves, and shares.
In the wild
Solomon reports that the more she shows up on talking-head stories, followers tell her a specific story made them think differently, got them over the fence, or made them ready to work with her.
→ Direct evidence that stories, not just reels, drive the decision to buy.
Common mistakes
Chasing reels while ignoring stories
Everyone talks about reels for reach, but stories are where trust converts to sales, so neglecting them leaves money on the table.
Opening reels with a slow intro
Starting with 'Hi, my name is and today I'll teach you' loses attention; starting mid-script with a hook is far more intriguing.
Is it for you?
Best for
Entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators with little time who need a sustainable, conversion-focused cadence.
Not ideal for
Brands relying on faceless or heavily produced content with no personal talking-head presence.
From the transcript
“I'm a huge proponent of Instagram stories... that's where I really feel that people convert.”
“If you can just create anywhere between three to four pieces of content a week in your feed... show up at least once a day…”
“starting your reel in the middle of what your... script would be... It's like yes, but did you know that this is really this?”
From the episode
Julie Solomon: How to Grow Your Personal Brand
Julie Solomon