Ever scrolled through Instagram and wondered, "How do these people make it look so easy?" I sat down with Katelyn Rhoades, a social media guru who's not only conquering the world of Reels but also helping others do the same. Katelyn is the owner of her own social media business and the host of the "Call Her Creator" podcast, where she spills all the secrets to online success.
We dove into the world of Reels, authenticity, and how to actually turn those views into cold, hard cash. Get ready for some laughs and actionable tips!
You're the Queen of Reels. What's your secret to showing up consistently, even when you're not feeling 100% glam?
Katelyn: That’s huge, especially for women in this space. If you’re not all done up, you think, I just can’t record today. Let me do a faceless reel. But those don’t perform well. So I thought, I have something to say today. My hair looked like it came out of a trash can, but I just did it.
In December, I started using fewer filters. Am I still using them a little? Yes. But I decided to shed that layer and just show up. That reel actually went viral. I was in sweats, fresh from Pilates, my hair was disgusting—but I did it. And I think people connected with that.
Our industry has gotten so muddied. The best way to connect is to show people you’re real. You don’t need a perfect setup—just something valuable to say.
Because of that shift, I’ve pulled away from trending audio. I still use it, but I’m doing more talking-head videos—just having a conversation. If you can show up like you’re talking to your best friend, who doesn’t care what you look like but cares what you have to say, that’s the energy I’m bringing to reels now.
Do you think trending audios are still worth doing, or is the FaceTime-style content more popular now? Like when it feels like you're FaceTiming your best friend in the car, just telling them about your day?
Katelyn: I'm doing a mix of trending and original audio. I can’t fully drop trending audio because I still get good views and followers from it. But don’t just guess what works—check your insights. Click on a reel, go to insights, and see if it actually brought in followers.
I dig into my dashboard weekly to see what’s working. Great views don’t always mean engagement. If a reel gets me followers, I lean into that more the next week.
For beginners, I’d say go 50/50—test both and see what works for your audience. Some creators go viral with only original audio, but my audience doesn’t always respond to that.
What are some common mistakes creators make with Reels for growth?
Katelyn: Good question. One big mistake—90% of people watch reels without sound, so if you’re not using hooks, text overlays, or captions, they’ll just scroll past. Make it accessible. If you’re not talking, manually add key text so viewers understand.
Another mistake—making content for you, not your audience. People still use industry jargon or talk in a way that doesn’t resonate. Define your ideal audience—age, interests, location—and create content for them, not yourself.
Top three tips for engaging reels?
Katelyn: First, perfect your visual hook. B-roll is still great, but mix it up—different angles, movements, and edits. A quick hack: record 10-20 seconds, then use Instagram’s split tool to chop it into engaging cuts.
Second, stop trying to be perfect. People connect with realness—your struggles, frustrations, and raw moments. Negative hooks also work—psychologically, we pay more attention to negative emotions.
Third, pay attention to audio. Trending audio works, but raw, natural sound is performing well too—mixing a bowl, sipping a drink, real-life background noise. I did one where my family chimed in, and it performed great because it felt authentic.
How do you turn Reel views into actual leads and sales?
Katelyn: I had a one-on-one last week with someone getting great views and engagement but struggling to convert to sales. When we audited her content, everything looked great—except her calls-to-action. She’d say things like, “How do you feel about this?” or “Drop an emoji if you agree!”—good for engagement, but not for sales. She wasn’t telling people what to do next.
DM automation is a game-changer here. I’ve seen a boost in conversions by using it—telling people to comment XYZ to get a product link. But this only works if you have a solid funnel. You can direct them to a landing page, a free resource that leads to a paid offer, or another product.
Lately, I’ve been pushing people to a free Google Doc—a one-pager packed with value they won’t find on Google, with hyperlinks to my products. A strong CTA plus valuable content drives sales.
The second key? Talk about your offer—repeatedly. We use the Sales in 7 method:
Day 1: Educate
Day 2: Highlight benefits
Day 3: Share testimonials
Day 4: Show the product
Days 5-7: Keep saying, "Go buy this.”
That’s the hardest part—even I’m still learning. You can create great content, but if you’re not giving people that final push, they won’t take action.
How do you stay up to date with Instagram Reels’ algorithm changes and trends?
Katelyn: Two ways. First, the Talk Social to Me newsletter by Mackenzie (and I’m not just saying this!)—it’s hands down the best. It’s not generic; she thoroughly breaks down updates with linked sources. I send it to my team at the agency.
Second, just being in it. I scroll Instagram more than I should, but I learn by doing. Set Google keyword alerts if you want to go deeper. Social platforms are becoming the new Google—search for terms, follow experts like myself, and subscribe to newsletters. It saves so much time.
Balancing engaging content with being authentic can be tough. How do you manage that?
Katelyn: Everyone—and every business—has something special. You need to identify what makes you different and lean into it.
For me, I think I’m funny, so I embrace humor—dancing, funny faces, or showing up without makeup. My husband, on the other hand, isn’t a video guy or a comedian, but he’s a great realtor who knows his county inside and out. So for his content, we focus on his expertise and deep roots. It’s not about being funny—it’s about building trust.
I follow a creator who’s a dancer. Her videos are valuable, but she’s always dancing. That’s her thing. Find your power, lean into it, and make it authentically you.
What Reel content styles should we focus on in 2025?
Katelyn: For 2025, I think people should focus on talking—specifically FaceTime-style reels. It's about having a conversation, pretending you’re talking to your best friend. Avoid sounding salesy—just be natural. I see a big shift from trending audio to people being themselves, talking about things, and capturing moments.
Documenting real, unpolished moments—sad, happy, all of it—is going to be huge in 2025. Don’t overdo it with optimization and editing. Just show up authentically.
The pressure will be off if we stop trying to be perfect. Sometimes, you spend all this time on a polished reel and it tanks, while a quick, raw video goes viral. It’s unpredictable, but people want real content now.
Any particular podcast episode of your own podcast, Call Her Creator, you want to highlight?
Katelyn: Episode 63 of "Call Her Creator" - it’s all about getting out of Reel's jail!
A big thank you to Katelyn for dropping so much knowledge!
