Podcast Summary: Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades

Episode 111: How Creators Are Really Making Money Online Using Social Media in 2026
Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Katelyn Rhoades
Powered by: Stan

Overview

In this action-packed episode, Katelyn Rhoades peels back the curtain on how creators in 2026 are truly making money online with social media. Focusing largely on Instagram—but with strategies applicable to other platforms—Katelyn shares a toolbox of modern monetization tactics. If you’re looking to ditch the 9-to-5 and turn your passion into sustainable online revenue, this episode is for you. Katelyn tackles digital products, 1:1 and group coaching, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships—providing actionable steps, key examples, and memorable personal stories.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Weekly Social Media Update: YouTube Shorts' Remix Features

[01:15]

• YouTube has expanded its remix options for Shorts, allowing users to:
  • Extract and use audio
  • Collab side-by-side
  • Employ green screen backgrounds
  • Cut and replay chosen scenes
• This move comes as TikTok loses access to Universal Music, reducing its music catalog.
• Katelyn’s Pro Tip:

  “If you’re not reposting your reels and TikToks over to YouTube Shorts, you’re missing out on a lot of opportunity right now...my YouTube channel is growing.” ([03:50])

2. Monetization Primer: Setting the Foundation

[06:00]

• “Social media monetization is the process of generating revenue from your social media audience.”
• The most vital ingredient: Know your audience and their pain points to craft killer offers.

3. Digital Products

[08:10]

Why Digital Products?

• Katelyn’s personal favorite—“You can make money while you sleep.”
• First dollar online: Reels eBook (continues to bring in revenue three years later).

Key Principles:

• Share what you already know and are passionate about.

  “Don’t try to come up with content that you’ve never heard of...just lean into what you are good at and what you know.” ([10:00])

• Start small—ebooks, masterclasses, templates.
• Keep digital products updated if the topic is evolving (e.g., social media trends).

Example:

“My first eBook was on reels...I made my first $10,000 from putting this reels eBook together...I do update that product.” ([11:15])

• Pro Tip: Use Canva to create polished ebook mockups and sales graphics.
• Promote continuously: “Only a small percentage of your followers will see your content. You have to keep talking about your offer over and over again.” ([14:55])

Platform Plug—Stan:

• Easiest way to sell digital products and manage transactions.

Five Examples of Digital Product Ideas:

• Ebooks: e.g., fitness influencer selling 30-day workout/nutrition guides.
• Online Courses: e.g., scheduling social media in 5 minutes.
• Presets & Templates: “Templates are my favorite. We have a monthly membership with trendy Reels, Canva templates, captions...”

  “Templates...honestly one of the easiest ways to monetize.” ([17:55])

• Industry-specific documents: e.g., lawyer selling contract templates.
• Guides for business operations: e.g., social media agency’s pricing templates.

4. Coaching and Services

[20:10]

Why Offer Coaching?

• High perceived value; personalized and customizable.
• Fast path to $5k–$10k per month for beginners.

Benefits:

• Deeper connections with clients
• Immediate feedback and results for clients
• Ability to charge premium prices

  “I’m currently offering one-on-one coaching for like 500 bucks for the hour. I just saw another manager charging $3,000 for an hour...genius!” ([21:30])

Cautions:

• Potential for burnout—be honest about your capacity.

  “...three to five calls a week...I got burned out very, very fast.” ([23:45])

• Use platforms like Stan to control your booking calendar and avoid overload.

Pro Tip:

• Use Instagram Highlights to feature testimonials and reviews from past coaching clients.

Coaching Niches:

• Social media management mentorship
• Baby sleep coach sessions
• Graphic design guidance
• Retail business consulting
• Hair extension specialist training

“When you lean into what you know and what you’re passionate about...less opportunity for burnout, more opportunity for making the most money and helping people.” ([25:45])

5. Affiliate Marketing

[27:00]

Why Consider Affiliate Marketing?

• Passive(ish) income—you’re paid to recommend products/services you already use.

  “I was skeptical at first...but I can make all kinds of money from this and not have to do anything.” ([28:20])

How It Works:

• You get a unique affiliate link.
• Commission can be for clicks, leads, or completed sales.
• Payment structures vary: per sale, per click, or per lead.

Getting Started:

• Don’t wait for offers—make a list of products/services you love and reach out.
• Example: Katelyn promotes the Flick hashtag tool—“It was so easy for me...because I already use it.” ([29:50])
• Use affiliate blog posts to catalogue your favorite tools, linking throughout when responding to DMs.

Using Stan:

• Built-in affiliate features: create links and set custom commission percentages for your digital products.

Real-Life Examples:

• Physical products (e.g., phone cases)
• Software/services (e.g., Flick tool, blog writers)
• Service collaborations/referrals (e.g., website designer for agency clients)

6. Sponsorships and Promotions

[34:00]

What’s the Difference vs. Affiliate?

• Sponsorships: Paid collaborations with brands to feature their products/services.
  • User Generated Content (UGC) included.
• Structure: Brands pay you to create and share content, not just drive sales.

How to Succeed:

1. Have a media kit: “If they don’t have a media kit, it’s a red flag for me.”
2. Due diligence: Check out an influencer’s engagement, not just their follower count.

   “If you’re seeing a bunch of reels in the hundreds, but they have a hundred thousand followers, something is fishy.” ([36:15])

3. Organize potential collaborators in a Google Sheet for easy comparison.

For Creators: Three Rules for Sponsored Posts

• Authenticity first:

  “Don’t work with brands that don’t align...you’ll come off salesy and slimy.” ([38:05])

  • Turned down a $10k partnership with an "intimate toy" brand for audience mismatch.
• Engagement: Create high-quality, engaging content for all collaborations.
• Audience Alignment:

  “Choose sponsorships and promos that align with your audience, your buyer’s persona.” ([39:25])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Starting with What You Know:

  “Why not just lean into something you already know a ton of crap about that you could easily just start writing up?” – Katelyn Rhoades ([12:10])

• On Updating Products:

  “It’s your responsibility to keep these things updated...for the price point that I paid, I expect relevant information.” ([11:55])

• On Charging for Coaching:

  “Charge your worth. Maybe you’re new to selling your coaching, but you’ve actually been in the industry for 15 years. Take that into account.” ([22:10])

• On Authenticity and Sponsorships:

  “Once you start just promoting stuff for money, you really start to lose their trust.” ([38:35])

Actionable Takeaways

• Repost your Reels/TikToks to YouTube Shorts for growth and diversification.
• Begin your monetization journey with digital products—utilize Canva and Stan to design, promote, and sell.
• Offer coaching or consulting services—increase perceived value with personalized sessions, but mind your energy and set calendar boundaries.
• Explore affiliate marketing by promoting products or services you already use—reach out proactively and build affiliate blogs/resources.
• Pursue sponsorships and promos that authentically fit your brand and followership; track your opportunities systematically.

Conclusion & Last Word

Katelyn closes with a call for clarity and action:

“Success begins with clarity. Start by defining who your niche is...what their pain points are, so you can uniquely position yourself to solve those problems. Once you’ve laid out that groundwork, harness the power of social to sell your digital products, partner up for shout outs, and build that loyal audience.” ([41:10])

Next steps: Audit your audience, choose your monetization path, and remember—stay authentic while chasing your dreams!