Podcast Summary: Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades
Episode 136: Weekly Scroll: Is Instagram Engagement Actually Down? Plus TikTok Search and Pinterest’s Big Growth
Date: March 12, 2026
Host: Katelyn Rhoades
Produced by: Stan
Episode Overview
This episode of Call Her Creator centers on the latest social media trends impacting creators and entrepreneurs. Katelyn Rhoades, founder of Enfluence Marketing Studio, addresses the burning question: “Is Instagram engagement really down?” She dives into fresh data from Buffer, discusses new features across key platforms (including Instagram, Pinterest, and Meta’s Edits app), and offers actionable advice for creators to stay competitive amidst algorithm shifts. The episode balances real-world strategies with relatable, energetic commentary, all geared toward empowering ambitious women to grow their influence and income using social media.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Is Instagram Engagement Down? [05:21]
- Buffer Report Findings:
- Engagement on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads has declined over the past year, per a large-scale Buffer study analyzing 191,000 social media accounts and millions of posts.
- Platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and X (Twitter) saw either stable or increased engagement.
- Why Engagement is Stalling:
- Increased Competition:
“There is just so much more competition. More people are posting, which means more content is fighting for attention in the feed.” (Katelyn, 07:05) - Instagram’s Focus on Reels:
- Feed posts and carousels may experience lower engagement as Instagram prioritizes Reels again.
- Carousels temporarily outperformed Reels back in December, but the pendulum is swinging back.
- “I have seen a shift in views and engagement increasing for my Reels, and carousels kind of taking a little bit longer to get that engagement.” (Katelyn, 08:10)
- Increased Competition:
- Engagement Strategies:
- Replying to Comments = More Engagement:
- Creators who reply to comments see a 21% increase in engagement on Instagram, 30% on LinkedIn, and 42% on Threads.
- “Engagement will go up when you comment on other people's content.” (Katelyn, 09:10)
- 28-Day Instagram Engagement Challenge:
- Katelyn encourages listeners to try her structured daily engagement plan, reporting strong results for creators who’ve used it: more followers, likes, and leads.
- Replying to Comments = More Engagement:
2. Meta’s Edits App — Video Editing for Creators [11:10]
- About Edits:
- “It’s basically Meta’s answer to Capcut. It’s built for editing Reels and short-form video quickly without needing a bunch of outside apps.” (Katelyn, 11:30)
- Katelyn has dropped Capcut in favor of Edits due to its constant updates and ease of use.
- Recent Updates:
- New Video Effects:
- Ability to add colored outlines around clips, making transitions pop and videos more visually engaging.
- Refreshed Ideas Tab:
- A more visual and organized space for saving content ideas and notes. Especially helpful for creators who collect inspiration.
- Highlight Words in Captions:
- Emphasize key phrases using built-in caption styling during playback.
- Creator-Driven Development:
- Edits team actively gathers feedback from creators and power users via group chats; users can submit feedback by shaking their phone.
- “They’re actively building the app based on creator feedback…they even have a group chat with power users.” (Katelyn, 14:30)
- New Video Effects:
- Pro Tip:
- You don’t need overly polished content for 2026; small edits for clarity and emphasis work best.
3. Instagram Expands Creator Tools to All Public Accounts [16:40]
- Policy Change:
- Instagram is rolling out creator tools (scheduling, Insights Dashboard, trending audio) to all public accounts, not just business or creator accounts.
- “Even smaller accounts can now schedule their posts directly inside of Instagram, see how their content is performing, and track what’s working.” (Katelyn, 17:00)
- Feature Unlocks by Follower Count:
- More advanced features (like trial Reels) unlock as you grow, starting at 1,000 followers.
- Implication for Creators:
- Consistent, quality content—not just increased posting—will be essential for growth as these tools become universal.
4. Pinterest’s Big Growth [19:35]
- Latest Stats:
- 619 million monthly users as of the latest quarter (+19 million in just the last quarter).
- $1.3 billion in Q4 revenue; $4.2 billion for the full year.
- Current Platform Focus:
- Heavy focus on search and discovery (80 billion monthly searches).
- Improved search tools, better product categorization, and AI-powered recommendations.
- Why Pinterest Is Powerful:
- High-intent search traffic—users are planning purchases, projects, or life changes, unlike Instagram’s casual “doom scrolling.”
- Recommendation: Repurpose top-performing Instagram Reels to Pinterest for added reach:
- “Darby will download my top performing reels and she will re-upload them to Pinterest and then drive that referral traffic back to my Instagram profile. That is a really good growth tip.” (Katelyn, 21:25)
- Agency Plug:
- Katelyn’s agency can handle Pinterest repurposing for overwhelmed creators.
5. Weekly Posting Assignment: Talking Head Reel Strategy [24:28]
- Trend Watch:
- Low-production, “FaceTime with your best friend” talking-head Reels with strong hooks are going viral.
- Reel Hook Formula:
- “I can tell exactly why you’re struggling with ___ and it’s not because of ___.”
- E.g.: “I can tell you exactly why your Instagram is not growing and it’s not because the algorithm hates you.”
- “I can tell exactly why you’re struggling with ___ and it’s not because of ___.”
- How to Execute:
- Research what people are struggling with using Google or AnswerThePublic.com.
- Record a 20-30 second talking head video, start talking immediately—no intros.
- Use the Edits app for filming and effects.
- Add captions, then replace the first five seconds of captions with a large, easy-to-read hook.
- Caption = expand on the problem/solution, and invite engagement.
- Pro tip: “Use ChatGPT to punch up your opening hook if needed.”
- Call to Action:
- Post this Reel, tag @callhercreator, and Katelyn might feature or comment on your post in a future episode.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Adam Mosseri commenting:
- “I am a 14-year-old girl today who just got winked by Aaron Carter in the 90s… he commented on my post… now it’s going even more viral and I just could not be more proud.” (Katelyn, 02:00)
- On why engagement matters:
- “The algorithm doesn’t just reward posting, guys, it rewards conversation. It rewards people who spend time on the app.” (Katelyn, 10:10)
- On Pinterest as a traffic engine:
- “Pinterest is just one of those platforms where your content can keep working for you… It’s more a search engine than a social media feed.” (Katelyn, 21:50)
- On consistency:
- “Growth doesn’t come from posting randomly when your inspiration hits. It comes when you have a repeatable content plan and show up consistently.” (Katelyn, 18:45)
- On actionable learning:
- “The creators who win on social media are not the ones who learn the most. They’re just the ones that are actually posting.” (Katelyn, 28:30)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Time | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:21 | Is Instagram Engagement Actually Down? Buffer Report Analysis | | 07:05 | Why Engagement is Stalling: Competition & Format Shifts | | 09:10 | Engagement Tactics & 28-Day Challenge | | 11:10 | What’s New in Meta’s Edits App for Short-Form Creators | | 14:30 | Highlighting Caption Words & Community Feedback in Edits | | 16:40 | Instagram Expands Creator Tools for All Accounts | | 19:35 | Pinterest Sees Big Growth: Stats, Search Focus, & AI Recos | | 21:25 | How to Drive Instagram Traffic Using Pinterest Reposting | | 24:28 | Weekly Assignment: Viral Talking-Head Reel Hook & Execution | | 28:30 | Final Motivational Advice & Call to Action |
Action Steps and Recommendations
- Try the 28-Day Instagram Engagement Challenge to revive and grow engagement by focusing on strategic commenting and replies.
- Test out Meta’s Edits app for streamlined, feedback-driven Reels creation and improved captioning effects.
- If eligible, explore Instagram’s now-expanded scheduling and insights features for consistency.
- Repurpose high-performing content to Pinterest to leverage its search-based, high-intent audience.
- Use Katelyn’s talking-head Reel template and hooks to create relatable, viral content—research pain points, use the right captions, and post with confidence.
- Tag @callhercreator with your content for a chance to be featured.
For creators wanting more:
- Sign up for Katelyn’s Club Influence membership for weekly content ideas, hooks, and Canva templates.
- Need help repurposing content for Pinterest or managing multi-platform strategies? Reach out to Enfluence Marketing Studio.
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"Stop overthinking, start taking action. The creators who win are the ones who get in the game." — Katelyn Rhoades