Podcast Summary
Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades
Episode 138: The Weekly Scroll – Instagram Is Testing a Money Making Feature… and It’s a Big Deal
Date: March 19, 2026
Host: Katelyn Rhoades

Episode Overview

In this edition of "The Weekly Scroll," Katelyn Rhoades dives into sweeping changes coming to Instagram—most notably, the testing of clickable links in captions, exclusively for Meta Verified users. The main thread running through the episode is Instagram’s transition from a content platform to an integrated sales platform, and what that means for creators seeking to monetize their presence. Katelyn provides hands-on tactics for leveraging these updates, mindset advice for creators feeling performance anxiety, and practical content creation guidance—all tailored for those aiming for more influence and income.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Instagram’s Shift: From Content to Sales Platform

• Big Picture:
  • Instagram is strategically moving to become a full-fledged sales platform, not just a place to post pretty content.
  • For years, monetizing on Instagram meant jumping through hoops due to “no links, limited features.”
  • Now, IG is “slowly, strategically changing that.” [02:30]
• What’s Changing?
  • Clickable links in captions are being tested, but only for Meta Verified users.
  • This signals that Instagram is “monetizing access to traffic.” [03:02]
  • It removes friction for buyers—no need to go to the link in bio or send a DM to get a link.
  • “Imagine that someone reads your caption and they can just click your link. They buy right there. No extra steps. This is powerful.” [03:19]

2. Winning Tactics: How to Sell on Instagram with Clickable Links

• Not Just a Feature, But a Skill:
  • Katelyn emphasizes, “A clickable link isn’t going to save you… the people who understand sales are going to win, not the people who just know how to go viral.” [03:48]
• Three Tactical Steps for Captions:
  • Clarity Over Cleverness:
    • “You do not need to be cute, you need to be clear. People don’t click because they’re confused… they click because it’s super clear what they’re gonna get.” [05:08]
    • Examples:
      • Instead of “link in bio if you’re interested,” use “Download my 30-day content plan.”
  • Single, Juicy Call to Action:
    • “You gotta keep it nailed down to one juicy call to action. We don’t want five there. It’s going to confuse them.” [05:50]
    • Avoid “paralysis by too many options”—give each post one clear job.
  • Build Desire Before the Link:
    • “Your caption has to do three things. One, call out the problem… agitate it… position your offer as the solution. And then you get the link.” [06:31]
    • Don’t immediately post a link—give context and make them want it.

3. Instagram Updates: Productivity & Mental Health

• Edit Comments Feature:
  • Now you can fix typos and keep conversations “clean, clear, and intentional”—especially valuable if you’re selling or answering questions in comments. [08:10]
• Turn Off Likes and Activity:
  • “One of the biggest things I see holding creators back is they overthink their content because they’re like, it didn’t get enough likes. I’m deleting it.” [08:40]
  • This new feature can help creators stop equating their self-worth and success with like counts.
  • “Some of my best content has come when I stopped obsessing over performance.” [09:12]

4. Content Creation: Built-In Instagram Tools and Originality

• Major Editing Feature Upgrades:
  • Teleprompter: Paste in your script and read it as you go, like a news anchor.
  • Freeze frame and custom effects—now available natively in Instagram. [11:50]
  • Reason: “Instagram does not want you leaving to go to CapCut... The more time you spend inside Instagram… the more they reward you.” [12:17]
• Original Content Protections:
  • Meta is rolling out improved protections for original content—a timely move, as AI twins and plagiarism are more rampant than ever. [13:10]
  • “People want to know your opinion on things.” [14:02]
  • Katelyn shares a personal anecdote about a big creator stealing her content and how responding authentically resonated with her audience, resulting in “almost 2,000 likes… pretty good for a talking head video.” [14:33]

5. Action Steps for Listeners

• Practical Video Prompt:
  • “Go record a 30-second video, maybe 30 to 50 seconds… your feedback on a particular thing that’s happening in your industry that you’re upset about. Talk about it. Be real with them. Start your video with a hook at the very top.” [15:30]
• Katelyn’s Final Advice:
  • “It’s not about posting more content, guys. It’s about knowing how to turn that content into actual revenue.” [16:30]
  • For more in-depth strategy, she recommends her Social Media Sales School, mentioning results like “2,000 to 3,000 followers… just within a month or two,” and a nonprofit reaching “a million people… in the first 90 days.” [16:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Instagram is no longer just a content platform, guys. It’s becoming a sales platform. And everything we’re about to talk about today supports that.” — Katelyn Rhoades (02:30)
• “A clickable link isn’t going to save you. The people who understand sales are going to win, not the people who just know how to go viral.” — Katelyn Rhoades (03:48)
• “You do not need to be cute, you need to be clear.” — Katelyn Rhoades (05:08)
• “Some of my best content has come when I stopped obsessing over performance.” — Katelyn Rhoades (09:12)
• “People want to know your opinion on things.” — Katelyn Rhoades (14:02)
• “Go record your feedback on a particular thing that’s happening in your industry right now that you’re upset about. Talk about it. Be real with them.” — Katelyn Rhoades (15:33)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:30 – Overview of Instagram’s transition to a sales platform
• 03:02 – Announcement: Clickable links in captions for Meta Verified users
• 03:48 – Why understanding sales matters more now than ever
• 05:08 – Caption writing: Clarity over clever
• 08:10 – Edit Comments feature and why it matters
• 08:40 – Turning off likes/activity and creator mental health
• 11:50 – Instagram’s new content creation (editing) tools explained
• 13:10 – Meta’s move to protect original content and Katelyn’s plagiarism story
• 14:33 – Authentic content gets engagement: story of the Copycat Saga
• 15:30 – Listener homework: record a 30–50 second opinion video
• 16:30 – Final advice on turning content into revenue; Social Media Sales School offer

Episode Takeaways

• Treat Instagram as more than a content platform—capitalize on its new sales capabilities.
• Craft captions with clear, singular calls to action and always warm up your audience before dropping a link.
• Don’t obsess over vanity metrics; focus on authentic content and consistent sales strategy.
• Use Instagram’s native tools for content creation—and protect your originality as it becomes more valuable in a world full of AI-generated and copycat content.
• Take real, actionable steps—don’t just consume info; implement what you learn!

This episode is a must-listen for creators and entrepreneurs who want to move from “posting” to “profiting”—clear, practical advice from an expert who’s learned from experience, not just theory.