Podcast Summary: Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades – Ep. 56: 5 Tips to Beat the Instagram Algorithm in 2025 per Mosseri

Introduction

In Episode 56 of Call Her Creator, host Katelyn Rhoades delves into the ever-evolving landscape of Instagram's algorithm, drawing insights from a recent video series by Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram. Released on February 5, 2025, this episode focuses on strategic approaches creators can employ to enhance their visibility and engagement on the platform amidst algorithmic changes.

Navigating Platform Uncertainty: The Importance of an Email List

Katelyn begins the episode by addressing the anxiety surrounding potential restrictions on social media platforms, exemplified by discussions around a possible TikTok ban. She emphasizes the critical need for creators to diversify their communication channels to safeguard their businesses against unforeseen platform changes.

"If a TikTok ban can happen, so can an Instagram ban. And we just need to prep ourselves and make sure that we still have ways to communicate with our audiences."
— Katelyn Rhoades [00:00]

To mitigate this risk, Katelyn advocates for building a robust email list, sharing her personal success story of growing her subscriber base to thousands. She offers a free resource titled "Create and Launch a Digital Offer", a checklist designed to help creators develop valuable lead magnets that attract and retain email subscribers.

Decoding the Instagram Algorithm: Insights from Adam Mosseri

Katelyn transitions to dissecting Adam Mosseri's insights on the Instagram algorithm, breaking down complex concepts into actionable strategies for her audience. She identifies three primary algorithm signals that determine content visibility:

1. Watch Time
2. Likes
3. Sends/Shares

1. Watch Time

Definition & Importance

Watch time measures the total duration viewers engage with your content. The longer users interact with a post, the more the algorithm perceives it as engaging, thereby increasing its reach.

"Higher watch times signal to the algorithm that your content is keeping users engaged, boosting its chance to be shown to more people."
— Katelyn Rhoades [Timestamp Unavailable]

Strategies to Optimize Watch Time

• Immediate Engagement: Capture attention within the first three seconds using compelling hooks—be it visual, textual, or through voiceover.
• Content Length: Shorter videos (e.g., 7-second reels) tend to perform better as they are easier to watch in full, maximizing watch time.
• Engaging Storytelling: Utilize storytelling techniques and smooth transitions to maintain viewer interest throughout the video.

Katelyn shares her personal approach, noting a shift towards 12-15 second videos that foster deeper connections with her audience as her following grows.

2. Likes

Definition & Significance

Likes serve as a direct indicator of audience appreciation and interest, particularly among existing followers. Contrary to comments, likes are prioritized more heavily by the algorithm in determining a post's reach within a user's network.

"Likes are the primary metric influencing reach. So what that means is for your current followers, as long as you can get them to like your content, that's a good sign to the algorithm."
— Katelyn Rhoades [Timestamp Unavailable]

Enhancing Likes

• Clear Call to Actions (CTAs): Encourage followers to like posts through subtle prompts within captions or as text overlays in videos.
• Value-Driven Content: Create content that resonates with your audience's interests and preferences to naturally garner likes.

3. Sends/Shares

Definition & Impact

Sends or shares refer to when users forward your content via direct messages or tag others in your posts. This metric is crucial for expanding your reach beyond current followers, signaling the algorithm to promote content to new audiences through features like the Explore page.

"When your content is shared, it demonstrates broader appeal and relevance outside of your follower base, prompting Instagram to showcase it through the Explore or other discovery features."
— Katelyn Rhoades [Timestamp Unavailable]

Maximizing Shares

• Share-Worthy Content: Develop posts that elicit curiosity, provide significant value, or entertain, making them more likely to be shared.
• Universal Appeal: Craft content with broad relevance to encourage users to pass it along to friends and colleagues.

Connected vs. Unconnected Content

Katelyn delineates between connected content (targeting existing followers) and unconnected content (aimed at attracting new audiences). Understanding this distinction allows creators to tailor their strategies—focusing on likes for connected content and shares for unconnected content to drive growth.

The Role of Comments in the Algorithm

Interestingly, comments are not directly prioritized in Instagram's algorithm. Katelyn speculates that this might be Meta’s strategy to reduce the prominence of potentially divisive or controversial discussions, thereby promoting more positive and engaging interactions.

"Maybe by not giving explicit weight to comments, Meta is trying to shift the focus more to positive, engaging and enjoyable content."
— Katelyn Rhoades [Timestamp Unavailable]

However, she acknowledges that comments can indirectly influence watch time, as engaging in discussions may keep users interacting with the post longer.

Five Tips to Beat the Instagram Algorithm in 2025

Building on the algorithm insights, Katelyn provides five actionable tips for creators to enhance their Instagram performance:

1. Focus on Shareable Content

Create content that sparks curiosity, provides value, or offers entertainment, encouraging users to share with their networks.

• Examples: "How-to" reels, quick tips, relatable humor, and universally appealing trends.
• Strategy: Test different content types by posting trial reels to gauge their shareability without affecting your main feed.

2. Optimize for Watch Time

Enhance the likelihood of viewers staying engaged with your content.

• Techniques:
  • Utilize strong visual and textual hooks in the first three seconds.
  • Implement engaging storytelling and smooth transitions.
  • Craft compelling captions that pique interest immediately.

"It's not all about just the text hook that you put at the top of your video, but it's also the visual hook and the captions hook."
— Katelyn Rhoades [Timestamp Unavailable]

3. Encourage Likes

Proactively prompt your audience to engage with your posts through likes.

• Methods:
  • Incorporate clear CTAs such as "Double tap if you agree."
  • Experiment with subtle prompts in captions or video overlays to find a natural fit that doesn't appear spammy.

4. Use SEO-Friendly Captions and Hashtags

Ensure that your content is discoverable by both the algorithm and users through strategic keyword usage.

• Approach:
  • Write captions that accurately describe the content using relevant keywords.
  • Select hashtags that align with the content's themes and target audience.
• Resource: Katelyn references a dedicated SEO episode for a deeper dive into implementing SEO strategies on Instagram.

5. Engage with Your Followers

Build a stronger community by actively interacting with your audience.

• Actions:
  • Reply to every comment on your posts.
  • Send thoughtful DMs to engage with followers.
  • Foster conversations by asking questions and encouraging further interaction (e.g., "triple dipping" by prompting additional comments).

"Engage with your followers through the DMs, through the comments, reply to every comment that you get. This helps you build a stronger community, stronger connections."
— Katelyn Rhoades [Timestamp Unavailable]

Katelyn shares her personal experience of enhanced engagement and growth after implementing a more rigorous interaction strategy, supported by her assistant’s help.

Debunking Algorithm Myths and Encouraging Credible Sources

Katelyn warns listeners about the abundance of misinformation regarding Instagram's algorithm. She urges creators to rely on credible sources like Adam Mosseri and her own fact-driven content to stay informed and avoid falling for prevalent myths.

"Don't listen to everything you see on the Internet. Don't believe it all. Make sure you're getting credible sources."
— Katelyn Rhoades [Timestamp Unavailable]

Conclusion and Community Engagement

Wrapping up the episode, Katelyn summarizes the key points:

• Create content optimized for watch time, likes, and shares.
• Differentiate strategies between engaging current followers and attracting new audiences.

She invites listeners to reach out with questions about the algorithm, expressing openness to dedicating future episodes to address specific inquiries. Katelyn reinforces her commitment to empowering creators to transform their passions into profitable ventures through informed social media strategies.

Final Thoughts

Episode 56 of Call Her Creator offers a comprehensive analysis of Instagram's algorithm changes and provides practical, actionable strategies for creators aiming to enhance their online presence and business. Katelyn Rhoades effectively breaks down complex algorithmic factors into understandable and implementable tips, fostering a supportive community geared towards sustained growth and success.

Resources Mentioned

• Free Resource: Create and Launch a Digital Offer – A checklist for developing lead magnets to build an email list.
• Instagram Profiles:
  • Katelyn Rhoades: @TheKatelynRhoades
  • Adam Mosseri: Adam Mosseri’s Instagram (Assumed link)

For more insights and strategies, subscribe to Call Her Creator and join a community of passionate creators dedicated to turning their social media presence into profitable enterprises.