Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades Episode 59: Instagram Growth Hacks for 2025: How to Grow Your Following Without Going Viral Release Date: February 26, 2025

Introduction: Rethinking Instagram Growth Strategies

In Episode 59 of Call Her Creator, host Katelyn Rhoades shifts the focus from the traditional approach of going viral to sustainable Instagram growth strategies. Katelyn emphasizes that virality isn't a prerequisite for building a substantial following. Instead, she shares actionable techniques that have personally helped her grow the Call Her Creator account by over 2,500 followers without relying on viral content.

“You don't have to make these crazy good videos or post and go viral to grow your following. There's actually other ways that you can do it.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:00]

Trial Reels: Testing Content Strategies

Katelyn begins by discussing her experimentation with trial reels on the Call Her Creator account. Trial reels involve reposting old successful videos and creating new content to test what resonates with the audience. She shares mixed results, highlighting that while some trial reels performed modestly, others did not reignite their previous viral success.

“I've been trying that and it's not working. But here are some real results that I've been doing.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Katelyn observes that reposting content from a larger account like her personal Kaitlyn Rhoades account yielded better performance, suggesting that leveraging established audiences may enhance trial reel effectiveness. She invites listeners to share their experiences with trial reels to explore potential correlations between account size and reel performance.

Step 1: Establish a Consistent Posting Schedule

Consistency is the cornerstone of Instagram growth. Katelyn advises creators to develop a manageable posting schedule to maintain regular engagement with their audience.

“Start small and build up. Start by posting three times per week, every week.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Key Recommendations:

• Initial Frequency: Begin with three posts per week, focusing primarily on short reels supplemented by carousel posts for depth.
• Scaling Up: Once comfortable, increase to five posts weekly, incorporating a mix of reels, carousels, and static images to keep the feed dynamic.
• Content Preparation: Allocate dedicated time (e.g., an hour at the month's start) to create and batch-produce content, ensuring a steady flow without daily pressure.
• Tools: Utilize Instagram’s in-app scheduler for optimal reach, or consider third-party tools like Later or Metrical for additional scheduling needs.

Katelyn also offers a free 30-day content calendar to help listeners plan their posts effectively, which can be accessed through the show notes.

Step 2: Implement an Effective Engagement Strategy (555 Strategy)

Engagement drives visibility on Instagram. Katelyn introduces the 555 Strategy, a daily engagement routine designed to foster meaningful interactions and boost account activity.

“Engage with five new posts, comment thoughtful comments, reply to five comments on your posts, and engage with five stories daily.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

555 Strategy Breakdown:

1. Interact with New Content: Like and comment thoughtfully on five posts within your niche or relevant hashtags.
2. Respond to Followers: Reply to five recent comments on your own posts to nurture existing relationships.
3. Engage with Stories: React or respond to five stories from accounts you follow to stay active and visible within your community.

Consistency in this engagement routine signals Instagram’s algorithm that your account is active and engaged, thereby enhancing your visibility and growth potential.

Step 3: Collaborate with Bigger Accounts

Collaboration is a powerful tool for expanding reach. Katelyn emphasizes strategic partnerships with larger accounts within the same or complementary niches.

“Pick a bigger account that's in the same industry that probably has the same type of audience as you and see if they wanna collaborate with you.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Collaboration Tips:

• Strategic Selection: Choose collaborators whose audience aligns with yours, ensuring mutual benefit and relevance.
• Preparation: Approach potential collaborators with a clear, well-thought-out proposal, including specific content ideas to minimize their effort.
• Multiple Formats: Collaborate through reels, carousels, or live sessions to maximize exposure across different content types.
• Repeat Collaborations: Engage in multiple collaborations to reinforce your presence within the collaborator’s audience, building trust and familiarity.

Katelyn illustrates this with her own collaborations between Call Her Creator, her personal Kaitlyn Rhoades account, and Stan’s account, enhancing cross-promotion and audience trust.

Step 4: Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

While frequent posting has its merits, Katelyn advocates for prioritizing content quality to engage and retain followers effectively.

“High quality content. Don't post unless you have something meaningful or valuable to share.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Quality Content Essentials:

• Visual Appeal: Ensure videos are well-lit and aesthetically pleasing. Use text overlays to enhance understanding, especially since many users watch without sound.
• Content Value: Focus on educating, entertaining, or inspiring your audience with each post.
• Strong Call to Action (CTA): Every post should encourage some form of interaction, whether it's saving the post, sharing it, or engaging through comments.

Katelyn underscores that high-quality content builds a more loyal and engaged following, which is more beneficial in the long run compared to mass-producing low-quality posts.

Step 5: Leverage Short Reels Effectively

Reels are Instagram’s prioritized content format. Katelyn provides strategies to maximize their impact without aiming for virality.

“Reels are Instagram's priority and they don't need to go viral to work for you.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Short Reels Best Practices:

• Optimal Length: Aim for 7 to 15 seconds to enhance watch time—the duration users spend watching your video.
• Engaging Hooks: Capture attention within the first 2-3 seconds using visual or text hooks.
• Trending Audio: Utilize fresh, trending audio tracks with limited usage to stand out. Alternatively, join services like Club Influence for curated audio suggestions.
• Text Overlays: Incorporate text to convey key messages, ensuring comprehension even with muted audio.

Katelyn also mentions providing additional resources for trending audio through Club Influence, facilitating easier reel creation for her audience.

Step 6: Deeply Understand Your Audience

A clear understanding of your target audience is crucial for creating relevant and engaging content.

“Your audience starts with knowing who you are speaking to. This is gonna help you come up with your content.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Audience Insight Strategies:

• Define Your Niche: Clearly determine the specific area or industry you are addressing.
• Develop Buyer Personas: Create detailed profiles of your ideal followers, identifying their pain points, needs, and preferences.
• Tailored Content: Produce content that directly addresses and solves the issues faced by your defined audience segments.

Katelyn advises listeners to research and develop multiple buyer personas to cater to diverse subgroups within their broader audience, enhancing content relevance and engagement.

Step 7: Analyze and Adjust Regularly

Continuous evaluation of your performance metrics allows for informed adjustments to your strategy.

“Analyze your data, track your metrics, pay attention to your likes, your comments, your shares, your saves and see what is resonating with your followers.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Analysis and Optimization Tips:

• Track Key Metrics: Monitor likes, comments, shares, saves, and overall reach to identify successful content.
• Identify Top Performers: Pinpoint posts that excel in specific metrics (e.g., engagement, shares) to understand what works.
• Content Replication: Develop similar content based on top-performing posts to replicate success.
• Experimentation: Test different formats, posting times, and CTAs to discover what optimizes your performance.
• Regular Reviews: Conduct weekly or monthly analytics reviews to stay informed about trends and adjust strategies accordingly.

By consistently analyzing data, Katelyn emphasizes the importance of evolution and adaptation in maintaining and accelerating Instagram growth.

Step 8: Embrace Patience and Persistence

Building a meaningful following is a gradual process that requires sustained effort and resilience.

“Growing your first 500 followers is not going to happen overnight... But if you put in the consistent effort and a focus on quality, you can build a loyal and engaged audience.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Patience is Key:

• Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that significant follower growth takes time and consistent effort.
• Focus on Engagement: Prioritize building authentic relationships over mere numbers, fostering a community that supports and engages with your content.
• Long-Term Vision: Maintain dedication to your growth strategies, trusting that persistent efforts will yield results over time.

Katelyn reassures creators that steady, quality-driven growth is attainable with commitment and patience.

Quick Checklist for Sustainable Instagram Growth

To encapsulate the episode’s strategies, Katelyn provides a concise checklist for listeners aiming to grow their Instagram following without relying on viral content:

1. Consistent Posting:

   • Post three to five times per week.
   • Mix reels, carousels, and static images.

2. Daily Engagement (555 Strategy):

   • Like and comment on five new posts.
   • Reply to five recent comments on your posts.
   • Engage with five stories daily.

3. Strategic Collaborations:

   • Identify and list ten potential collaborators within your niche.
   • Engage with their content before reaching out with collaboration proposals.

4. Quality Content with Strong CTAs:

   • Ensure each post is meaningful and visually appealing.
   • Incorporate clear calls to action to drive engagement.

5. Performance Tracking and Optimization:

   • Regularly analyze your metrics.
   • Adjust your content strategy based on what resonates most with your audience.

6. Patience and Persistence:

   • Stay committed to your growth strategies.
   • Focus on building a loyal and engaged community over time.

Katelyn reinforces that adherence to this checklist will significantly enhance your Instagram growth trajectory, fostering a sustainable and profitable online presence.

Conclusion

In this episode, Katelyn Rhoades provides a comprehensive roadmap for Instagram growth that emphasizes consistency, quality, strategic engagement, and collaboration. By implementing these sustainable strategies, creators can build a loyal and engaged following without the pressure of chasing viral fame. Patience and continual optimization based on performance metrics are highlighted as essential components for long-term success on the platform.

“If you just focus on consistency and quality, you can build a loyal and engaged audience on this app.” — Katelyn Rhoades [00:XX]

Listeners are encouraged to apply these techniques methodically, leveraging Instagram’s features to transform their social presence into a profitable and thriving online business.

Note: For additional resources mentioned in the episode, such as the free 30-day content calendar and access to Club Influence for trending audio, please refer to the show notes accompanying this episode.