Episode Summary: Ep 74 – How to Turn 1 Idea Into 3 Viral Reels (Using the Rule of 3)
Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades
Release Date: June 10, 2025
In Episode 74 of Call Her Creator, host Katelyn Rhoades delves into a transformative content strategy designed to revolutionize how creators approach their Instagram presence. Titled "How to Turn 1 Idea Into 3 Viral Reels (Using the Rule of 3)," Katelyn introduces the Rule of 3, a method that allows creators to maximize their content output without the burnout often associated with constant posting.
Understanding the Rule of 3
Katelyn begins by addressing a common pain point among creators: the content hamster wheel—the exhausting cycle of producing new content incessantly to stay relevant. She introduces the Rule of 3 as a solution to this dilemma, explaining:
"Instead of creating a different reel from scratch every single time, you're going to take one clear idea and you're going to repurpose it into three types of reels."
— Katelyn Rhoades [00:30]
This approach involves distilling a single core idea into three distinct reel formats, each tailored to engage different segments of the audience.
The Three Types of Reels
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Trending Audio Reel (Reach)
- Purpose: Expand reach by leveraging popular sounds.
- Strategy: Use a trending audio track with fewer than 10,000 uses to tap into the momentum of Instagram's Explore page.
- Execution: Overlay short, catchy text on the video to capture attention quickly.
"You're going to use a popular trending audio sound. Add short text over your video and tap into that Explore page momentum."
— Katelyn Rhoades [02:10] -
Talking Head Reel (Authority)
- Purpose: Build trust and establish authority.
- Strategy: Feature yourself speaking directly to the camera, sharing tips, stories, or insights.
- Execution: Keep these reels under 30 seconds to maintain engagement and effectiveness.
"This is your authority reel. You face the camera, you share a tip or a story or an insight. It's quick, it's confident, and it builds trust."
— Katelyn Rhoades [03:00] -
Music Hook Value and Caption Reel (Engagement)
- Purpose: Encourage saves, shares, and deeper engagement.
- Strategy: Create visually appealing reels with a strong musical hook, while placing the substantive value in the caption.
- Execution: Use on-screen text to highlight key points, directing viewers to the caption for detailed information.
"This one grabs attention visually, but it puts all the value in the actual caption of the reel. It's great for saves, shares, deeper engagement."
— Katelyn Rhoades [04:20]
Practical Application: Selling in Stories Without Feeling Sleazy
To illustrate the Rule of 3, Katelyn provides a concrete example:
Core Idea: How to sell in stories without feeling sleazy.
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Trending Audio Reel:
- Use a trending sound with less than 10,000 uses.
- Hook example: "Selling in stories used to feel awkward until I did this."
- Content: Demonstrate the trend while subtly promoting the core idea.
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Talking Head Reel:
- Script example: "Here's how I sell my Instagram stories without sounding pushy. I pretend I'm talking to one friend who needs to hear what I offer."
- Keep the reel under 30 seconds for optimal performance.
-
Music Hook Value and Caption Reel:
- On-screen text: "Three ways I sell in stories without sounding salesy."
- Audio: 7-second B-roll clip.
- Caption: Detailed tips and a call to action, such as offering a course on the topic.
"This is one idea that we've turned into three different reels. So there's three chances for you to be discovered. Three ways for you to explain this idea and it helps you get unstuck."
— Katelyn Rhoades [06:00]
Introducing the Rule of 7
Katelyn briefly touches upon another strategic concept, the Rule of 7, which complements the Rule of 3. She emphasizes the importance of consistent exposure:
"People need to hear from you seven times minimum if you want them to buy the thing. So they need to see it seven times."
— Katelyn Rhoades [07:15]
While the Rule of 3 focuses on content diversification, the Rule of 7 ensures that the core message is reinforced sufficiently to drive conversions.
Why the Rule of 3 Works
The effectiveness of the Rule of 3 lies in its ability to cater to different content consumption preferences:
- Variety for the Algorithm: Instagram's algorithm favors varied content, increasing the likelihood of reaching a broader audience.
- Diverse Audience Engagement: Some followers prefer entertaining audio-driven reels, while others value informative talking heads or in-depth captions.
"The algorithm loves variety. So this is only going to help your videos if you break it up in these three different ways."
— Katelyn Rhoades [09:00]
Implementing the Rule of 3
Katelyn outlines a step-by-step process for integrating the Rule of 3 into your content strategy:
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Brainstorming:
- Generate one core idea each week, preferably addressing a specific problem your audience faces.
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Batch Creating:
- Produce all three reel formats back-to-back to maintain consistency and efficiency.
- This method saves time and keeps you in the creative "zone."
-
Scheduling Posts:
- Distribute the reels over different days (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to maintain a steady presence without overwhelming your schedule.
"The reason I want you to batch create them is because you're gonna have all the information at once and it's just going to be easier to record it all seamlessly."
— Katelyn Rhoades [10:30]
Benefits of this approach include:
- Consistency: Regular posting without the stress of daily content creation.
- Scalability: A repeatable system that grows with your business.
- Reduced Decision Fatigue: Fewer content ideas to manage, allowing for better focus on execution.
Conclusion: Elevate Your Content Strategy
Katelyn emphasizes that the Rule of 3 transcends being a simple content hack; it's a CEO-level system for effective content management and business growth.
"The rule of three isn't just a content hack. It's a CEO level system. You do not need more content ideas, you need better execution of the ones you already have."
— Katelyn Rhoades [12:00]
She encourages listeners to leverage this strategy to build trust, increase visibility, and maintain a sustainable content creation process. Additionally, Katelyn offers supplementary resources, such as her Instagram Growth Starter Pack, which includes detailed challenges and scripts to facilitate the implementation of the Rule of 3.
Call to Action
Katelyn wraps up the episode by motivating listeners to take immediate action:
- Engage on Social Media: Share a selfie on your stories, tag Katelyn, and encourage others to tune into the episode.
- Utilize Provided Resources: Access the Instagram Growth Starter Pack via the show notes to further bolster your content strategy.
"I hope you will snap a selfie, post it to your stories. Tag me. I'll share it on my stories too. Bonus point if you do a screenshot of this episode so others will know what to tune into."
— Katelyn Rhoades [14:30]
By adopting the Rule of 3, creators can streamline their content creation process, enhance their online presence, and ultimately transform their passion into a profitable venture. Episode 74 serves as a valuable guide for anyone looking to optimize their Instagram strategy and achieve sustainable growth without sacrificing their well-being.