Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades: Episode 82 Summary

Episode Title: Ep 82. Making Money as a Creator in 2025: What’s Working Now (And What’s Not)
Release Date: August 6, 2025
Host: Katelyn Rhoades
Powered by: Stan
Podcast Description: Call Her Creator is the go-to marketing podcast for creators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners aiming to transform their content into consistent income without burning out. Hosted by Katelyn Rhoades, a seasoned marketing agency founder and Instagram growth expert, the show delivers actionable strategies for audience growth, sales optimization, and sustainable online business building.

Introduction: Navigating Monetization Challenges [00:00]

Katelyn Rhoades opens the episode addressing a common pain point among creators: monetizing social media efforts. She empathizes with listeners who feel stuck despite consistent posting and engagement, highlighting that many creators face the "middle space" where audience growth doesn’t directly translate to income.

Notable Quote:
"You're not alone. So many creators feel like they're stuck in this weird middle space right now." [00:00]

She reintroduces the podcast’s mission to provide practical conversations on monetizing content without necessitating a massive following or complex setups, powered by Stan—the platform she recommends for selling digital products and managing online business tools.

Weekly Instagram Update: Emphasizing Quality Over Quantity [00:14]

Before delving into revenue streams, Katelyn shares a significant Instagram update: the restriction on trial reels. Previously allowing up to 10-12 trial reels per day, Instagram is now capping this number to reduce spammy, low-effort content. This change encourages creators to prioritize quality over quantity, urging them to align every piece of content with their broader brand or offerings.

Notable Quote:
"Instagram's way of cutting down on the spammy, low effort content because I have seen people abusing this feature." [00:16]

She advises creators to shift their strategies accordingly, ensuring each reel is intentional and valuable, aligning with Instagram’s evolving algorithms that favor watch time and meaningful engagement.

Exploring Revenue Streams for Creators and Influencers [02:05]

The core of the episode focuses on diverse revenue streams for creators and influencers, drawing insights from a survey by Later involving 350 US-based creators.

Key Statistics:

• 91% of creators have between 1 to 5 revenue streams.
• 94% earn from brand partnerships.
• 99% of revenue is generated from short-form video content.

Notable Quote:
"91% of creators and influencers have between 1 to 5 revenue streams." [02:05]

Katelyn emphasizes the importance of diversification, explaining that relying on a single income source is risky. She shares her personal experience of leveraging multiple streams such as brand partnerships, digital downloads, memberships, and affiliate marketing to build a resilient income portfolio.

1. Brand Partnerships: The Most Prevalent Revenue Stream [Detailed Discussion]

Brand partnerships stand out as the top revenue generator, with 94% of surveyed creators utilizing them.

Notable Quote:
"Brand partnerships is the highest earner across niches and followings with 94% of surveyed influencers and creators cashing in." [02:05]

Katelyn discusses the dual nature of brand partnerships, noting that while they are lucrative, they shouldn't be the sole focus for creators. She shares her approach to balancing partnerships with other income streams, ensuring financial stability without over-reliance on external brands.

Recommendation:
For those starting with fewer followers, platforms like Brands Meets Creators can facilitate brand collaborations without the need for a massive audience, allowing creators to earn through partnerships regardless of their follower count.

2. Affiliate Marketing: Expanding Earnings Through Referrals [Affiliate Marketing Section]

Affiliate marketing is highlighted as the second most popular revenue stream, with a robust growth forecast. The industry is projected to reach $36.9 billion by 2030.

Notable Quote:
"The affiliate marketing industry is expected to reach $36.9 billion by 2030." [Later in the transcript]

Katelyn explains that affiliate marketers earn commissions by referring customers to products or services, with commissions typically ranging from 1% to 20%, and sometimes higher (up to 40%). She stresses the importance of diversifying affiliate partnerships, ensuring they align with the creator's niche to maintain authenticity and audience trust.

Personal Insight:
Katelyn shares her strategy of partnering with varied brands that resonate with her audience, such as social media tools and lifestyle products, enhancing credibility and expanding earning potential without alienating followers.

3. Consulting, Coaching, and Freelancing: Leveraging Expertise [Consulting/Coaching Section]

Offering consulting, coaching, or freelancing services represents another significant revenue avenue. These services allow creators to monetize their expertise through personalized, high-value offerings.

Notable Quote:
"Offering one on one services or private coaching can be a really great way to provide value and make the big bucks." [Consulting Section]

Katelyn shares her journey of starting with one-hour coaching sessions priced at $300, which have since increased as her expertise and demand grew. She advises pricing services based on the value and time invested, warning against underpricing to avoid burnout.

Recommendations:

• Sell Time-Based Services: Initially offer affordable sessions to build client trust and refine offerings.
• Done-for-You Services: Provide specialized services (e.g., workflow setup) at premium prices, as Katelyn did by hiring a service to organize her business operations.

She underscores the utility of platforms like Stan for seamlessly managing and selling these services, streamlining the booking and payment process.

4. Selling Digital Products: Creating Passive Income [Digital Products Section]

Selling digital products is cited as a flexible and scalable revenue stream, with 26% of creators leveraging their influence to build their own businesses through products like PDF guides, checklists, and courses.

Notable Quote:
"Selling digital products is a really easy way to make money. You make something one time in Canva or whatever design tool you want to use and then you put a price tag on it and you sell it." [Digital Products Section]

Katelyn recounts generating her first $10,000 from a digital product on Stan, illustrating the potential of creating once and selling repeatedly. She encourages creators to start with simple products to build confidence and validate their offerings before scaling to more complex or higher-ticket items.

Tools Mentioned:

• Canva: For designing digital products.
• Stan's Ask Stanley: For creating freebies or adding value to existing content.

5. Memberships: Building a Recurring Revenue Model [Memberships Section]

Although briefly touched upon, membership programs are highlighted as a substantial income source. Katelyn shares her success with an Instagram membership that provides members with trending audio clips, prompt templates, and a monthly content calendar.

Notable Quote:
"Memberships is a huge piece of my revenue. We have an Instagram membership where we sell... and I make a really good chunk of change doing the membership." [Memberships Section]

She advises creators to consider memberships for generating recurring revenue, offering ongoing value that keeps subscribers engaged and invested in the community.

Strategies for Maximizing Revenue Streams [Strategies Section]

Katelyn concludes the revenue discussion with two pivotal strategies:

1. Diversify Your Earnings:
   Spread your income across multiple streams to ensure financial stability and mitigate risks associated with relying on a single source.

   Notable Quote:
   "Diversify, spread yourself out, make more money. Bring in different streams of income." [Strategies Section]

2. Charge Your Worth:
   Accurately price your products and services based on the value you provide and the time invested, avoiding underpricing which can lead to burnout.

   Notable Quote:
   "Charge your worth. It will help you to stay afloat as a creator and as a business owner." [Strategies Section]

Personal Anecdotes and Recommendations [Personal Insights Section]

Throughout the episode, Katelyn interweaves personal stories and experiences, reinforcing her points with real-world applications. She shares testimonials from listeners, such as a child therapist named Kelly, illustrating the tangible impact of her advice.

Notable Quote:
"I'm hoping that with you guys listening to this podcast, hopefully you can find that inner fire in yourself to share about things that you love and make money while doing it." [Personal Insights Section]

Katelyn passionately advocates for leveraging one's passions to generate income, emphasizing authenticity and alignment with personal values as keys to sustainable success.

Conclusion: Empowering Creators to Achieve Financial Success [Conclusion Section]

Katelyn wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of passion-driven monetization and strategic income diversification. She encourages listeners to implement the discussed strategies, leveraging platforms like Stan to streamline their business processes.

Final Notable Quote:
"I truly just want you guys to make money doing what you're passionate about, what you love to do." [Conclusion Section]

She calls to action for listeners to leave reviews, download the episode, and share it with peers, underscoring the community-driven ethos of the podcast.

Additional Resources:

• Host’s Instagram: @thekatelynrhoades
• Website: enfluencestudio.com
• Stan Store Free Trial: Stan Store – Call Her Creator Free Trial

Powered by Stan: Stan is the all-in-one Creator Store facilitating sales of coaching offers, digital downloads, and more, allowing creators to focus on content creation.

This episode of Call Her Creator serves as a comprehensive guide for creators looking to monetize their social media presence in 2025. By dissecting current trends, sharing actionable strategies, and offering personal insights, Katelyn Rhoades equips her audience with the knowledge and tools necessary to build a profitable and sustainable online brand.