Call Her Creator with Katelyn Rhoades

Episode: The Instagram Engagement Reset: How to Revive Your Account in 28 Days
Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Katelyn Rhoades

Overview

In this actionable episode, Katelyn Rhoades lays out her proven 28-day Instagram Engagement Reset—a step-by-step challenge designed for creators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners tired of seeing their Instagram posts vanish into the void without likes, comments, or real audience connection. Drawing from personal experience and the stories of over 500 successful challengers, Katelyn explains why engagement drops, the simple psychology and mechanics behind an “engagement reset,” and gives concrete, manageable daily actions to reignite a stagnant account—without the need to post every day, burn out, or start from scratch.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Engagement Drops

• It’s Not Personal:
  “It’s not you, okay, sister? But it might be your strategy.” (00:05 - Katelyn)
• Algorithm Misconceptions:
  The Instagram algorithm is not emotional; it’s systematic. It tracks signals of consistency, relevance, and reciprocity. If you post inconsistently or lack a clear strategy, the algorithm has less reason to deliver your content.
• Three Common Mistakes:
  • No Plan: Posting random content without a niche or goal confuses followers and the algorithm.
  • No Reciprocity: Ignoring your DMs and not engaging with others' content signals to the platform that you’re not part of the community.
  • Outdated Profile: “Your profile just hasn’t been refreshed in months, so people don’t know who you are or why they should follow you.” (04:03 - Katelyn)

2. The Power of the Engagement Reset

• Not a Burnout Formula:
  The reset is not about adding more to your plate, but about tiny, intentionally chosen actions that build momentum.
• Analogy:
  “Think of it like a workout program, right? You wouldn’t go from sitting on the couch to running a marathon and having washboard abs.” (09:01 - Katelyn)
• Katelyn’s Story:
  Katelyn revived a dormant account with 800 followers after four years of inactivity—using these same steps—to ultimately grow to 190,000 followers.

3. How the 28-Day Reset Works

• Consistency is Key:
  One simple task per day—each targeted at reviving both your algorithmic favor and real connections.

• Sample Tasks:

  • Day 1: Refresh your Instagram bio with a clear statement of who you help—Katelyn even offers a ChatGPT prompt to simplify this process.
  • Day 5: DM a few lost connections—with scripts provided.
  • Day 14: Post an interactive story with a simple, clickable sticker to get engagement. “The more people that click on your story, the higher up … you will be pushed to the front of the line.” (13:58 - Katelyn)
  • Day 20: Refresh your content ideas to better speak to your audience’s pain points.

• Habit-Forming:
  These daily actions compound, and by Day 28, these small wins add up to a revived account, increased visibility, and renewed joy in posting.

4. Real Results & Case Studies

• Business owner quadrupled her likes and booked three new clients just by reconnecting in DMs.
  “Three clients, guys, think about whatever it is that you offer... Is that worth putting in work for 28 days? I’d say yes.” (21:03 - Katelyn)
• Another participant who had stopped posting entirely reintroduced herself, leading to more story replies in a single week than in the previous six months.

5. Quick Wins You Can Steal Today

Katelyn breaks down three fast-action steps for instant improvement:

1. Post a Poll in Stories (22:40)

   • Make it easy and irresistible—example: a coffee poll (“How do you like your coffee? Iced? Warm? Matcha?”)
   • Bonus: The next day, DM everyone who participated with a personalized note to spark conversation.

2. Reintroduce Yourself with a Reel (25:45)

   • “Your audience changes over time…sometimes they need a reminder of why they’re following you.”
   • Use trending audio, share who you are, what you do, and a fun fact.

3. 15-Minute Engagement Blitz (27:51)

   • Set a timer. Reply to all comments and DMs, then interact meaningfully on five other posts.
   • “These are simple, quick wins that give you proof engagement is still possible, and your account is not dead.” (28:47 - Katelyn)

6. Mindset and Business Growth

• Consistency over Intensity:
  You don’t need to post daily or chase virality; intentional, strategic action wins.
• Business vs. Hobby:
  “The more engagement you get, the more you’re going to move that needle in your business and you’re going to use Instagram as a business and not a hobby.” (32:20 - Katelyn)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s not that the algorithm hates you. The algorithm is not emotional. It really... it doesn’t care who you are, but it does respond to signals.” (03:00)
• “You gotta give to get.” (05:13)
• “It’s crazy to me how many people have a really crappy Instagram bio... Not only is it the first thing that people see, it’s going to kind of talk people into whether or not they want to follow you.” (11:23)
• “People don’t want hard on social media. They’re actually escaping… so you have to make it super duper easy.” (23:47)
• “Engagement doesn't die forever. It just needs a little reset.” (30:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05 – Reassurance: “It’s not you, it’s your strategy”
• 03:00 – Why does engagement dip? Debunking algorithm myths
• 07:56 – Katelyn’s personal account revival story
• 09:01 – Engagement reset = workout program metaphor
• 11:23 – Sample day: Bio refresh & its impact
• 13:58 – Power of engagement stickers in stories
• 21:03 – Case study: Booking clients through DMs
• 22:40 – Steal these quick engagement wins: polls, reels, timed engagement
• 30:55 – Final encouragement & the “reset” mindset
• 32:20 – From hobby to business: the big perspective shift

Summary & Action Steps

Katelyn emphasizes that Instagram engagement can be revived regardless of how long your account has lain dormant—without starting over or burning out. By focusing on incremental, targeted daily actions (not more work, but smart work), you can build real relationships, rekindle enjoyment in social media, and drive business results. The 28-Day Engagement Reset offers a practical, proven roadmap to do just that.

Try These This Week:

1. Run a simple poll in your Instagram stories—then DM respondents.
2. Post a reel reintroducing yourself to your audience.
3. Engage for 15 focused minutes by replying to comments, DMs, and others’ posts.

Ready for a total reset? Katelyn invites you to join the full challenge (link in show notes), promising support and a step-by-step plan that’s already helped hundreds transform their approach and their results.

For ongoing tips and free resources, follow Katelyn at @thekatelynrhoades or visit enfluencestudio.com. The full 28-Day Engagement Reset Challenge is available via her Stan store.