83: Instagram Reels Growth Hacks Using AI (That Actually Work in 2025) - Part 3
You could have the perfect Instagram bio and a solid content plan, but if you’re not creating the right type of content, you’re basically invisible. That’s why in part three of my five-part AI Instagram series, I’m showing you the ONE format that’s still getting the most reach and engagement on Instagram right now: Reels.
You’ll learn why Reels remain the fastest way to grow your audience, how to structure them for maximum impact, and how to use AI tools like ChatGPT (or my new favorite, Poppy AI) to generate scroll-stopping hooks tailored to your ideal clients.
This episode is packed with my “Three B’s of Reels,” a simple hook-value-CTA formula you can swipe today, and my exact AI prompt that saves me 10+ hours a week on content creation.
If you’ve been throwing spaghetti at the wall with your content and hoping something sticks, this conversation will give you the clarity and tools to create Reels that grow your business, finally.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
[05:32] Why Reels are still the highest-performing content on Instagram in 2025
[06:29] The “Three B’s of Reels” (be consistent, bring value, be yourself)
[08:51] The simple Reel formula: hook, value, and call to action
[10:41] How to use AI to generate hooks, scripts, and CTAs that convert
[12:02] The CRIT framework for creating scroll-stopping hooks with AI
[14:29] Why you must still edit and refine AI outputs to match your brand voice
[14:59] What’s coming in part four: turning followers into paying clients
Key Takeaways:
Reels remain the fastest way to reach new audiences and grow on Instagram.
Consistency, value, and authenticity are non-negotiables for Achieving success on Reel.
A strong hook + clear value + specific CTA is the winning formula.
AI can be your secret weapon for creating tailored hooks and scripts if you train it well.
You save time with AI, but you are still the thought leader—always edit for your voice.
Links Mentioned:
Try Poppy AI → Think of it as your AI content strategist: helping you discover what’s working for others, spot the gaps in your own messaging, and design a content strategy where every post, email, and page works together to drive sales, not just likes.
Join Hot Reels, my 12-month Instagram content lab → elizabethmarberry.com/hot
Apply for Private Coaching with Elizabeth → elizabethmarberry.com/application
A Truth You Need to Hear:
“Reels are still the fastest way to grow on Instagram, but only if your hooks stop the scroll and your message connects with your dream clients.”
S3 Ep83 Transcript: Instagram Reels Growth Hacks Using AI (That Actually Work in 2025) - Part 3
00:00
Here's what nobody tells you about Instagram. You could have the perfect bio and the most strategic content plan, but if you're not creating the right type of content, you're basically invisible. In today's episode, I'm revealing the one content format that's still getting the highest reach and engagement on Instagram, and exactly how to use AI to create it without spending hours staring at your phone wondering what to say. Plus, I'm giving you my exact prompt.
00:25
that will have AI generate scroll stopping hooks tailored specifically to your audience and business. This is part three of our AI Instagram series and I hope you're excited. Let's go. Welcome to strut it a podcast about creating bold visibility on social media with zero apologies.
00:47
I'm Elizabeth Marberry, your host and Instagram marketing coach. I help small business owners get seen on Instagram and monetize their offers so they can make more money doing their sole lead work. If you're tired of spinning your wheels on Instagram and you're seeking simple, proven Instagram marketing strategies that actually work, you're in the right place. Let's dive in.
01:20
Welcome back to the show. I'm Elizabeth Marberry and this is part three of our five part AI Instagram series. We have been crushing it the last couple of weeks, breaking down the exact elements and steps that you need to implement if you wanna be successful building a business on Instagram and weaving in exactly how you can use AI tools like ChatGBT to help you work smarter, not harder. In part one, we optimized your Instagram bio for maximum.
01:48
follower growth and conversions. In part two, we built your client centered content strategy. So if you miss those two, definitely go back and listen at some point. But today we are getting tactical. We are talking about what specific content you should actually be focusing on as a busy business owner and how to use AI to create content that stops the scroll and converts those followers into paying customers.
02:17
Before we get into all the good stuff today, I just wanna share that this morning I went on my daily walk. If you've been listening to the show or if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I am obsessed with my daily walk in nature. I go for a 30 minute walk outside every single day, no matter the weather. And it's really a self care practice that is non-negotiable for me. Typically when I go on these walks, I do usually have my earbuds.
02:46
and my phone. But today I decided to leave my phone at home, leave my AirPods at home, and just be untethered. And I went for a walk. I live near this beautiful open space. Right now we are on the edge of fall. The leaves are starting to change. The colors are shifting. And it was in the morning and all these birds were out. I ended up doing about a 40 minute walk and
03:15
I got the most incredible download for my business. At some point I'll share with you the download, but it was around structure and my team and really thinking about how I can give myself more support so I can work more in my zone of genius within my company. It just was that beautiful space to think. I wasn't on the phone. I wasn't listening to a podcast. I just had quiet.
03:43
and I had space for my thoughts to just run wild. And so I wanted to share that with you. I think I'm going to try to do a phone free walk at least once a week, if not more. I feel like I might be addicted to it now because it was that life giving and restorative for me. So I invite you to try that out this week. Maybe leave your phone and go for a walk, get outside.
04:11
get some fresh air if it's cold, bundle up if it's hot, dress appropriately, no excuses. We gotta take care of ourselves. We have to keep pouring into ourselves as creatives and owners if we wanna show up and serve our teams and our people at our highest capacity, right? I wanted to share that with you because it just was so helpful and so restorative. And I invite you to find your own practice, whether that's walking or meditating or whatever it is that's gonna help you to
04:40
Allow yourself to unplug before you get tethered into everything that's going on with your email and DMs and all the external stimuli. It's so important to have that spaciousness to reconnect to you. Okay, let's get into what kind of content should you be focusing on if you want to grow your business on Instagram. So I want to start off with.
05:03
a reality check, which is if you're listening to this, you're probably a business owner, entrepreneur, creative, maybe you have a side hustle. You're probably juggling a million things, right? You're not a full-time content creator. I speak from experience. I have two kids. I have two businesses. I never set out to be a full-time content creator, okay? If you're like me, you don't want to spend 20 hours a week making pretty graphics in Canva. You want to do the least amount of work.
05:32
that's gonna have the biggest impact for your business. So I got you. If I were you, I would prioritize Reels in your feed content. Now here's why. You need an audience filled with hot prospects, right? The best way to grow your audience is to post more Reels. Reels still receive the highest reach and engagement over all other forms of content on the platform.
06:00
Now, I'm not saying that Instagram carousels don't work. They definitely do. But if you're wanting to reach more people and get your content in front of new eyeballs and grow your audience faster, I would absolutely focus on Reels. Yes, you should diversify your content strategy and not only post Reels, but Reels are going to be your lead domino. Before we dive into the AI piece, I want to give you my Reels pro tips, which I like to...
06:29
lovingly call the three B's. Number one, be consistent. We are playing the long game here. Most people give up way too fast. You get frustrated way too quickly. You need to be posting consistently week after week for at least three to six months to even start getting meaningful data. Believe me, I know you want it to happen yesterday, but Instagram is not the place where you're gonna make money overnight.
06:59
And if anyone is telling you that, they are lying to you. These things take time and you have to be strategic about it. But the best part about being consistent is that your content will improve over time and it will take you way less time to create content because you're going to be flexing that content creation muscle. So you need to make a plan and stick with it. Really be consistent and relentless in pursuit of
07:27
why you're doing this and really keep serving your people through your content. The second B, bring value. So we talked about this a lot last week, so I'm not gonna go into depth, but the three E's, educate, entertain, or create emotional connection. But the key is that your content needs to serve your ideal clients or customers in every single post. In some way, it is for them. So I always ask myself,
07:54
What is in it for my followers? What is in it for those people who are on my page that are prospects? How do want them to feel when they watch my content? What do I want them to learn? What do want them to walk away with? So that is the value, bring value. And the third B is be yourself, okay? Authenticity wins. Nobody wants that overly polished, curated, overly filtered content anymore, which is why...
08:21
those raw behind the scenes vibes of you just speaking directly to the camera in your car versus in a fancy video studio with perfect sound effects. All that raw stuff is performing so much better on Instagram right now. It's never been easier for you to just get on camera and do your thing. Like you're gonna FaceTime someone, like you're talking to a friend. Just get on camera or use that B-roll footage and throw a hook on the screen and write a caption, you're done.
08:51
Okay, we don't need to overthink this stuff, but remember, just authenticity wins. Be yourself, be real. You are the it factor behind your brand. Now, if you're new to Reels, I've done so many episodes on this, so go back and listen, but let me give you a really simple formula for your Reels that has worked for years and continues to work. Number one, the hook. You have to stop the scroll within those first couple of seconds. I'm sure you've heard that, right? And this could be a visual hook.
09:21
a text on screen or ideally both, but if you don't capture them within those first couple seconds, they're gone, right? No one's gonna see your content. No one's gonna stick around. The second piece is the values. What does that mean? This is just delivering on the promise of your hook. So let's say you're gonna teach me how to craft five nights of dinners and 30 minutes on a Sunday. If that's your hook.
09:44
I expect that you're gonna do exactly what you said you're gonna do, either in the caption or the video itself. So that's what I mean when I say deliver the value. And the last piece is the piece that we often forget, and that is the call to action. You gotta tell people what to do with your content. Don't just hope they will figure it out, right? So tell people what to do. Do you want them to follow, save, share, comment, repost, ask?
10:13
for what you want. It's a great life practice as well. Hook value call to action. That's it, let's go. Now here's where AI becomes your secret weapon. So whether you're using ChatGBT or last week I revealed a new AI tool that I think is a total game changer for people like us who are creating high volumes of content and we want our content to really do the heavy lifting for us and that is Poppy AI.
10:41
If you want to check out Poppy AI, you can DM me the keyword Poppy P-O-P-P-Y, and I will send you the link to check it out. No matter what AI tool you're using, you can use AI to help you write those scroll stopping hooks that speak directly to your ideal client's pain points. Or it can support you in scripting a direct to camera reel. You know, those videos where you're talking straight to the camera.
11:09
and maybe you're teaching a concept. So you never have to stare at your phone just wondering, oh my gosh, what am I gonna say? Or you can use the AI to help you craft a clear call to action that really drives people to take the next step with your content. And of course, AI is great for generating content ideas that aren't just ideas for the sake of ideas, but that align with your business goals.
11:33
So the key is to train the AI to really understand your audience, your voice, and your business objectives, your business goals. Okay, so I wanna give you a powerful prompt using the CRIT framework specifically for creating scroll stopping hooks. So you can take this and run with it and start creating content this week. The CRIT framework I've been talking about the last two weeks, I just wanna quickly highlight is Jeff Woods framework.
12:02
It stands for context role interview task. I'm going to break it down right now. And in a couple episodes, get excited. Jeff is coming on the podcast. I got to interview him. It's such an epic conversation. I cannot wait for you to hear it. Okay. So here is your prompt. See context. I need help creating scroll stopping hooks for my Instagram reels that will attract my ideal clients and drive engagement. My business is you describe your business in great detail.
12:32
My ideal client is describe who you serve and their main struggles in great detail. And again, I'm gonna say it a thousand times during the series, you have to train the AI on all the details of your brand voice, your goals. The more context you give it, the better the outputs. Roll, act as a viral content strategist and copywriter who specializes in social media hooks that convert. Interview, ask me one question at a time, up to five questions to understand my brand voice.
13:01
my client's specific pain points and what action I want people to take after watching my reels. Task. Based on our conversation, create 10 scroll stopping hooks for Instagram reels. Make them specific to my niche and ideal client. Include a mix of question hooks, statement hooks, curiosity driven hooks. For each hook, briefly explain why it would work for my audience. When you follow this crit framework, it's brilliant because the AI will ask you
13:31
questions to get more context because we tend to not communicate very well with the AI or with people in general. So AI is actually helping us to ask us those questions so we can be in response and share the information that it needs to actually give us good outputs and results. And when you do that, when you answer those questions, you'll get hooks that are more specifically tailored to your audience and your business. Now from there, you still have
14:01
to edit, I cannot explain this enough. When I'm working with the AI to do content, it's not like I do all this and it gives me an output and I just go and put it on Instagram. I'm always removing words, I'm changing things, I'm giving the feedback. It is definitely some back and forth, but it still saves me time, so much time. I probably save at least 10 hours a week because I've learned how to leverage AI in my strategy. So I can't wait to see you run with that prompt.
14:29
And next week in part four, we're going to explore how to turn those followers into actual paying clients and customers. So how do you build your Instagram sales funnel or your customer journey? This is such an important piece of the puzzle and you don't want to miss it. Make sure you're following the show if you haven't already. And if you've been listening and you're like, this is so helpful. It is gold. Do me a salad.
14:59
please take 30 seconds to rate and rate a review for the show. That really helps us reach more people like yourself. And I'm a firm believer in energetic exchange. Me and my team are showing up full out for you every week. I expect that you're gonna show up for us. I expect that you're gonna follow me on Instagram and send me a direct message and say, Elizabeth, this was my biggest takeaway. Or, hey, I'm struggling with this. Can you create an episode around this?
15:28
I want to be in dialogue with you. Okay. I have no intention of making this a monologue. When you are brave, when you reach out to me on Instagram, by the way, if you're not already following me, it's Elizabeth Marberry, M-A-R-B-E-R-R-Y. Make sure you give me a follow over there and send me a direct message with one of your biggest takeaways or why you're loving the show or if you have a request for a future episode. Like I said, if you haven't already rate and review the show, it will help us with the podcast algorithm reach more incredible.
15:58
and brilliant people like yourself. And last but not least, please, please share this episode with another colleague, business owner, entrepreneur, who's also trying to work smarter, not harder, and leverage Instagram in their organic marketing strategy. Until then, I so appreciate you being here with me. Try that Crip Framework for your hooks this week. I challenge you to create 10 scroll-stopping hooks.
16:25
that you can use and start testing them in your reels in the coming weeks. Remember, consistency beats perfection every time, and I will be cheering you on. Thank you so much for listening, and I cannot wait to strut it with you next week. Thank you for listening to Strut It. If you're ready to start leveraging Instagram to grow your business, then you're gonna wanna grab my free monetize your IG guide.
16:53
where you'll learn seven simple and proven ways to finally make money on Instagram. You can grab your guide at ElizabethMarberry.com slash freebies. That's ElizabethMarberry.com slash freebies to get my monetize your IG guide. If you got some incredible value from today's episode, be sure to leave a review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
17:20
and I cannot wait to start it with you again next week.
