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This Social Cottage

Gemma

Welcome to This Social Cottage: the podcast for business owners, content creators, experts and solopreneurs who want to grow on Instagram, sell their offers daily, and still have time for the life they actually want to live.

Hosted by ex-teacher and Instagram strategist and offer strategist Gemma, each episode is packed with strategy, content clarity, and sustainable growth tips to help you build an online presence without being exhausted by it.

Whether you’re:

Just getting started with posting and feeling overwhelmed,

Already creating content but it’s taking forever, or

Craving a sustainable way to sell your expert offers daily...
This podcast is your space.

You’ll hear solo episodes full of no-fluff Instagram growth tips, content creation strategies, and ways to show up as the expert you already are — even when life is chaotic and motherhood is... motherhood-ing. Plus, guest chats with women who are doing business with heart, clarity, and actual results.

We're talking:

Fast + sustainable content creation

Selling your offer daily without sounding salesy

Building authority when you’re short on time

Getting your Instagram working while you are offline

Balancing business and real life.

Pour a cup of tea, plug in on the school run, or pop me in your ears while you tidy up — and let’s make your Instagram finally start working for you

New episodes every Thursday!

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  • 32 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 13 min
  • English

Episodes 32

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  • Yesterday · 8 min

    How to have boundaries when sharing on the internet

    You're told to share yourself on Instagram and to share your life on Instagram. But how do you do that when you want to be boundaried and not let the internet into your darkest secrets? In today's episode, I share exactly how to do that

  • October 29 · 11 min

    Your 2027 Instagram Gameplan for posting

    What should you post on Instagram so that you can make the most of your Instagram presence in 2027? In this week's episode I cover exactly what to listen to and what Instagram advice you can jolly well ignore!

  • October 22 · 11 min

    Instagram posting myths that you can flipping ignore

    There is so much advice out there on Instagram about how to grow. But there is some that is just frankly nonsense! In today's episode I share what to listen to and what to ignore, so that you can ahead on content!

  • October 15 · 9 min

    5 ways to get dangerously ahead in your content

    Wanting to get ahead with your Instagram content by the end of 2026? In today's epsiode, I share with you the exact steps to take to get dangeously ahead with your Instagram content and what to do if your content just isn't reaching non-followers or attracting your ideal audience in a way that you would like.

  • October 1 · 12 min

    Do this before you record your next piece of content

    So many people are focused on going viral or getting more views and visibility, but very few people actually have the tools and systems set up so that when they do get the reach they're after, it actually makes a difference for their business. In today's episode, I share exactly what you need to set up so that when you do get the reach you need, it starts working for you. My Flodesk link: https://partners.flodesk.com/wqc7v7r645cu Free 30 days of Manychat here: https://manychat.partnerlinks.io/essqaddf0qm6-ogcg6e

  • September 17 · 12 min

    I don't want to have a niche on Instagram

    Whether you're feeling trapped by the niche that you have created for yourself or feeling like you're a multi-passionate person who doesn't want to be put inside of a box, this week's episode is for you. We cover: Should you niche down? Should you not niche down? How to get the algorithm seeing more of your content and posting the stuff you love

  • September 10 · 10 min

    From losing followers daily to doubling in almost 2 months!

    In today's episode, I take you behind the scenes on my client Becky's astronomical growth in the past two months, whilst having two small children at home and running her business too. Becky hasn't relied on lots of different complicated content methods. Instead, she's relied on using B-roll from her phone and photographs on her phone to overlay text because life is busy. It's for sure an episode that you don't want to miss!

  • September 3 · 11 min

    Behind the scenes of a 4 figure brand deal

    In March this year I set out with a mission to secure more brand partnerships and in today's episode i share with you what I did with my content and my communications to secure that deal.

  • August 27 · 12 min

    Getting yourself out of a content wobble

    Content wobbles happen to all of us. We can find ourselves overthinking our content, doubting what we're posting and feel trapped by our own content ideas. In today's episode, I walk you through exactly what to do to get yourself out of a content wobble.

  • August 6 · 28 min

    Growing from 3k to 40k followers in less than a year

    Chantal has grown from 3,000 followers to 40,000 followers. Her handle is @becomingthismama In today's episode, she talks about how she has managed to use prompts to find her voice and her unique positioning, and how being willing to show up unafraid on the internet has resulted in an incredible community and thriving business.

  • July 29 · 11 min

    The content trend taking over Instagram this summer

    Are you feeling like your reach and engagement have dipped over the summer? That's really normal this season, but there are things you can do to give it a little helping shove. Instagram is in its mega personal recommendation era, and the mistake most of us make is thinking people care that we say things "as a doctor" or "as an expert." They don't. What actually gets reach is marrying that personal recommendation energy with what your audience is actually asking for. In this episode: Instagram's shift into its personal recommendation phase, and the mistake most people make trying to use it A real example of why personal recommendation content stops the scroll Prompt to steal: "A lot of people ask how I'm able to ___. Here's what I tell them." Another prompt to steal: "Five things you won't find me recommending to [this type of person/situation]." Breaking down a national park carousel that pulled 36,000 likes, 26,000 shares, and 15,000 new followers from one post, and exactly why it worked Pause the episode, use the prompts, and then come tell me you did it over on Instagram!

  • July 23 · 11 min

    Instagram Q&A: Canva carousels, trial reels, and dead accounts

    There's so much nonsense out there about Instagram right now, and today I'm answering your questions about all of it. You sent these into my story question box, and I'm deep-diving on each one because I want to assure you that Instagram doesn't have to be complicated. It gets to be enjoyable once you find your unique perspective and positioning! In this episode: Are designed Canva posts or in-feed carousels better? Is effort ever actually wasted on Instagram, or is it a perspective and positioning problem? Does Instagram throttle a trial reel that doesn't get traction in the first 24 hours? Why trial reels don't work the way they used to Should you start a new account or stick with the one you've got Does format (reels vs. carousels) actually matter for reach If you've got a question I haven't answered today, come find me in my DMs. I'd love to chat and feature it in a future episode.

  • July 16 · 12 min

    Do hooks give you the ick? Or do you just not know your positioning yet?

    Be honest with me. Have hooks ever given you the ick? Have you ever gone to create a piece of content and thought, I cannot believe I've stooped this low, or tried to shoehorn some phrasing into your post that just doesn't sound like you? You are not alone, and I hear this conversation a lot. This week, I'm breaking down what to do when hooks make you feel this way, and how to start opening pathways of conversation in your content instead. In this episode: "I hate hooks" usually means "I don't know my positioning well enough" Going from under 1,000 to 100,000+ followers and other client stories The algorithm is just a person interacting with a piece of content Depth vs. superficial content The reverse-engineering method: start with the thought in your head, not the prompt Go check out Lauren and Chantal’s content so you can see their growth for yourself. I'm in the DMs, and I'm also inside the Plotting Shed if you need some extra support. Come and chat with me, I'd love to connect with you!

  • July 9 · 13 min

    What would you post if you already had the followers you want?

    I want you to imagine that you have just woken up with the number of followers that you are craving. Maybe that's 10k, 50k, or 100k… whatever it is for you, sit with it for a second. Then ask yourself: what's the content that got you there? If we're honest with ourselves, most of us would say the same thing: that we would've been bolder and braver than what we're currently posting. Not hiding behind the perfect hook or worrying about the timing of the video, but saying what we really think. In this episode: The follower-number exercise to run on yourself before you post again Why 3-4 posts a week with real depth beats mediocre content posted daily The two questions to ask if your growth has felt slower than you'd like What's eating your content-creation time Why one person disagreeing with your post doesn't mean you change direction If this one resonated, come inside my DMs because I love to chat about this stuff! And if you want help getting your hooks and content ideas out of your head and onto the grid, that's exactly what we work on inside The Plotting Shed and with Planting the Seeds.

  • June 25 · 8 min

    Should I post on Instagram over the summer?

    Should you post on Instagram over the summer? What happens if your capacity is literally zero? In today's episode, I show you how to make posting over the summer easier on yourself and still give yourself lots of space and capacity.

  • June 11 · 11 min

    10 things I've learned about content that gets reach

    i've been supporting folks with their content for a long old while now. In today's episode, I break down the 10 things all successful content does, and the tweaks that you can make to get more reach.

  • June 4 · 12 min

    Lessons from viral videos and million dollar launches

    The whole of the marketing world has been going crazy over million dollar launches and talking to the camera. Today I share the lessons we can learn for our own content and the patterns to spot to get your content visible.

Showing 1–20 of 32 episodes