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60 episodes

The content trend taking over Instagram this summer
29/07/2026 | 11 mins.
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!
Instagram Q&A: Canva carousels, trial reels, and dead accounts
23/07/2026 | 11 mins.
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.
Do hooks give you the ick? Or do you just not know your positioning yet?
16/07/2026 | 12 mins.
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!
What would you post if you already had the followers you want?
09/07/2026 | 13 mins.
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.
Should I post on Instagram over the summer?
25/06/2026 | 8 mins.
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.

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About This Social Cottage

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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