I’m Gemma a mum of two grown boys, living in the UK. I escaped corporate life and chose SANITY over SALARY, I have a consultancy business that is centred around Microsoft apps - I’m an excel geek at heart! When I’m not working and building my Skool community I love to travel - I would love to create a secure income which means I can be a digital nomad. It’s fab to be here - I’m learning so much already!

If you’re available for work, I just added a new page to the classroom: “Example For Hire Posts” It’s there to help you write a clear, easy-to-read For Hire post that people can actually scan and respond to. You don’t need to copy it word-for-word. Think of it as a checklist so people quickly understand: - What you do - What tools or skills you use - When you’re available - How to contact you Clear posts tend to get more responses. If you’ve been meaning to post (or repost) your availability, this is a good time to do it. Posting is competitive and visibility is temporary by design — so clarity really matters. 📍 Where to find it: Classroom → **9. Example For Hire Posts** 📍 Where to post: Feed → For Hire category (Include [FOR HIRE] in the title) I’ll pin this for a bit so everyone sees it. Hope it helps you get better visibility and better conversations. 🙌

Instagram is good at one thing: Creating repeated visibility. It helps people: - recognize your name - understand what you do - build familiarity over time That’s where its strength is. Instagram is not good at: - instant sales - explaining complex offers in one post - replacing referrals or outreach - producing fast, predictable results When freelancers expect Instagram to close deals by itself, it feels disappointing. When they use it as a support layer, it works quietly. Instagram is best used to: - reinforce credibility - stay top-of-mind - reduce friction when someone checks you out - support conversations that start elsewhere It’s not the business. It supports the business. Used correctly, Instagram compounds trust. Used incorrectly, it becomes a distraction. The difference isn’t effort. It’s expectations.

Most beginner VAs think they need a perfect Canva portfolio before applying. So they spend weeks designing… and make $0. Here’s the truth: clients don’t hire portfolios. They hire proof. And proof doesn’t have to be paid experience. Try this instead: 👉 Create 2–3 mock samples (DM management, inbox cleanup, calendar setup). 👉 Record a 60-second Loom explaining what you improved. 👉 Show the *before → after* result clearly. That’s already stronger than 80% of “pretty” portfolios. Stop waiting to look experienced. Start showing how you think and solve problems. No portfolio isn’t the issue. No proof is.

Hard truth: most VAs aren’t losing because they lack skills. They’re losing because they send 3 applications… then disappear for a week. Clients don’t hire the best VA. They hire the most visible qualified VA. Here’s what nobody tells you: • Watching tutorials feels productive — but it doesn’t get replies. • Fixing your Canva portfolio again won’t magically bring clients. • Waiting until you “feel ready” is just fear wearing a professional outfit. If you want results, track this instead: 👉 Applications sent per day 👉 Follow-ups sent after 48 hours 👉 Personalized lines added to each pitch Simple rule inside my VA Skool: 5 solid applications a day = momentum. 5 a week = you’re hiding. You don’t need more confidence. You need more volume with clear positioning. Less scrolling. More sending.