In today’s business environment, growth is no longer driven purely by content output or posting frequency. Many of the businesses gaining the most momentum are not creating more content, they are strengthening relationships, increasing trust-based touch points, and building recommendation-driven visibility.

In this episode, Claire explores the shift from algorithm-led visibility to relationship-led growth, why reputation is becoming one of the most powerful marketing assets a business can build, and how buyer psychology is evolving as trust becomes the primary driver of decision-making.

In this episode

* Why visibility is behaving less like an algorithm game and more like reputation momentum

* The difference between the traditional content funnel and today’s relationship-led growth pathways

* How referrals, collaborations, and client experiences are driving opportunities before new content even goes live

* Why businesses that invest in meaningful relationship touchpoints often see more consistent growth than those focused only on content output

* How trust is frequently built during real-world interactions, problem-solving moments, and client experiences, not just polished marketing

Examples discussed

* Trinny London - community-driven brand loyalty built through real customer engagement

* Gymshark - global growth powered by community events and ambassador relationships

Reflection questions

* Who is currently talking about your business when you are not in the room?

* Is your current strategy designed primarily for reach, or for recommendation?

* What do people consistently remember and repeat about working with you?

Private episode invitation

A limited private podcast episode has been released through a small print mail-out series. If you’d like access to the private episode and upcoming print mail-outs, click the link here 💌 Mailing list

Final thought

Growth is no longer just about being seen.It is about being remembered, recommended, and spoken about in conversations you may never hear, but that shape the opportunities coming your way.

All the links / how to work with me

Follow @theprintanddigital.va

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

In this episode, I’m talking about what sits underneath your visibility, the foundations that hold everything together when you’re not continually posting.

This conversation has been shaped by what I’ve been seeing in real life: in analytics, in event marketing, in print projects, and in the questions clients are asking right now.

I share:• Why what worked before doesn’t always work again• What I mean by “foundations” (in a practical, not strategy-heavy way)• What the data shows about what performs• Why clarity beats cleverness• How print and physical touchpoints are influencing bookings• A real example of how tightening foundations changed the quality of enquiries• The shift from decoration to strategy when it comes to print and building your business offline• Questions to help you assess your own visibility setup

This episode is for you if:• You’re tired of relying on constant posting• You want your visibility to feel steadier• You want people to understand what you do more easily• You’re using print, events, networking or multiple platforms and want them to work together

🔗 Useful links:– Join my email list to follow the curated nine grid journey– Book a call to review your visibility foundations– Download the Visibility Leads Tracker

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

This episode is a private 2026 trend report recorded for Visibility Vault members.

If you're listening outside the membership, you will be well into January.

It isn’t a recap of the year and it isn’t a step-by-step how-to.

Instead, it pulls together what I’ve been watching, tracking, and paying close attention to over the last year, especially the last six months, across visibility, content, print, events, analytics, and buyer behaviour.

If visibility has felt flatter, harder, or more unpredictable recently, you’re not imagining it.This episode explains why, and what matters next.

What this episode covers

1. Visibility in 2026 - the bigger picture

Why visibility has changed beyond social media alone, including shifts in attention, behaviour, trust, and how people decide who to follow, book, or buy from.

This section looks at the difference between being visible and being visible with intention.

2. Social media, algorithms & discovery

How platforms now distribute content through discovery rather than followers, what it means to “train” your account over time, and why consistency is about clarity, not posting more.

No tech jargon, just the bits that actually affect how your content gets placed.

3. Why volume is losing its power

Why more posts, more stories, more emails no longer equal better results, and how fewer, more intentional touch points are outperforming constant output.

4. Longer-form content as a trust builder

Why podcasts, carousels, newsletters, and considered writing are becoming stronger trust signals again, and why people are choosing depth over noise.

5. Print as a modern trust signal

How thoughtful, well-designed print is being used strategically to build memory, credibility, and real-world visibility, not for nostalgia, but because it works.

6. The shift in events and networking

Why events aren’t disappearing, but changing format, with more focus on intimacy, calm spaces, and meaningful in-room connection.

7. Why community now outperforms reach

What community looks like in practice, why clarity matters more than numbers, and how repeat buyers, referrals, and momentum are really built.

For Visibility Vault members

Your January resources and tools will be in your first members email ( The first Monday of the month.)

Listening outside the membership?

The Visibility Vault waitlist is open, with doors reopening in the first quarter.

Algorithm workshops / training:

Clue Labs Website: Clue Labs – AI social media strategy software for the discovery era

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

In this episode

Episode title: Year Wrap, Print Patterns, and the Decisions I Made in 2025Host: Claire, The Print & Digital VAPodcast: The Visibility Vault Podcast

Recorded with a lingering winter cold and a bit of real life background noise, thanks for bearing with me xx

This is my final episode of 2025 before a short break, and it’s a proper year wrap — not a highlight reel, just an honest look at what the year looked like when I sat down, pulled everything together, and paid attention to the patterns.

I’m sharing what the stats and the work itself revealed, what brought the biggest impact, what shifted behind the scenes, and what I’m taking into 2026.

Note: This episode was recorded with a lingering winter cold and a little real-life background noise. Thanks for bearing with me.

What I cover

* Supporting 80–90 businesses across print, events, installs, analytics, workshops and visibility work

* What I noticed when I looked back at the year as a whole (and why that reflection matters)

* Where the real impact came from this year: networking, conversations, follow-ups, and showing up with print people can keep

* Why phone calls beat DMs for building trust and bookings

* The shift I noticed by summer: Instagram visibility vs actual business impact

* The print that got the best results and repeat orders:

* A quick word on sustainability: how print can be reused, designed to last, and ordered intentionally

* When things didn’t go to plan, what I learned, and why timelines matter (especially for event print)

* The identity shift: still The Print & Digital VA, but naming the work properly as print project management, visibility, delivery, and marketing

* Why the Visibility Vault Membership had to be print-led

* Stepping away from the VA Hangout as a necessary business decision to make space for what’s next

* What I’m carrying into 2026: luxury and editorial-style print, fewer pieces done well, and what I’m building next inside the Vault

* A teaser: an editorial-style publication coming in 2026

* How to join the Visibility Vault waitlist + why I cap numbers

* Event planning reminder: if you’ve got an event in Jan/Feb (or 2026), get in touch early, planning is where the best print happens

Links and next steps

* Join the Visibility Vault waitlist: CLICK HERE

* All the links: CLICK HERE

* Enquire about event print / print project management: [email protected]

Questions to reflect on (take these into your own 2026 planning)

* What worked this year, properly worked?

* What drained you that you can let go of?

* What did you outgrow?

* What do you want to change for 2026, even if it’s just one thing?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

Over the summer I hit a wall with Instagram. Nothing dramatic, just the kind of dip every business owner recognises. At the same time, clients were asking me the same questions:Should I be using AI in my visual content? Will it help? Will it damage trust? Do people even notice?

I didn’t want to answer from theory. I wanted real data.So I ran a quiet three-month experiment across my own account and a couple of client accounts, testing:

• AI-generated photos• AI-generated videos• My usual real life content• Professional brand photos• B-roll and daily moments

No announcements. No big reveal. Just controlled testing.

And the results were very, very clear.

In this episode I break down:

✨ Why AI photos actually reduced real engagement, conversations and trust✨ The psychology behind why your audience can instantly sense when something feels ‘off’✨ The surprising way AI video did help, and where the limitations sit✨ Why real time visibility is becoming the biggest trend heading into 2026✨ What people want from your content now: voice notes, decisions, behind the scenes moments, and the work you’re actually doing✨ Where AI can speed things up without replacing your voice or presence✨ How to use AI as a tool, not a personality✨ What this experiment means for your own visibility strategy

You’ll also hear the exact patterns I saw in the data, the research that backs it up, and the real moments that actually made a difference, from in-person events to co-working to the conversations.

And of course I set a visibility checkin for you and your business.

Links

⚡️Ways To Work With Me

• Instagram: theprintanddigital.va• LinkedIn• The Visibility Vault Membership Wait List

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

In This Episode

1. The burnout moment that changed everything

The point where twenty years+ of people-centred work collided with chronic fatigue and I realised something had to change.

2. How I became The Print & Digital VA

Why retainers drained me, how project-based work suited my energy, and the moment clients started asking for print.

3. The confidence rebuild

Brand photos, filters, pitching myself, and investing in skills that made a difference, especially B-roll training and the creative tech I still use now.

4. Visibility when you can’t post

Working with solicitors, corporate teams, and private events taught me that:→ mystery can be magnetic→ the rooms you’re in matter more than the algorithm→ and visibility built through people is stronger than visibility built through posting

5. The seven touch-point visibility rhythm

The simple weekly system that keeps me visible without burnout, and how I use it for myself and my clients.

6. Three questions I’m asked all the time (and what to do with them)

Brand vs branding — how to check if your visuals really match.The biggest visibility mistake — and two practical ways to avoid it.Is print too corporate? — why print is still one of the strongest trust builders in your business.

7. Your turn: start sharing your story

Three ways to tell it so people relate to you and remember you.

✨ Key Takeaways

* Visibility isn’t about being everywhere - it’s about being recognisable.

* Brand is how people feel about you; branding is how you show them why.

* You don’t need to share everything to stay interesting - mystery creates curiosity.

* Print and digital aren’t rivals - they’re stronger together.

* You don’t need to be polished to be powerful.

* Connection comes from the real, relatable parts of you - not the perfect ones.

City Space - Hedi & Mark

Rachel Scofield

⚡️ Free Visibility Checklist & Reset: Download here

⚡️ Join the Email list here

⚡️Follow me on LinkedIn

⚡️ Follow me on Instagram: @theprintanddigital.va

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

This week we’re talking about a question that keeps coming up in my DMs, inbox, and client calls, what’s actually worth investing in when you’re building or relaunching your business?

Because let’s be honest, it’s noisy out there.Everywhere you look, someone’s telling you what you should buy, what comes next, and what you apparently can’t live without.

But doing more isn’t what builds momentum.Knowing where your time and money truly matter, that’s what helps your business grow.

In this episode, I share:

* The four investments that make the biggest difference across every business I’ve worked with

* Why AI might be speeding things up but trust is slowing everything down

* The foundation you can’t skip (and why your first photoshoot doesn’t need to break the bank)

* How print has quietly become the original influencer again

* Why your email list still outperforms any algorithm

* And how your community, online and in person, shapes the opportunities that last

You’ll come away with a clearer sense of what to prioritise, what to pause, and what really pays off in connection and confidence, long after the launch hype fades.

Links and mentions:

* JOJO SMITH - BRAND & VISION EXPERT: Creative SAS Instagram

* Siobhan Johns | Essex & Suffolk Photographer: Instagram

* The Big WishWorks: Instagram

* Mel Leslie - Bespoke Business Gifting Specialist: Instagram

* Flodesk 50% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR! using this link: Flodesk signup

* The Visibility Vault Waitlist — [link]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

In this episode, I’m diving into why that happens and what to do about it. Because how people decide to buy is not the same for everyone. Some make fast decisions, others need more information or time to think, and once you understand that, everything you create (from posts to print) starts to work harder for you.

I’ll break down the four main buyer types you’ll come across everywhere, online, in person, and even in your inbox — and how to spot them quickly.You’ll learn how to:✨ recognise which type of client you naturally attract✨ speak to different buying styles without creating more work✨ and build confidence by tailoring your visibility to what really connects

This episode isn’t about doing more it’s about awareness.You might already be doing most of it without realising.

And before you move on with your day, here are three simple questions to sit with after you listen:

* Which type of client do you naturally attract, and could that be limiting who connects with you?

* What’s one way you can intentionally speak to a different type this week?

* And when someone walks away, what could you leave them with, a resource, a printed piece, or a follow-up, that keeps you front of mind?

⚡️ Free Visibility Checklist & Reset: Download here⚡️ Join the Visibility Vault Membership here

⚡️ Join the Email list here

⚡️ Follow me on Instagram: @theprintanddigital.va

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

Episode 1 of the Visibility Vault Podcast is live

We’re starting with a big question: If social media isn’t working… what’s next?

Inside this episode:

* Why the “post every day” myth isn’t the only way to grow

* The visibility touch points working right now (email, networking, print, podcasts + more)

* Three reflection questions to check if a platform really fits your business

* October visibility intentions you can action straight away

This podcast isn’t about doing it all or burning out. It’s about building visibility in ways that actually work for you.

Listen to Episode 1 now and download the free Visibility Checklist & Reset via the links below.

⚡️ Free Visibility Checklist & Reset: Download here⚡️ Join the Visibility Vault Membership here

⚡️ Join the Email list here

⚡️ Follow me on Instagram: @theprintanddigital.va

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com

✨ Welcome to the Visibility Vault Podcast!

I’m Claire Johnson, the Print and Digital VA and this is where we flip the script on visibility.

The first episode drops 1st October and in this podcast you can expect:🎙️ Solo episodes packed with strategies that are working right now🤍 Guest expert sessions to give you fresh perspectives⚡ Pep talks for the days showing up feels harder than it should

Because visibility is more than just social media. It’s about finding the touchpoints that feel sustainable, help you stand out, and attract the right people to your business.

Thank you for tuning in, I can’t wait to share what’s inside the Vault.

Join the Email List

You can also find me over on Instagram: @theprintanddigital.va

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprintanddigitalva.substack.com