Entrepreneurship allows for freedom—in business and in life. In this episode, Sandra van der Lee of Damn Copy joins us to share how she's pursuing the digital nomad life, how she's adjusting her business to fit her lifestyle, but also exploring opportunities to serve her clients well! Listen in as she shares how she's been traveling country to country for the last five years, along with the good and bad that comes with the life of a digital nomad! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought ...
Feb 09, 2023•50 min•Ep. 39
We've all been told by someone else how we should be running our business—yet their experience and knowledge may not be the best option for us. I believe we individually need to figure out what is best for business through experimenting! In today's episode, Maryam Salassi joins us to discuss why she does things differently in her business than I do in mine and what it looked like for her to experiment in different parts of business! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM a...
Feb 02, 2023•38 min•Ep. 38
There is something super special, dare I say magical, about attending a photography conference in-person. In a post-pandemic world, I think we are all excited to return to being around other humans. Today's guest is Alison Hatch, Film Family Photographer who has taken on a new role, Conference Organizer. We discuss the ins and outs of bringing back one of my favorites, PhotoNative. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week ...
Jan 30, 2023•21 min•Ep. 37
Whether you're building a new brand or refreshing an existing brand, there are so many considerations to keep in mind of what you need to be adjusting. I bet you've never considered the systems and setup inside of your CRM as a part of that! In today's episode, Ashlee Burke joins us to share about refreshing her brand with a new website, copywriting, and a Dubsado VIP day with me! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week a...
Jan 26, 2023•27 min•Ep. 36
What do you financial numbers say about your business? If you aren't sure, it may be time to hire a bookkeeper! In today's episode, Laura Kelly of Tula Books, joins us to share common mistakes and misconceptions entrepreneurs have about their finances, along with what. it looks like to work with a bookkeeper! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that brings you joy and a paycheck!...
Jan 19, 2023•39 min•Ep. 35
You likely started your business to create the lifestyle you wanted, which includes specific ideations around money—but how is your money mindset blocking you in life and business? In today's episode, Dan Moyer joins us to explore money mindset and the shift that most entrepreneurs need in order to become a business-first creative! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that brings ...
Jan 12, 2023•47 min•Ep. 34
Does the concept of a recession make you nervous for your business? You're not alone! We're all worried about the impacts of a recession, especially so soon after the pandemic, yet it's something we should all consider preparing for. In this episode, Maddie Peschong joins me to talk about making changes and pivots in your business in order to survive during slower seasons. Listen in as she describes how much she accomplished and is proud of in one of her slowest years, along with her own experie...
Jan 05, 2023•43 min•Ep. 33
One of my biggest accomplishments of 2022 was launching this podcast! Today I am briefly sharing 3 lessons I learned since launching the podcast + the top 3 downloaded episodes of 2022. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that brings you joy and a paycheck! From business advice with fellow entrepreneurs to sharing automation tips and tricks, Colie and her guests are sharing indus...
Dec 23, 2022•9 min•Ep. 32
Are you connecting with the right clients within your website copy? In today's episode, Sara Vartanian joins us to chat about creating copy that sounds like you and how you can achieve it while working with a copywriter! Listen in as we explore the value of templates, how to weave your personality into your copy, and the first step to take when hiring a copywriter! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss ho...
Dec 15, 2022•50 min•Ep. 31
Are you using your podcast as an asset in your business? In my opinion, your website could be your BEST business asset. In today's episode, I've brought on Samantha Mabe of Lemon and the Sea to share how you can build and optimize a website that is your biggest business asset. Listen in as she shares how to get started, what to consider for Search Engine Optimization, and her own process to creating a quality website for her clients! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM ...
Dec 08, 2022•41 min•Ep. 30
Does your social media work for you and your business? In today's episode, Sarah Huguet of Social and Stuff joins us to share how to create content pillars to easily navigate your content, the value of niching down and knowing your audience, and how you can repurpose content across social platforms. Listen in and let's get social. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that brings y...
Dec 01, 2022•37 min•Ep. 29
Are you a creative soul who has absolutely no interest in the business side of photography? Today's guest readily admits she outsource almost any and all non-creative tasks in her photography business. Kati Douglas of Xilo Photography is an amazing photographer, but more importantly an amazing human. This episode has a different feel so if you feel like you are eavesdropping into a chat between friends its because you are 😂 The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsa...
Nov 28, 2022•34 min
As a systems and business strategist, you know I couldn't wrap up this three-part series without encouraging you to audit your systems! There is always improvement to be made in our systems to give our clients the best experience from us. In today's episode, I'm sharing a few ways that you can improve your systems so that you don't drop the ball, but also a few examples of additional touch points that will improve your overall client journey! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to yo...
Nov 23, 2022•10 min•Ep. 28
Are you reaching or connecting with your ideal clients within their first interaction with you? I'm talking about the messaging you're offering on your website, your social media, and even your brochures! The language you use is so valuable in connecting with clients, which is why I've deemed it as part two of this three-part series. In this episode, we're exploring how you can audit your messaging to ensure that you're connecting to your ideal customers. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is ...
Nov 22, 2022•8 min•Ep. 27
You may be approaching a slower season in your business, which offers the perfect opportunity to do an audit in your business. Over the next three episodes, I'll be diving into three different audits you can do in your business to ensure your business is still working for you and your clients! In part one of this series, we're exploring your systems, what you need to audit in them, and how to make your clients the priority throughout these audits! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought ...
Nov 21, 2022•8 min•Ep. 26
You have a hundred tasks to managing in your business, but what would that look like if you brought on a little help? In today's episode, Sarah Potts, my own virtual assistant (VA), joins us to share what a VA can do for your business. Listen in as Sarah and I walk through what it looks like for us to work together, but also highlight how Sarah and her team support other entrepreneurs building successful businesses. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert...
Nov 17, 2022•31 min•Ep. 25
We put so much effort into developing growth strategies for our business with marketing plans, yet what are we doing to track these efforts? In today's episode, growth strategist, Celi Arias joins us to discuss why you should understand the metrics of your business and how to track and measure the results of your efforts! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that brings you joy an...
Nov 10, 2022•39 min•Ep. 24
To get the most out of this episode, make sure you download 4 Workflows Every Entrepreneur Needs . This guide is the perfect way to implement each of the four workflows discussed in this episode, with additional tips and guidance for each workflow. Grab your FREE copy HERE ! https://coliejames.com/workflows Are you seamlessly serving your clients from inquiry to project completion? If you're using a CRM like Dubsado, you can build workflows that make it easy! In this episode, I share the four wo...
Nov 03, 2022•16 min•Ep. 23
Have you found your own secret to success? In today's episode, Sabrina Roden shares how her business has grown in the last three years since she first worked with me. Listen in as she shares where her business started, what it's turned into, and how she survived the pandemic when her business was just getting started. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that brings you joy and a ...
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 22
Our website copy allows for you to connect with potential clients and convert them into paying clients. At Green Chair Stories, Rachel Greiman and her team are helping photographers craft copy that converts. In today's episode, Rachel joins us to share how her business has pivoted over the last couple of years, how the pandemic impacted her, and how she's navigating every change she's experienced in life and business in the last few years! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you b...
Oct 20, 2022•45 min•Ep. 21
Shifting your mindset in business is so important as you grow, but what if you made that shift to having a CEO mentality in your marketing? In today's episode, Mikki Wilson joins us to share about the value in your marketing plan, approaching it with a CEO marketing mentality, and steps you should take in creating a strategic marketing plan. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business th...
Oct 13, 2022•53 min•Ep. 20
I never grow tired of talking about tools to reclaim time in your business. In today’s episode I am discuss the BIG Three for my photography business: website + CRM + gallery software. Maybe hearing why I chose them and specifically how I use them in my own photography business will inspire you to update your tools and optimize their use! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that ...
Oct 06, 2022•16 min•Ep. 19
There are a so many things that can go into a VIP Day, so you need to be organized and streamlined in your process! In today's episode, I'm sharing four tools you need to book and manage your VIP Days, along with how I use them in my own! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Colie each week as she discuss how to build a business that brings you joy and a paycheck! From business advice with fellow entrepreneurs to sharing automation ti...
Oct 04, 2022•9 min•Ep. 18
Are you in need of focused time to just work on your business? In today's episode, my friend Sabrina Gebhardt me to share how working weekends have changed her business. Spoiler alert: We recently spent a working weekend together to work on all of the big projects, tasks, and admin work that needed to be done in our businesses! Listen in as we share the logistics, costs, expectations, and more! The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. Join Col...
Sep 29, 2022•32 min•Ep. 17
Have you found yourself annoyed by the sales pitches you hear in every online summit you've attended over the last couple of years? Lisa DiGeso felt the same way when she was building her business—that's why she decided to launch pitch-free educational offerings for photographers! In today's episode, she shares about how her online retreat series was created and what it's looked like growing that alongside her photography business. The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM an...
Sep 22, 2022•32 min•Ep. 16
How much more profitable could your business be if you simply put in the effort to build out solid workflows and systems inside your CRM? As a Certified Dubsado Expert, I'm a believer in the power that a CRM like Dubsado can have in impacting your business' bottom line. In today's episode, Allison Brett joins us to share how working together through both my blueprint course and a VIP day has impacted her own businesses! Listen in as she shares her experience in switching CRM platforms and how sh...
Sep 15, 2022•20 min•Ep. 15
To get the most out of this episode, make sure you download Audit Your CRM . This guide is the perfect way to implement each of the four workflows discussed in this episode, with additional tips and guidance for each workflow. Grab your FREE copy HERE ! If you've been using a CRM for a while, it might be time to audit what you've set up to ensure it's optimized for efficiency in your business! Whether it means reviewing your brand, checking automations, and using each of the features of your CRM...
Sep 08, 2022•11 min•Ep. 14
I am 18 months into my VIP Day journey and know with 100% certainty there is no turning back. While VIP Days are gaining popularity, they are still a novelty. While several of the guests I have interviewed on the podcast have VIP Days, I haven't yet discussed the nitty gritty details of VIP Days. With the next Done in a Day Virtual Conference scheduled next week, I felt like this was the perfect time for that discussion. Don't skip this episode because you have no interest in listening to a 20 m...
Sep 01, 2022•18 min•Ep. 13
I was first introduced to Ashley of Systems Over Stress through her Airtable bonus inside the Done in a Day program. I downloaded it, watched like one video, but didn’t have the capacity to add Airtable to my tech stack at that time. Then in March of 2022 we were both presenting at the Done in a Day Virtual Conference and Ashley’s talk was one of my favorites. Now mind you, I YELLED at her through my computer screen the entire time. Her talk was geared towards using Airtable as your CRM, you kno...
Aug 25, 2022•33 min•Ep. 12
I met Ashley while we were both in the Done in a Day program, working on our VIP Day offers. Since leaving, we spend every Thursday morning at 10am MT together on a business besties call, intentionally working on our business with a few of our other favorite people. I am going to admit, in the beginning I had NO idea what a CEO Day was or why I would need one. But as I have heard Ashley speak in multiple venues about them, I now believe every business owner needs one. If you are curious about th...
Aug 18, 2022•33 min•Ep. 11
