We recently went over how to know if you’re ready to hire a virtual assistant for your business, but now I have another question for you. What kind of virtual assistant do you need? That’s right. There is so much more to consider when you’re looking at hiring, so I wanted to go deeper and discuss the types of VAs that are out there and the best ways to know what you need in your business. VAs come in all shapes, sizes, and specialities. Everything from editing and producing podcasts and YouTube ...
Sep 16, 2020•18 min•Ep. 19
You don’t have to stick with the status quo in your business. In fact if you do, you’re likely going to be a fish out of water. Own what you want to do with your life and business and you’ll find all the balance you need. Kristen Brumbaugh is here to share how she has done just that and why digging into her niche has given her untold freedom. Kristen has spent over 15 year is in the real estate industry and as such realized that one of the biggest issues most real estate agents face is marketing...
Sep 07, 2020•30 min•Ep. 17
One of the most frequently asked questions that I get is how to know when you’re ready to hire a virtual assistant. I mean I have at least one person ask me this a day and to be honest, there is a good reason for it. Which is why I’m laying out my framework for determining whether or not you’re ready. First things first, you need to make a list of all the things that you do in your business. Every single one of your tasks. Big or small, it doesn’t matter because this is when you will figure out ...
Aug 24, 2020•22 min•Ep. 18
What do you do when your passion is no longer the thing that fuels you? Find a new passion! That’s what Krystal Thompson did when she realized that while she loved photography, it wasn’t fueling her the way she wanted. Listen in as we chat about building the business you want, living the life of your dreams, and finding your confidence in yourself. Krystal majored in photography and really had every intention of using her skills and drive to master the world of pictures. But it wasn’t enough. Sh...
Aug 10, 2020•39 min•Ep. 16
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… and again… and again… You HAVE to have a functioning and efficient CRM to grow and scale your business. Now how you use the CRM may be different depending on the way you run your business, but not having one is not an option. (I mean it is… but only if you’re not looking to grow!) So the first thing to consider is how much automation you want or need to have. What does that mean? So many things! When someone completes a lead form, do you want an email t...
Jul 27, 2020•22 min•Ep. 15
Pinterest is a platform that you have to have for your business. Why? Because if you’re planning to be in business for years to come, then you need to be found. Kyrsten Ashlay is a wedding photographer and Pinterest guru who has used the platform to seamlessly move her business across the country. Listen as she shares how she did it. First things first, why is Pinterest necessary? Because it is a search engine versus a social media platform. What does that mean? Pinterest is directly responsible...
Jul 06, 2020•28 min•Ep. 14
Boundaries are some of the most important things in your business. Nothing will ruin a good working relationship faster than someone stepping over or through your boundaries. How do you make sure that you’ve properly established your boundaries and then enforce them? First you need to lay them out for your clients. Everything from your hours of operation, how to communicate with you, and when you’re going to be completely out of the office. Once you’ve set these boundaries, you have to keep them...
Jun 22, 2020•29 min•Ep. 13
Have you ever seen those posts in large Facebook groups asking to follow each other on Instagram? Seems like a great idea right? You boost your follower count and show Instagram that you’re an active user. All I can say is… stop! I know that this is an unpopular opinion, but when you follow a bunch of other people who are doing what you do, you are actually hurting your Instagram strategy. All you’re doing is showing Instagram that those are the types of accounts and posts that you want to see. ...
Jun 08, 2020•8 min•Ep. 12
It doesn’t matter if you like numbers or not, as a business owner you have to understand your money. Katelyn Magnuson is the freelance CFO and knows how to help you work through your numbers to reach your goals. Katelyn spent her 20s moving through various roles between corporate and the online space. What she learned is that our parents’ and grandparents’ way of doing money… no longer works. We chat about how you can set yourself up for success and which money habits you need to establish now. ...
Jun 01, 2020•40 min•Ep. 11
Giving your clients an amazing experience is one of the best ways to ensure repeat business. Think about it. Are you more likely to rebook with the same hairdresser over and over if she remembers your birthday? The same concept applies for your photography business. Which is why I wanted to share my three favorite tips for up-leveling your client experience. First, always be on time. Be on time with communication, to your appointments, and in providing your clients their products. Second, make i...
May 25, 2020•14 min•Ep. 10
There’s really nothing else to say about it… but I will. When it comes down to it, the relationships that you grow and foster each and every day help you to thrive in this entrepreneurial world. As photographers there are several different relationships that you should be working to cultivate, but one of the most important is your vendor relationships. I’m not talking about just the wedding planners and venue hosts. I’m talking about your florists, bakers, dress makers. All of your vendors can b...
May 11, 2020•16 min•Ep. 9
When you think social media marketing… what comes to mind? If your first thought is to run away screaming… then you’ve obviously never talked with Megan Breukelman. She is a social media marketing guru on top of running her own successful photography business and is dedicated to helping other photography professionals build profitable businesses. One of the biggest challenges photographers face is maintaining a stable and profitable business. She wants to help change that through solid social me...
May 04, 2020•26 min•Ep. 8
The Covid-19 pandemic is still going strong and as such I’ve had to completely revamp my workflow and processes. I’m sharing the strategy I’m using to get a full day’s work in with 40% less time than normal. You may or may not know this, but I have a VERY active two year old. Also, on the days my husband works, he is gone at least 16hrs at a time. Prior to the current state of events, my son was going to a Montessori style school and I was able to work in my office space downtown. Fast-forward t...
Apr 27, 2020•23 min•Ep. 7
Get ready to learn my top ten tips to move your business forward so you will come out on the other side of this pandemic ready to go. I’m touching on some mindset tips, productivity tips, and ways you can uplevel your skills until you get to start using them again. How much attention do you pay to your website? I know you’re posting and adding new content, but have you paid any mind to your SEO? The process can be pretty time consuming, so now is the time to take a minute and spend some time upd...
Apr 20, 2020•22 min•Ep. 6
Do you believe it’s possible to go from being a graphic designer to a booked out wedding photographer in eighteen months? Listen to my guest, Joy Michelle , and I chat about how she did it, the importance of branding, and much more on this episode. Joy is an intimate wedding photographer, a YouTuber, and a coach to other creatives like herself. She helps photographers go from passionate to profitable through courses, her Facebook group Photo Boss, and coaching. Learn how she got her start in pho...
Apr 13, 2020•22 min•Ep. 4
Leaving a corporate career is never easy, but Jodie Brim is here to discuss how she made the transition successfully. She is an amazing photographer and shares how she plans her year, why Dubsado is her go-to tool of choice, and the things you should consider as you’re building your business. Jodie has been in business since 2013 now and has learned so much about the business. If you’re looking to make the transition, you won’t want to miss this episode. In This Episode: [01:28] Welcome Jodie Br...
Mar 30, 2020•25 min•Ep. 3
“You are never building the brand for where you stand today,” Katie Saunders How secure is your position in the market, and what is your core message? Listen as my guest, Katie Saunders , and I discuss this and more. Katie is a brand designer and strategist who combines artistic talent with an in-depth knowledge of marketing strategy to create beautiful, effective brands and websites. Katie and I chat about why branding is so important and how it isn’t always about the logo. You need to brand fo...
Mar 23, 2020•23 min•Ep. 2
Wondering what a CRM is and why you need one? I’m sharing all the benefits of using client relationship management (CRM) software and why I believe it’s a must for running a successful business. I am the owner of Success Beyond The Lens , a business management and marketing company for photographers. I went from the corporate world to the virtual one and I’m not looking back. My CRM of choice is Dubsado and I’m sharing all the reasons why. I was drawn in by their robust suite of tools and automa...
Mar 23, 2020•19 min•Ep. 1
Welcome to the Success Beyond the Lens Podcast! My name is Jenn Bays and I am going to be giving you the actionable tips and advice I use, every day, to run my client's businesses. You can look forward to amazing interviews with marketing experts, Facebook Ad gurus, and awesome professional photographers (as well as many, many more!) I want you to KNOW that you're running a well-rounded business, so listen in and get ready to learn! Being an amazing photographer is the first step, understanding ...
Mar 18, 2020•13 min
