Business-First Creatives

Why Your Best Leads Don’t Convert

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’re doing the marketing. Your portfolio is strong. You’re attracting the right people… but then they disappear. Sound familiar? Let's dive in...

Communicate with Clients Like a Pro: 5 Tips for a Better Experience with Christine Dammann

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is your lack of communication holding you back from creating an amazing experience for your clients? In today's episode, Christine Dammann joins us to...

The 3 Must-Have Elements for Every Client Experience Email

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Want your client emails to actually get read? In this bite-sized solo episode, Colie shares the three things every email in your client experience mus...

What I Got Wrong About Workflows (and What I’m Focusing on Now)

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve heard me preach the power of workflows for years—but what if that’s not where your client experience actually starts? In this episode, I’...

SEO is Everywhere: Optimizing Your Content with Brittany Herzberg

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know the benefits of SEO expand beyond your website? Brittany Herzberg joins us to share how you can optimize for search across multiple platf...

Your Systems Are Doing Too Much (and Clients Feel It) — Simplify Your Systems

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does every single offer need a fully built out client experience? While I think it's necessary to create a powerful experience that leave your client ...

Don’t Blame Your Prices, Fix Your Systems First

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We made it to 200 episodes—and I’m bringing the fire 🔥I’m taking this opportunity to revisit one of the first truths I ever shared on the pod...

I Audited My Freebies—Here’s What I Found

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered if your freebies are helping people buy—or just taking up digital space? In this episode, I’m sharing how a single podcast (shoutout...

How to Create a 5-Minute Booking Process Inside Your Client Experience [Client Experience Series Pt 4]

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ready to make booking you effortless for your clients? In this episode, I’m breaking down how to create a five-minute booking process using a well-s...

How to Design Workflows That Enhance Your Client Experience [Client Experience Series Pt 3]

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is the third episode of the Client Experience Series! Now that you’ve mapped out your client experience, it’s time to turn those steps into w...

From Touchpoints to Timelines: How to Begin Mapping Your Client Experience [Client Experience Series Pt 2]

16 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second episode of the Client Experience Series. Today I'm sharing a breakdown of how to begin mapping your processes as the first step to ...

How to Improve Your Client Experience: A Breakdown of My Audit Process [Client Experience Series Pt 1]

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If this is the year you're looking to improve your client experience, you've come to the right place! Auditing your systems and workflows is key to no...

Applying for Grants & Overcoming Adversity with Katrina Cross-Daniels

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Beyond our careers, we're real humans experiencing real obstacles in our lives. Katrina joins us to share how a boudoir session helped her overcome a ...

Client Experience: The Secret to Building Loyalty with Natasha Sewell

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you relying on your clients to become repeat clients solely because they loved their images from their last shoot? Sometimes that's not enough—t...

How to Connect with Your Audience in their Inbox with Hannah Davis

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you sit down to write an email, do you find yourself staring at a blank screen lacking inspiration? Today's episode is meant to inspire you with ...

Transforming Networking into Genuine Connections for Business with Mikki Wilson

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is networking a part of your business strategy this year? If it's never felt like the right move for your business, today's episode may change your mi...

Building Your Content Strategy with the Marketing Jar with Dayna Schaaf

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does your marketing strategy and content fall flat? Maybe you struggle with knowing what to create. In today's episode, Dayna Schaaf of This Can't Be ...

Building a Better Relationship with Money through Storytelling with Katherine Pomerantz

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with understanding money? Maybe you're afraid to address it. In today's episode, Katherine Pomerantz joins us to highlight the complex...

Strategic Business Planning for Productivity & Growth with Jade Boyd

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you being intentional and strategic in planning for productivity and growth in your business? In today's episode, Jade Boyd joins us to discuss se...

5 Key Metrics Every Business Owner Should Track with Ally Anderson

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As we head into 2025, it is crucial to harness the power of data to streamline and enhance your business strategies. In this episode, Ally Anderson jo...

How to Switch CRMs Without Sacrificing Your Sanity

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this solo episode of the Business-First Creatives podcast, host Colie James dives deep into the intricacies of switching Customer Relatio...

Alternative Streams of Income for Photographers with Lissa Chandler

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Diversifying your income and creating passive income is something we hear a lot about in the creative world. The best place to start is by creating al...

Creating Blog Posts for Your Client Experience with Jessie Andrew of Inkpot Creative

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you using your blog for more than your SEO efforts? In today's episode, Jessie Andrew of Inkpot Creative joins us to highlight the value that blog...

Crafting a Distinct Brand Voice that Matches You with Samantha Pollack

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Your brand has a voice, you just may not have identified it or honed in on it yet. In today's episode, Samantha Pollack joins us to share the value of...

Leveraging Audio Podcasts for Entrepreneurs and Creative Educators with Lindsay Padilla of Hello Audio

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you dream of launching a podcast? Maybe even starting with a private podcast? You've likely seen others do it and wondered if it's the right move f...

SEO vs SSO: Why Your Online Presence Needs BOTH with Erin Ollila

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most entrepreneurs know about the power of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Social Media Optimization (SMO), but are you considering the role that...

How to Create Systems for Your Worst Days in Business with Sandra Henderson

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is your business prepared for bad days—even those worst case scenarios that we don't want to think about? In today's episode, Sandra Henderson joins...

Effective Marketing for Photographers with Sabrina Gebhardt [Marketing with Intention]

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gone are the days where your photos is enough to market your photography business—even if you are an amazing photographer. In an oversaturated marke...

Leveraging AI for Content Creation & Advertising Strategy with Hattie Dunstan [Marketing with Intention]

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you leveraging the power of AI in your business? In today's episode, Hattie Dunstan of Funstans Marketing discusses how you can integrate AI into ...

Hiring a Unicorn Marketing Assistant without Regret with Emily Reagan [Marketing with Intention]

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you looking for a unicorn to help you with your marketing tasks? In today's episode, Emily Reagan joins us to highlight importance of hiring the r...

How to Repurpose Your Content with Intention with Felly Day [Marketing with Intention]

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you leaving content opportunities on the table because you're not repurposing the content you already have? In today's episode, Felly Day joins us...

The Power of In-Person Marketing with Angie McPherson [Marketing with Intention]

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When building out your intentional marketing plan, are you considering the power of in-person marketing? In today's episode, Angie McPherson joins us ...

Generating Revenue in Your Business through Affiliate Marketing with Candice Coppola [Marketing with Intention]

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We naturally share our favorite items and products with our friends, but what if you could make an income by sharing business tools and products with ...

Market Your Business Weekly with Email with Dama Jue [Marketing with Intention]

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you hesitate to invest time into email marketing due to all of the different rules you have to follow? In today's episode, Dama Jue joins us to sha...

Building a Steady Stream of Potential Customers through SEO and Pinterest with Kara Duncan [Marketing with Intention Series]

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Marketing takes up a lot of your time and for businesses that are planning to be around for a while, finding sustainable strategies that generate pass...

Crafting an Intentional Marketing Plan with Tayler Cusick-Hollman [Marketing with Intention Series]

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you being intentional in your marketing? This week, we're kicking off a brand new series on the podcast all about marketing with intention. Our fi...

Storytelling Trends You Should Implement Today with Akua Konadu

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you using the power of storytelling in your business? Storytelling offers relatability and authenticity for connection with our audience, which bu...

New School Year - New Possibilities

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, there are a few life and podcast updates 😉The Business-First Creatives Podcast is brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie J...

Simplifying Systems for Creatives Using Airtable from Copywriter on Call

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Summer Sabbatical Series - Simplifying Systems for Creatives Using Airtable from Copywriter on CallEver wondered how automating your systems could hel...

How to Write Emails Your Clients Love Reading from Big Fun Content

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Summer Sabbatical Series - Infusing Your Personality into Your Automations from Big Fun ContentDo you struggle with writing emails that don't bore you...

Discover the Magic of Organizing with Airtable | Annemie Tonken

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we're diving into the world of Airtable with Colie James and Annemie Tonken, unraveling how this dynamic tool can streamline your ...

How to Socially Sell on Instagram: the Magic of ManyChat Automations with Dayna Schaaf

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you ready to automate you social media sales strategy? In today's episode, Dayna Schaaf joins us to discuss the power of ManyChat and automations ...

Making the Switch from Quickbooks to Xero for Small Business Owners with Madison Brown

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a hate-hate relationship with Quickbooks? Yeah, not love hate, just hate. This is all too familiar with many small business owners who hav...

Maximize Your Business with AI: Top Tools & Tips with Dawn Richardson

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you leveraging the power of artificial intelligence for your business? With the advancements of AI, it can feel scary to explore, but once you emb...

Crafting Compelling Copy in Your Marketing with Sara Gillis

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While you may understand the value and importance of copywriting on your website for sales and SEO, what about all of the other copy you need in your ...

Embracing Workflows & Automations in Your CRM: HoneyBook Case Study with Brittany Herzberg

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you've been signed up and sitting with a CRM that hasn't been officially set up for your business, you're leaving time and money on the table. Toda...

Scaling Your 1-to-1 Service into a Digital Product with Angela Tan

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you considered adding digital products to your business? In today's episode, Angela Tan of The Systems RX joins us to share her journey to creati...

Optimizing Your Program Promise for Measurable Results with Ashley Pendergraft

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are your students meeting their goals through your program? Maybe you're not even sure! In today's episode, Ashley Pendergraft joins us to share how y...

Celebrating 2 Years of Business-First Creatives with Sabrina Gebhardt and Annemie Tonken

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes celebrating a major milestone calls for bring together your business besties for a honest conversation about business. That's exactly what w...

Creating Customized, Yet Automated Systems for Your Inquiry Responses with Megan Grove

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most efficient systems to build in your business is automated inquiry responses, yet many people hesitate to do so as they want to be inten...

CRM Blueprint Case Study with Katharine Calderwood

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you organized and automated with your CRM? One thing that holds business owners back from setting up their CRM is that time it takes to explore an...

Expanding Your Business through Virtual Summits with KP & Jessie of Inkpot

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As you're considering your next big project for your business, have you considered hosting a virtual summit? In today's episode, KP and Jessie of Inkp...

Community Memberships: Leveraging Free and Paid Tiers for Lasting Impact with Katelyn Dekle

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Community memberships are wonderful for creating a recurring revenue stream, but something Katelyn Dekle does sparked my interest. Inside of her club,...

Where Parenting Meets Your Business with Daniel Moyer

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you're a parent and a business owner and you've ever found yourself struggling to find balance, this episode is for you. Dan Moyer joins us in toda...

Knowing What Your Business Needs Based on the Stage of Business You're In with Jessica Dornieden

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Your business needs change at every stage within your business. In today's episode, Jessica Dornieden joins us to discuss the different stages of busi...

Grow Your Business by Hosting a Summit with Jenny Suneson

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you've played around with the idea of hosting a summit for your online business, this episode is for you. In today's episode, Jenny Suneson of Summ...

Leverage Someone Else's Audience for Your Marketing with Amy Dangerfield

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the more unique and unconventional approaches to marketing is leveraging other audiences. We see it in collaborations online, but today's guest...

How Jess Built Her Business on Hawaiian Vacations with Jess Fernandez

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you're building a photography business, you're often focused on marketing to your local market—but what if your target audience actually consis...

Getting the Most Conversions through Paid Advertising with Olivia Lawson

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As you're building your marketing strategy, are you incorporating paid advertising? Paid ads offer an opportunity to convert your audience into custom...

Sensory Storytelling that Connects with Your Audience with Zafira Rajan

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever read a marketing email and connected on a deeper level with the creator? They likely used a personal story or anecdote to connect with y...

Building Intentional Habits with Jess Joswick

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been intentional in the habits you've created in your business? Think beyond the bad habits and let's look at how valuable good habits can be...

Borrowing Audiences by Pitching Yourself as a Podcast Guest with Christina Lenkowski

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to expanding your reach and growing your audience, one of the best ways to do that is through borrowing audiences. Podcasts are one of t...

Gaining Photography Clients through Silent Auctions and Free Services with Rebecca Hunnicutt

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably been told that you can't gain anything more than visibility by offering your services for free. If you do it right, you can actually g...

Full-Time Processes for Part-Time Photographers with Lydia Fine

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Being a part-time photographers doesn't reduce the need for systems and automated processes, it makes them even more important. In today's episode, Ly...

Creating a Cohesive Client Experience in Your CRM that Converts with Ashley Tindall

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's not too often that I bring someone on the podcast who does exactly what I do (let's be honest, I never have), but Ashley Tindall of Solution Inte...

What Will Help You Create and Launch a Better Course with Mara Kucirek

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is creating an online course on your bucket list for 2024?In this episode Mara Kucirek chats with Colie about her experience in the course creation sp...

Generating Monthly Recurring Revenue with a Membership (Beyond Services: Expanding Your Offer Suite) with Liz Wilcox

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you fallen victim to believing the lies that low ticket memberships can't generate a six-figure income? In today's episode, Liz Wilcox joins me t...

Insights on Diversifying Income Streams in Your Photography Business (Beyond Services: Expanding Your Offer Suite) with Maddie Peschong

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What should you have in place before you begin diversifying income streams within your photography business?In this episode, Colie chats with returnin...

Building a Successful Offer Suite for Multiple Audiences (Beyond Services: Expanding Your Offer Suite) with Elizabeth McCravy

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When multi-passionate entrepreneurs dive into the digital product space, they're often met with the decision to focus on one audience. In today's epis...

Creating Offers that Generate Consistent Revenue (Beyond Services: Expanding Your Offer Suite) with Brittany McBean

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While many business gurus will point you towards creating passive income through digital products and offers, for many entrepreneurs, that won't gener...

Overcoming Money Mindsets to Generate Wealth as an Entrepreneur (Financial Stability for Creatives Series) with Natalie Bullen

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a good relationship with money? Most entrepreneurs do not, which makes today's episode extremely relevant. Money mindset coach, Natalie Bu...

Quickbooks for Small Businesses (Financial Stability for Creatives Series) with Crystalynn Shelton

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you properly managing the numbers in your business and tracking your bookkeeping? In today's episode, Crystalynn Shelton joins us to share how and...

Creating Business Productivity and ROI with Your Time with Brittnie Renee

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is it time to get your time under control? In today's episode, Brittnie Renee joins us to share how she's incorporated time blocking into her schedule...

Filling Your Creative Cup with Sarah Wayte

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When we turn our passions into our business, we often lose sight of fill our creative cups outside of our work. In today's episode, Sarah Wayte joins ...

The Powerful Pivot from Weddings to Commercial Work with Ben Davis

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You've likely looked at wedding video and thought, "How did they create such an amazing film? I want to do that!" Have you ever considered the same th...

How to Jumpstart Your Video Visibility Plan in 2024 (Video Visibility Series)

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is the 4th and final episode in the Video Visibility series. In today’s solo episode I how to get a jumpstart on creating and implementing vide...

Building Visibility with Video on Social Media (Video Visibility Series) with Natasha Pierre

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you incorporate video into your content plan on social media, you open the doors for so much visibility. In today's episode, Natasha Pierre of th...

3 Videos to Create for Your Client Experience Right Now (Video Visibility Series)

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second episode in the Video Visibility series. In today’s solo episode I am suggesting 3 videos you could create for your client experie...

Overcoming Your Mindset Blocks to Show Up on Video (Video Visibility Series) with Mariangelica Forero

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does video scare you? There may be subconscious blockers keeping you from showing up. In today's episode, Mariangelica Forero joins us to discuss over...

3 Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid Inside Your Client Experience

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a Text Message.In today’s episode I am talking about the 3 most common mistakes I am seeing while I am doing my new client experience audits...

Enhancing Your VIP Experience with Intentional Proposals, Questionnaires, and Automations with Flor Blake

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our clients want and deserved to be pampered—that's the exact intention behind Flor Blake's VIP branding experience. As Flor expanded her corporate ...

How to Choose a CRM for Your Photography Business

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In today's solo episode I am giving all the advice on how to choose a CRM for your photography business.✨ Why you should mostly stay away from cheap...

Creating an Intentional and Personalized Client Experience with Brittney Johnson

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you're a service-based business owner, it's important for your clients to feel seen and appreciated. From intentional touch points in your workflow...

Making Data-Driven Decisions in Your Business with Ally Anderson

26 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Numbers don't lie and that's why it's so important to be making data-driven decisions in your business. Ally Anderson joins us on the podcast to share...

About that Black Friday Offer

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Black Friday sale is HERE 🎉Starting today, each morning at 8am MT a new Deal of the Day will go live. These are brand-new offers debuting at 50...

Building an Associate Team (Building a Team Series) with Jill Smith

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As you've explored hiring during our Building a Team Series on the podcast, have you considered hiring associate photographers for your brand? In toda...

Communicating with Your Team: The Clickup & Airtable Combo (Building a Team Series) with Ana Natkins

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Communication is key to building a successful and productive team—the tools you use to communicate matter. In today's episode, Ana Natkins joins us ...

Successfully Delegating to Your Team (Building a Team Series) with Selina Johnson

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does it look like to hire successfully? Oftentimes, we hire before we fully understand what we need or how to ask for it. That's why today's gues...

Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Your Team (Building a Team Series) with Brooke Scott

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to selecting the right tech programs and softwares for your business, a major consideration is your team and the role they'll play withi...

Creating a System for Your Team (Building a Team Series) with Liz Strong

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you tried setting up a system that worked seamlessly within your team? inding the right tools can be hard when there are multiple hands involved....

Photographer BONUS Episode - Online Gallery Sales for Black Friday with Pic-Time

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a previous solo episode, I introduced three types of offers you can make for the upcoming consumer holiday BEYOND a discount and a bonus suggestion...

The Magic of Follow-Up Emails

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In today's solo episode I chat about the magic of follow-up emails and how they can help you turn more leads into paying clients. ✨ Timeline for sen...

How Kristyn Miller Created a Heart-Centered Photography Business

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kristyn Miller is a lifestyle and documentary wedding photographer based in Connecticut, who documents the magic of real life for families and couples...

Have You Made a Plan for Black Friday?

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a consumer, do you buy a lot of things on Black Friday: personal or business?As an entrepreneur, do you typically make a limited-time offer for Bla...

Minimalism in Business (Self Care Series) with Makeda Newton

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you out of control when it comes to buying tools, courses, resources, and more in your business? In today's episode, Makeda Newton joins us to dis...

How Fair Play in the Home Can Benefit Your Business (Self Care Series) with Lindsay Dreyer

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard of Fair Play? It's essentially a system that helps you divide up household tasks fairly, based on your needs. In today's episode, Fair ...

Recognizing and Avoiding Burnout as an Entrepreneur (Self Care Series) with Courtney Porter

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you've been in business for any length of time, you know how easy it is to burn out. In today's episode, Courtney Porter joins us for our Self Care...

The Art and Business of Birth with Lindsey Eden Bartell

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When your career is in birth work, you can feel like you're on call all the time, but for Lindsey Eden Bartell, that's just what comes with the job. W...

What Your Website Really Needs with Kate Hejde

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever listen to a podcast and think you are listening in on a private conversation between friends? Kate and I have been besties for over a deca...

Episode 100 🎉🎉🎉

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Business-First Creatives Podcast is usually brought to you by CRM and Dubsado expert Colie James. But this week, she is being interviewed by her b...