Ever wondered what three years of podcasting can really do for your business? In this special episode, I switch seats with my producer, Haylee Gaffin, as she interviews me about how I’ve used Business-First Creatives to grow, market, and evolve my business.

Listen in as we walk through launching my podcast three years ago to turning it into a strategic, revenue-driving content engine, I share the pivots, lessons, and behind-the-scenes of what’s actually working in my podcast strategy.

Find it Quickly:

00:47 - The Journey of Starting a Podcast

04:29 - Launch Strategies and Initial Challenges

07:18 - Evolving Content and Audience

10:10 - Leveraging Podcasts for Business Growth

14:47 - Repurposing Content and Marketing Strategies

22:23 - Feed Drops and Collaborative Opportunities

25:05 - Integrating Podcast Goals with Business Objectives

25:32 - The Importance of Client Testimonials

26:48 - Feedback from Chat GPT

27:53 - Revamping Podcast Content Strategy

29:43 - Email Marketing Strategies

35:55 - Testing and Adapting Strategies

38:10 - Podcasting ROI and Success Stories

45:55 - Future Plans for the Podcast

47:42 - Three-Year Podcast Anniversary

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Airtable Content Hub
• This Can't Be That Hard with Annemie Tonken
• Talk Copy to Me with Erin Ollila
• Copywriter on Call with Sara Gillis
• Unprofessional Entrepreneur with Felly Day
• Shoot It Straight with Sabrina Gebhardt

Connect with Haylee:

• gaffincreative.com
• instagram.com/hayleegaffin
• clockinginpodcast.com

Ever sent a proposal and heard crickets? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not doomed. In this replay of one of my most downloaded episodes, I’m breaking down why follow-up emails are non-negotiable if you want to book more clients (without being pushy).

Then I’ll fast-forward to 2025 to show you how I’ve upgraded this strategy with a storytelling twist that makes your emails feel personal, powerful, and high-converting.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to follow up without feeling awkward or salesy
• My exact 3-email sequence to turn leads into clients
• What email tracking actually tells you (and what it doesn’t)
• The 2025 glow-up: how mini case studies boost conversions
• The magic email I use to get closure—or a yes

Want my plug-and-play follow-up templates? Grab them for just $9 in the Systems Shop: https://coliejames.com/follow-up-emails/

Let’s make ghosting a thing of the past.

Are you managing your marketing tasks efficiently in your business? In this episode, I sat down with Melissa Arlena and Allison Bell, co-hosts of the Keep It Moving podcast, for a no-notes-required conversation about what it really takes to market your business, how to balance multiple brands, or just trying to figure out what’s working and what’s not.

We talk about Marketing Mondays, email strategies, and moving your business across the country (or the world). Plus listen in as we highlight why SEO is the key to your long-term marketing strategy and what happens when you get too comfortable with your rankings (spoiler: Google notices).

This episode is part pep talk, part strategy session, and a whole lot of real talk. If you’ve ever said, “I’m doing everything and still feel behind,” this one’s for you.

Find it Quickly:

01:13 - Marketing Monday: The Importance of Marketing in Creative Businesses

01:48 - Allison's Journey: Relocating a Photography Business

05:13 - Melissa's Story: From IT to Photography and SEO

07:35 - The Role of Email Marketing in Business Growth

10:38 - Strategies for Effective Marketing

15:47 - Utilizing AI for Content Creation and Marketing

26:31 - Marketing Mondays: Planning and Execution

28:53 - Marketing Monday Routines

31:07 - Content Creation Strategies

31:26 - Ideation and Content Hubs

32:33 - Podcast Planning and Execution

40:58 - Effective Marketing Activities

50:18 - Email List Management

Mentioned in this Episode:

This Can't Be That Hard

Riverside

Descript

ChatGPT

Loom

Airtable

Zapier

Kajabi

Stripe

Kit

Flodesk

MemberVault

ThriveCart

Google Tasks

Marco Polo

Trello

Shannon Vondy

Content Hub

Connect with Melissa and Alison:

Keep It Moving Podcast

instagram.com/keep.it.moving.podcast

instagram.com/alisonbellphotog

If you want to get paid to travel to your sessions, there are so many logistics to consider. While Kellie Llewellyn was coordinating her sessions to fit her own travel schedule when she started, she eventually shifted to where she is now traveling specifically for sessions. Listen in as Kellie shares her experience in coordinating and photographing travel senior sessions!

Today’s episode is brought to you by DIY Template Shop! Grab the exact email, form, and workflow templates that I include inside the CRM Blueprint Course. Steal my templates and customize them to match your brand and process. Use the code PODCAST for 10% off.

Find it Quickly:

00:25 - Meet Kellie Llewellyn: Senior Photographer

00:50 - The Unscripted Conversation Approach

1:42 -Kellie's Unique Travel Photography Offer

3:35 - Kellie's First Travel Session Experience

7:01 - Traveling to Glacier National Park

8:00 - Planning and Logistics of Travel Sessions

11:09 - Handling Travel Fees and Client Coordination

18:41 - Contingency Plans for Travel Sessions

19:41 - Lessons Learned from Early Travel Sessions

22:02 - Promoting Travel Sessions on Social Media

22:55 - Managing Travel Session Inquiries and Bookings

30:37 - Collaborating with Clients on Locations

33:47 - Final Tips and Encouragement for Travel Sessions

Connect with Kellie

Website: kellierochelle.com

Instagram: @kellierochellephotography

Kellie's Travel Freebie: kellierochelle.com/scout

Okay, y’all—this one’s a little different. I’m resharing a solo episode from May 2023 because it’s just that relevant right now. Whether you’re staring at someone’s offer suite trying to decode what’s right for you, or you’re the one with multiple offers trying to help people make a decision, this episode breaks it all down. I’m also sharing why I’m bringing back my survey (yes, the one I still hadn’t fixed 🙈), what I’ve learned from asking better questions, and a peek at my newest offer: Systems in Session.

If you’ve ever waffled between DIY, Done-With-You, or Done-For-You—listen to this before you swipe your card.

Find It Quickly:

00:24 – Why I’m resharing this solo episode (and what I still hadn’t fixed)

02:13 – The Systems Glow Up + CRM Blueprint launch recap

03:07 – The core question: how do you choose the right offer?

04:43 – Why clients don’t always choose the most expensive option

06:06 – Survey results: DIY vs Done-For-You preferences

07:25 – What I wish I had asked during client interviews

08:00 – How to help your clients make better buying decisions

09:08 – Introducing: Systems in Session (a new middle-ground, done-WITH-you container)

What if you could create custom AI tools that save you hours, elevate your client experience, and make your business run smoother? (Spoiler: you can.) In today's episode, I’m joined by my real-life bestie and AI-building genius, Kate Hejde, where we’re pulling back the curtain on how we’re both using AI to level up our businesses.

We’re diving into how Kate is creating custom GPTs for herself and her clients, along with the first thing you need to know before building your own AI-powered tool. You'll also hear how to use AI far beyond just writing copy—think brain dumps, buyer personas, project organization, and more!

Find it Quickly:

00:41 - Diving into AI Obsession

01:10 - Kate's Journey with AI Tools

02:59 - My AI Tool Experience

05:26 - Creating Custom AI Tools

06:38 - Building Advanced AI Applications

09:07 - Using AI for Business Efficiency

15:21 - Launching New AI Tools and Memberships

24:01 - Future Plans

Mentioned in this Episode:

101: What Your Website Really Needs with Kate Hejde

ChatGPT

Loveable

Airtable

Make

Connect with Kate

Instagram: @dearkatebrandstrategy

Website: dearkatebrandstartegy.com

Shop: dearkatebrandstrategy.com/shop

Youtube: @dearkatebrandstrategy

ChatGPT just beat out Airtable as my most-used tool—and y’all know that’s saying a lot. In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I’ve trained custom GPTs to think like me, work like me, and help me serve my clients better than ever.

We’re not just talking about AI for the sake of it. I’m walking you through the three custom GPTs I’ve built—what they do, how I use them daily, and why I can’t stop creating new tools for my AI Systems Squad. (Speaking of AI tools… I’m also cooking up even more inside my CRM Blueprint course 👀)

Whether you’re AI-curious or just tired of starting content from scratch, this is the pep talk + strategy breakdown you didn’t know you needed.

Your first AI assistant doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to sound like you.

👀 Want access to the AI Systems Squad?

Join CRM Blueprint before May 9th and lock in the current price before it goes up to $997. More AI-powered client experience tools are coming, and this is your backstage pass. Learn more HERE.

Find it Quickly:

01:25 – Why ChatGPT is now my most-used business tool

02:18 – Why I started building custom GPTs instead of using pre-built AI features

03:33 – Tool #1: The Strategy Call Summary Assistant (and why note takers don’t cut it)

06:12 – Tool #2: The Systems Professor Email Assistant (inside Email Like You Mean It)

11:25 – Tool #3: The Repurposing Content GPT and how it ideated this very episode

14:43 – Why AI won’t replace my human team (and how it helps us all work smarter)

16:19 – A working weekend that turned into an AI teaching moment

17:26 – Encouragement for those overwhelmed by AI—and how to get started

Mentioned in this Episode:

Email Like You Mean It - Join the Waitlist HERE

You've got the skills. You've got the offer. But if your leads are ghosting after you introduce it—we have a problem. In today’s episode, we're digging into one of the most critical (but often overlooked) parts of your client experience: the offer introduction.

It's not just about rattling off prices or services — it's about creating clarity, building trust, and making the next step a no-brainer for your leads. Whether you’re hopping on a live sales call, recording a walkthrough video, or using tools to guide your leads, this episode will show you how to prep, present, and close with confidence.

Your offer deserves a powerful introduction — let's make sure it gets one.

Find it Quickly:

00:28 - The Importance of Offer Introduction

02:05 - Preparing for Your Offer Introduction

04:42 - Effective Communication During Sales Calls

05:30 - Using Video Ask for Client Engagement

13:59 - Final Tips and Strategy Calls

Mentioned in this Episode:

VideoAsk

You’re doing the marketing. Your portfolio is strong. You’re attracting the right people… but then they disappear. Sound familiar? Let's dive into why potential clients ghost—even when everything seems like it’s working.

Spoiler: it’s not about your pricing or your talent. It’s about what happens after they hit “submit” on your contact form.

I'm breaking down the common gaps in your client experience that are causing leads to fall through the cracks—from delayed replies and overwhelming next steps to missing emotional connections and unclear proposals. If you’re ready to stop getting ghosted and start getting booked, this one’s for you.

Find it Quickly:

00:48 - Understanding Client Ghosting

02:03 - Four Common Client Experience Breakdowns

06:30 - Building Confidence Through Clarity

08:16 - Effective Sales Calls and Proposals

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 share 5 essential tips to setting up clients for success through effective communication.

Today’s episode is brought to you by my Love Your Leads private audio training! Are you providing an experience for your leads that sets an expectation on when they’ll hear from you, provides them with tools that will help them easily say yes and book you, while also making them feel seen and heard? In my private audio training, you’ll learn how to love your leads and get more booked clients through an automated booking process.

Listen Now >>

Find it Quickly:

1:09 - Meet Christine

2:57 - Tip 1 - Send a pre-session guide

9:55: Tip 2 - Set the tone with a warm welcome email

10:35: Tip 3 - Text like a pro, not a clingy ex

14:36: Tip 4 - Underpromise and overdeliver

20:25: Tip 5 - Ask for the review

Mentioned in this Episode

Dubsado

Connect with Christine

Website: christinedammann.com

Instagram: @christinedammannphotography

Christine's Freebie: christinedammann.com/google-freebie

Youtube: youtube.com/@christinekdammann