If you think the key to business growth is chasing website stats, are you considering the fact that those numbers may not tell the full story? In this episode, metrics and data specialist Zoë Dew shares how tracking behaviors, not just clicks, can transform your revenue and clarity.

Zoë explains how she helps creative entrepreneurs grow by using data already sitting in their business, and not by chasing fleeting “industry-standard” metrics. We dig into the four core behaviors that predict sales and how to start tracking them, even if you hate spreadsheets.

Find It Quickly

00:42 - Meet Zoe

01:18 - The Importance of Data and Metrics

02:25 - Behavior-Driven Business Strategies

02:57 - Tracking and Analyzing Business Activities

04:53 - The Four Key Business Behaviors

06:15 - Email Marketing Insights

07:44 - Compounding Visibility and Customer Journey

09:36 - Effective Email Strategies

19:28 - Growing and Managing Your Email List

20:57 - Collaborations and Ads for List Growth

22:26 - The Creator Network Experience

24:34 - Challenges of List Growth and Audience Size

25:18 - Importance of Data-Driven Decisions

26:20 - Tracking and Analyzing Audience Behavior

31:23 - Tools for Tracking Website and Sales Data

33:49 - Understanding Customer Behavior and Sales Patterns

37:49 - Re-engaging Potential Customers

44:16 - The Power of Consistent Messaging

Mentioned in this Episode

Zero Google Moment of Truth

Ceels Lockley - Email Parade

Google Analytics

Microsoft Clarity

Hotjar

Hannah Isted - 10 Minute Marketing

Connect with Zoë

Website: zoedew.com

Instagram: instagram.com/zoerdew

Threads: threads.com/@zoerdew

Habit Tracker: zoedew.com/business-first-creatives

Do you dread the word launch, because you think that "doors open/doors close” structure feels icky? We're flipping the script in today's episode with Samantha Hoillett! She's showing us how to build urgency into our launches that doesn’t feel pushy, but it does feel aligned.

Listen in as we explore what urgency normally means in marketing, why so many of us do it the usual way (limited spots, price‑going‑up soon, and hurry), and then how you can shift into urgency rooted in your client’s real internal motivations, not just your business timetable.

Find It Quickly

00:24 - The Ickiness of Traditional Launches

00:59 - Introducing Samantha and the Concept of Urgency

01:08 - Redefining Urgency in Marketing

02:03 - The Evolution of Online Courses

05:12 - Internal vs. External Urgency

09:40 - The Importance of Clear Messaging

14:36 - Balancing Pain Points and Results

19:35 - Diagnosing Business Problems

24:42 - High Converting Proposals: The First Win

26:01 - The Importance of Micro Wins

27:37 - Documenting Client Journeys

29:44 - Value Stacking and Communicating Results

33:21 - Email Marketing Strategies

40:16 - Personalizing Email Campaigns

Mentioned in this Episode

Urgency on Evergreen: samanthahoilett.com/urgency-on-evergreen

Urgency Upgrade: samanthahoilett.com/urgency-upgrade-2026

Connect with Samantha

Website: samanthahoilett.com

Instagram: instagram.com/samanthahoilett.writes

Youtube: youtube.com/@samanthahoilett

Theads: threads.com/@samanthahoilett.writes

What if you could create just one piece of content and let it do the work of fifty? That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in today’s episode. Latesha Lynch joins us in today's episode to introduce us to her concept of inception marketing—the idea that you don’t need a million pieces of content to drive engagement, conversions, and trust. Through smart structure and intentional seeding, one high-value piece can become the engine of your entire ecosystem.

Find It Quickly

00:50 - The Social Media Exodus

01:27 - Inception Marketing Explained

02:12 - Balancing Motherhood and Business

05:07 - Inception Marketing Strategies

09:12 - Content Organization and AI Tools

11:59 - Adapting Marketing to Different Channels

15:39 - Understanding Different Buyer Types

18:10 - Content Consumption Habits

18:37 - The Importance of Guiding Your Audience

18:45 - The Shift from Blogging to Social Media

19:19 - Seeding Content Across Platforms

20:32 - Planning Your Marketing Strategy

21:27 - Setting Up Core Content

22:44 - Connecting Content for Better Engagement

23:42 - Creating and Tracking Content

26:50 - Balancing Marketing and Sales

30:12 - Engaging with Your Audience

32:28 - Tools and Tips for Effective Marketing

Mentioned in this Episode

Content Organization Hub

Segmentation Episode

Connect with Latesha

hermarketingcoach.com

instagram.com/hermarketingcoach

linkedin.com/in/lateshalynch

So many photographers swear their workflow is “the exception” — too many what-ifs, too many touchpoints, too many edge cases to fit inside any kind of universal framework. But here’s the truth: every single client journey still moves through the same five phases… and that’s exactly why the CRM Blueprint works for every photographer.

In this episode, I’m breaking down how weddings, births, branding, newborns, seniors — all of them — share a common structure, and how the Blueprint uses genre-specific templates and a universal framework to make your workflows both personalized and predictable.

I’ll also walk you through what makes this launch different: the live Map Your Process workshop, the 3-week support sprint, and why this is the closest the DIY course ever gets to done-with-you support. If you’ve been telling yourself your systems are too complicated to fix… this episode is the proof they aren’t.

Grab the Birthday Bash Bonuses before they're gone!

https://coliejames.com/blueprint

Have you been wondering what's the best way to set up your CRM? Today’s session is going to be a mix of a case study and answers to some specific questions I’ve been getting lately about Systems in Session. I thought Megan Norman would be the perfect person to bring on because she’s been part of my world for a while—first as a Blueprint student, then as a one-on-one client when she hired me for an audit. After that, she joined Systems in Session and gave her entire business a serious glow-up from that perspective. Now, she’s part of my retainer program.

Find It Quickly

00:25 - Client Relationships and Long-Term Engagements

01:24 - Megan's Journey with Systems in Session

04:42 - The Blueprint Course Evolution

06:37 - Audit and Systems Overhaul

09:42 - Customizing Workflows for Maximum Efficiency

22:07 - Reintroducing the Baby Plan

26:36 - Client Experience Enhancement

27:09 - Adapting to Business Changes

28:08 - The Value of Revisiting Systems

29:20 - Hands-On System Implementation

32:29 - Maximizing Efficiency During Peak Times

33:41 - Elevating Client Experience Post-Booking

36:35 - The Importance of Detailed Workflows

44:02 - The Benefits of System Audits

Mentioned in this Episode

Systems in Session

CRM Blueprint

Systems in Session: Mastering Your Client Journey ft. Erin Belles (a Done-With-You Dubsado Setup Case Study!)

Connect with Megan

Website: megannorman.com

Instagram: instagram.com/megannormanphotography

Facebook: facebook.com/MeganNormanPhotography

Dubsado 3.0 is officially here… and y’all, the internet is having feelings.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s new, what’s missing, and what photographers actually need to pay attention to. No fluff. No hype. Just the real talk you need before jumping into the new version.

Read the full breakdown here → https://coliejames.com/dubsado-3-0-whats-new/

Work with me inside Systems in Session → https://coliejames.com/systems

Join CRM Blueprint → https://coliejames.com/blueprint

00:00 — Why everyone is freaking out about Dubsado 3.0

A quick reality check on the rollout, expectations, and why mixed opinions are completely valid.

01:17 — The 3.0 switch + how to go back to 2.0 if you need to

If it’s your busy season, do NOT force the transition.

02:44 — My biggest disappointments (aka: my Dubsado wishlist that still isn’t here)

Contracts on schedulers, conditional logic, project dates + appointments, multi-client emails, and team accounts.

07:28 — What is coming soon

A few features currently in progress that will make life better in the next updates.

09:36 — The rebuild: why 3.0 matters even if features didn’t change

New backend → faster future updates (finally!).

10:28 — Dashboard changes

What’s actually better, what’s hidden, and why Threads users are spiraling over revenue numbers.

14:06 — New Messages area

A real inbox inside Dubsado — finally.

18:06 — The new Flows Builder

Same triggers, new layout, and why this matters for future conditional logic.

19:52 — Time tracking improvements

Helpful update for those who bill hourly.

20:08 — Scheduler availability upgrades

A legitimately great improvement — no more clicking nine to five a million times.

22:54 — Project view struggles

What feels off, what’s improved, and what I hope changes next.

23:44 — Final thoughts + what to do next

Why this update sets the stage for an actually powerful Dubsado… once the features catch up.

You’re never going to find time to fix your workflows — you have to make the time. And today, I’m giving you the exact place to start.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the three microsystems every creative needs before building a full workflow: your instant inquiry response, your five-minute booking proposal, and your booking confirmation email.

These simple assets become the anchor activities for your inquiry, booking, and onboarding workflows — and they’re the fastest way to build momentum (and confidence) inside your client experience.

If mapping workflows has ever felt overwhelming, unclear, or like something you’ll “get to eventually,” this episode shows you how to begin without building everything at once.

And if you want to build these microsystems with me, join the January Support Sprint inside CRM Blueprint at coliejames.com/blueprint.

Mentioned in this episode:

3 Must Have Elements in Each Client Communication

5 Workflows Every Photographer Needs

How to Create a 5-Minute Booking Process

If your workflows act like needy toddlers—constantly breaking, needing approvals, or demanding supervision—you’re not alone. Over the last few weeks I’ve heard the same frustrations on repeat: “I don’t trust my workflows unless I’m watching them,” and “I’ve tweaked things so much I think I broke something.”

In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many creatives end up with workflows stuck in the toddler stage… and how to finally build systems that run like grownups.

I’m also sharing why this launch of CRM Blueprint includes two powerful bonuses inspired by my Systems in Session clients: a 21-day January Support Sprint and a full workflow + communication audit for everyone on the waitlist who joins now. Plus, a $200 savings through Thursday.

If you’re tired of babysitting your CRM, now’s the time to build systems you can trust.

https://coliejames.com/waitlist

She was homeschooling her kids, charging less than $300 a session, and running her photography business on pure hustle—until she realized that passion alone wasn’t enough to build the life she wanted. Erin Vestal is one of my former students from the CRM Blueprint, and her journey is one that so many creatives will relate to.

Erin shares her story—from pricing family sessions under $300, to more than doubling her rates, to surpassing her teaching salary (yes, really!). We dig into how she balances homeschooling, launching weddings, outsourcing, refining her offers, and creating work rhythms that actually support her family life—not pull her apart.

Find It Quickly

00:27 - Meet Erin

01:36 - Erin's Journey: From Chaos to Structured Success

04:47 - The Importance of Pricing and Value in Business

08:42 - Balancing Homeschooling and Business

15:05 - Seasonal Photography and Expanding Horizons

21:12 - Venturing into Wedding Photography

22:02 - Discovering the World of Wedding Photography

22:36 - First Wedding Experiences and Realizations

23:22 - Building Systems for Success

23:37 - Marketing and Overcoming Doubts

25:09 - Balancing Family and Business

26:08 - Integrating Different Photography Niches

27:30 - Rebranding and Streamlining

28:10 - Setting Goals and Finding Balance

39:45 - The Importance of Systems

Mentioned in this Episode

CRM Blueprint

Episode 015: Dubsado Case Study with Alison Brett

Marketing Mondays Will Transform Your Business Strategy with Melissa Arlena and Alison Bell

Connect with Erin

Website: erinvestalphotography.com

Instagram: instagram.com/erinvestalphotography

Are you ready to seriously level up your email marketing this Black Friday season? I sat down with Dawn Richardson from Flodesk, where we unpack everything from plan changes to new automation features, and why now is the time to leverage your email list.

Listen in as we explore the integration options available, how you can use ManyChat to grow your email list, and what features to take advantage of within Flodesk to make the most of your Black Friday campaigns!

Find It Quickly

00:24 - Meet Dawn Richardson

01:08 - Flodesk Unlimited Plan Changes

04:15 - Cost Comparison and Feature Needs

06:37 - Exploring Flodesk's New Features

09:40 - Integrations with Other Platforms

13:22 - ManyChat Integration Benefits

17:05 - Flodesk Checkout Capabilities

20:04 - - Upcoming Features and Payment Plans

20:51 - Checkout Platform Benefits

21:42 - Selling Digital Products for Photographers

24:46 - Engagement Strategies with Polls

26:41 - Google's Algorithm Changes and Email Engagement

32:09 - Black Friday Email Marketing Tips

Mentioned in this Episode

Flodesk - Get 50% Off Your First Year

Kit

Thrivecart

Episode 106: Beyond Discounts - 3 Alternatives for Creating an Awesome Black Friday Offer

Connect with Dawn

Flodesk - Get 50% Off Your First Year

@itsdawnrichardson

techsavvycreative.com