109 - Helping Clients Finalize Decisions with Kathryn Langsford

At its core, the art of marketing and selling involves guiding clients through the decision-making process. Yet many photographers encounter challenges in bringing transactions to a decisive close. We’ve all been there. Maybe the consultation wasn’t clear enough. Maybe we have a hard time saying no to clients that are not the right fit. Or maybe the View and Order session is too overwhelming. Whatever the reason, we might find ourselves with clients that just can’t seem to make a final decision. The amazing Kathryn Langsford joins me for this discussion about helping our clients finalize a decision. From running around like a chicken with her head cut off to now dedicating time to the right-fit clients, she really has been through it all. She is here to share her insights on how photographers can make more money with fewer clients while ensuring clients feel confident in their choices.  Imagine a View and Order session. Are your clients sitting through a 40-image slideshow with their eyes glazed over? Are they tired and overwhelmed at the end and then walk away to “think about it”? Or are they seeing your beautiful art of their beautiful family on their beautiful wall? Guiding clients to that final decision can be hard, but with some organization and making sure you have the bandwidth to serve them, these right-fit clients, this vision is definitely achievable. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to achieve success with fewer clients Ways to smoothly guide clients to finalize decisions How to put aside “being busy” to focus on serving the right-fit client   Here’s a glance at this episode: [3:34] - A great and absolutely attainable goal is to make more money with fewer clients. [4:36] - Kathryn and Allison both recommend The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz to take the first step. [7:08] - For a long time, Kathryn felt that she had to give all her attention to her big spenders, but that isn’t always the case. [9:10] - Be clear about the clients you need to let go. [10:53] - The best use of your time is to create art for your clients. Not run around like a chicken with its head cut off. [12:34] - We don’t say no to small prints and holiday cards, but they are not the purpose for booking a session. [14:32] - How do we share changes with existing clients? They might not be the right fit anymore, but you won’t know that until you share what you do. [17:18] - Allison prints a large version of a portrait to show after a session to give clients the feel of having an art piece on their wall. [20:03] - There are going to be clients that don’t understand what you’re doing and that’s okay. [21:49] - There is a glorification of being really busy. [23:14] - The way you spend your time with clients is different when you are less busy. The way you serve your clients will be more meaningful. [26:09] - To help clients make a final decision, you have to be organized. [27:23] - All the steps to the process are easier to execute if you’ve got the time to think about them. [29:42] - For the health of your business, you have to consider what decisions your clients are making and what they’re asking of you. [32:36] - Clients are thrilled with how easy a new method is. The view and order session is so much easier to make final decisions than sifting through 40 prints. [36:07] - When you change the way you do the view and order sessions, you help clients make a final decision. [39:21] - When you are spread thin, you won’t have the bandwidth to serve your best clients.

  Links and Resources:

The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz Kathryn Langsford

Website | Instagram Do The ReWork

Website | Instagram Allison Tyler Jones

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