Priority Pursuit

It’s no secret that blogging comes with a lot of benefits. I mean, blogging is great for SEO. Blog posts can be used to attract new customers and lead them through your sales funnel. Blogs give you content to share on social media on the regular. And, as you work with your clients, you can easily refer them to already-created blog posts to give them the information they need without having to draft a long email. 

While data supports and most creative entrepreneurs agree blogging is beneficial, writer's block is real, especially when it comes to writing about your work (e.g. writing about a wedding or shoot if you’re a photographer). 

While writing and storytelling comes more naturally to some than others, I know firsthand that when you have a template to work from, blogging your work becomes drastically easier.

Because blogging my work has done wonders for my business (I’ve even had wedding clients book specifically because of blog posts!), in this episode of Priority Pursuit, we’re breaking down what to write about when blogging your work as a creative entrepreneur and how you can create a blog template that allows you to blog about your work quickly and effectively. 

In this episode, we discuss/answer:

1. Why should you blog your work as a creative entrepreneur?  
2. How to create a blog template that works well for your business and ideal customer.
3. How to develop a questionnaire that gives you all of the information you need to write blog posts about your work. 

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: 

https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/what-write-about-when-blogging-work-creative-entrepreneur. 

Mentioned Links & Resources

• “75 Blog Topic Ideas for Photographers” - https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/75-blog-topic-ideas-for-photographers/ 
• “Episode 012: How to Create Systems within Your Creative Business (AKA My Workflow as a Wedding Photographer)” - https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-create-systems-creative-business/ 
• Wedding Blog Example: “Mr. & Mrs. Combs: Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation & Finley Creek Viney

What does your dream business look like, and what would it take to make it a reality? For Maddie Peschong, clarifying her priorities and building an authentic personal brand allowed her to form her ideal business around the life she wanted. 

Maddie is a Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based brand photographer and business coach who spent years working a 9-to-5 while growing her photography skills on the side. Today, she runs a six-figure business that’s flexible enough to let her take midday dance party breaks with her kids and spend time watching The Office with her husband on the regular. 

However, this lifestyle and business weren’t possible until Maddie understood the importance of creating and implementing an authentic personal brand.

In this episode of Priority Pursuit, Maddie explains what personal branding is, why it’s important, and how creative entrepreneurs can build an authentic personal brand while growing their business.

In this episode, Maddie discusses: 

1. What an “authentic personal brand” is & why it’s important for creative entrepreneurs to have one
2. How creative entrepreneurs can build an authentic personal brand
   1. Know your priorities, your voice, & your audience.
   2. Brainstorm your dream business & what it will take to get there.
   3. Create & share content with the know-like-trust factor.

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: 

https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/build-authentic-personal-brand. 

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Do Less by Kate Northrup - https://www.amazon.com/Do-Less-Kate-Northrup-audiobook/dp/B07P67PHK4/ref=sr

I just had the pleasure of both speaking at and attending The Graceful Gathering—a boutique wedding photography conference—and I’m feeling pretty lit up. 

While I used to prioritize attending a couple conferences or workshops a year, COVID prevented these gatherings from happening. And, as a result, over the last two years, I got out of the habit of making conferences a priority. 

But, The Graceful Gathering was a beautiful reminder of (1) why these events matter and (2) the fact that conferences and workshops have been the inspiration for some of my biggest and most profitable business moves. 

I truly don’t believe Victoria Rayburn Photography would be what it is today without conferences and workshops. And, as a result, in this week’s episode of Priority Pursuit, I want to discuss three reasons creactive entrepreneurs should go to conferences and discuss how you can decide which conferences are right for you. 

Four Reasons Creative Entrepreneurs Should Go to Conferences

1. You don’t know what you don’t know.
2. You’re given an opportunity to be introduced to new softwares, products, tools, & even mentors.
3. You give yourself time & space to work “on” your business instead of “in” your business. 
4. Conferences are an opportunity to build community with people who understand your goals & struggles firsthand. 

How to Choose the Right Conferences for You 

1. Look for conferences or workshops that are specific to your goals.  
2. Attend diverse conferences.
3. Choose conferences that speak to your goals & values. 

Conference Recommendations for Creative Entrepreneurs

1. ShowIt’s Spark Conference - https://spark.showit.co/ 
2. HubSpot’s INBOUND Conference - https://www.inbound.com/ 
3. The Arielle Peters Workshop - http://workshop.ariellepeters.com/ 

As an SEO coach, something I get asked regularly is, “If I work from home, do I have to list my home address for my business to appear on Google Maps and for my website to rank well on Google?” 

A couple years ago, the answer was—without a doubt—yes. However, over the last couple years, more and more small business owners have started operating their businesses from home. And, for safety and other reasons, they’ve been hesitant to list their addresses on Google. 

Thankfully, Google heard the cries of both small business owners and frustrated Google users (more on this in a minute), and you no longer have to make your home address public on your Google Business Profile to appear in Google Maps—which is now often referred to as Google’s Local Pack. 

Side note: You do still have to provide Google with an address when you create a Google Business Profile. Google uses your address to verify that you and your business are real, but you do not have to list your address online publically. 

With this in mind, in this episode of Priority Pursuit, I want to break down whether or not you should consider making your address public on your Google Business Profile based on your personal needs, business model, and how you serve your customers. 

In this episode, we specifically discuss:

1. What is Google’s “Local Pack”?
2. Should YOU list your home address on your Google Business Profile based on your business model?
3. Mistakes to avoid making in regards to listing your address online. 

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: 

https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/do-i-list-home-address-business-appear-google-maps. 

Mentioned Links & Resources

• “How To Do Local SEO for Businesses Without Physical Locations” by MOZ - https://moz.com/blog/local-seo-without-physical-locations 
• Listen to Previous Priority Pursuit Episodes About SEO -

Whether you just started your small business or you’ve been in business for a while now, it can be so easy to compromise your priorities as you grow your company and provide for your loved ones. But, you shouldn’t have to give up all of your free time—or keep missing your kid’s soccer games—when it comes to making your business flourish.

Erica and Jon Hayes know firsthand how difficult it can be to protect your priorities while running a small business. This Arizona-based,  husband-and-wife brand photography duo used to spend their weekends rushing around to find a babysitter before shooting weddings. But, Erica and Jon were tired of missing moments in their kids’ lives and knew they needed to make a change. Now, they’ve completely blocked off their weekends so they can dedicate that time to family events, church, and relaxation before the week ahead.

In this episode of Priority Pursuit, Erica and Jon share how they’ve restructured their business and schedules to focus on what matters most to them. And, they explain how you can build your small business around your priorities.

In this episode, Erica and Jon discuss:

1. Why they stopped shooting weddings & lifestyle photos to focus strictly on brand photography
2. How they built their small business around their priorities, & how you can do the same
   1. Determine what your priorities are.
   2. Take control of your schedule, but be flexible.
3. What you should do if you’re frustrated in your business & ready to make a change
   1. Make sure you aren’t compromising your priorities.
   2. Invest in a business coach or mentor.
   3. Learn from Erica & Jon themselves!

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: 

https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/build-small-business-around-priorities. 

**You might recognize Erica and Jon

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Social media isn’t just great for keeping in touch with loved ones and sharing memes from The Office. It can also help you connect with clients and build your business!

 

Katelyn Workman of Katelyn Workman Photography knows the power of creating and fostering connection on social media firsthand. Katelyn is a Virginia-based wedding photographer whose business is thriving thanks to her community marketing strategies, relatable social media presence, and relationship-building efforts. 

 

Serving clients well and connecting with clients, potential clients, and other wedding vendors on social media are at the top of Katelyn’s priorities list. In fact, while she’s grateful for the referrals she gets from industry vendors and past brides, the majority of her bookings actually come through social media—a rare feat for photographers!

 

In today’s episode, Katelyn will explain how we can create connection and increase sales via social media and community marketing and—ultimately—serve our clients better than ever.

 

In this episode, Katelyn discusses: 

 

1. What “community marketing” is & how it can grow your business
2. How creative entrepreneurs can create connection & increase sales via social media in a non-spammy way
   1. Show up as your authentic self.
   2. Look for ways to form genuine friendships.
   3. Set boundaries with what you share.
   4. Consider how others may connect with your story.
   5. Don’t just strive for a “pretty” Instagram.
3. How photographers & other creatives can show up consistently on social media
   1. Aim for a certain number of posts per week.
   2. Don’t feel like you have to post every single day.
   3. Connect with others in a weekly personal post.

 

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: 

If you’re a creative entrepreneur or a small business owner, you may not think self-care is for you because you don’t have time for a long workout, lengthy meditation, or bubble bath.

However, Allison Ewing of Allison Ewing Photography is here to dispel that myth and explain why taking care of yourself—even for just a few minutes each day—is essential for serving your clients and loved ones well.

Allison Ewing is a wedding and lifestyle photographer and yoga instructor in Cleveland, Ohio. While full-time photography is her dream job come true, Allison recognizes how stressful her career as a creative entrepreneur can be. She first turned to yoga in 2011 to combat anxiety—and she felt joy and relief for the first time in a long time.

But, even if yoga isn’t your thing, you can (and should!) still make time to relieve stress by doing things outside of your business that you enjoy. Even during busy seasons, creative entrepreneurs must nurture their minds, bodies, spirits, and relationships. Like Allison says, “If we aren’t at our best, there’s no way our businesses can be at their best.”

In this episode of Priority Pursuit, Allison shares her story and explains how to prioritize self-care as a creative entrepreneur, including practical tips you can implement in your daily life.

In this episode, Allison discusses: 

1. What “self-care” actually means 
2. How mental health, physical health, & routines apply to self-care
3. How to prioritize self-care as a creative entrepreneur
   1. Put yourself first.
   2. Find enjoyable exercise.
   3. Be consistent with routines.
4. Practical tips for self-care
   1. Start before you’re stressed out.
   2. Consider seeing a counselor.
   3. Put self-care on your calendar.
   4. Limit your excuses!

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s sh

059. Have you ever considered making your brand a “luxury brand”? Whether you’d like to scale back your hours, create an incredible client experience, or even make more money per job, there are several reasons to consider making your brand more “luxurious.” 

Alison Stevenson of Alison Mae Photography is an Indianapolis-based wedding photographer who knows the benefits of creating a luxury brand firsthand. For more than six years, Alison has been strategically building her brand in a way that sets her apart from other wedding photographers in her market. With a fine-art and film-inspired style, Alison offers a luxury experience that her clients never forget.

While Alison certainly serves her clients well, her family—which includes her husband and their two dogs and two cats—and her loved ones have also benefited from Alison’s brand transition. We discuss this more in the episode, but basically, because Alison is able to charge more per wedding, she is able to spend more time with those who matter most and less time working.

In case you’re interested in creating a luxury brand or making your current brand more high end, in this episode of Priority Pursuit, Alison explains what a luxury brand is, reasons to consider creating a high-end brand, and how to build a luxury brand as a small business. 

In this episode, Alison explains:

1. What a luxury brand is 
2. Why you should consider creating a luxury brand
3. How to create a luxury brand 
4. Know your numbers
5. Learn to say no
6. Build community
7. Identify your ideal client
8. Be highly organized and plan ahead

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: 

https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-build-lux

058. When you’re passionate about what you do and who you serve, it can be hard to say “no” and far too easy to fill every minute of every day with something work related. 

However, as a small business owner myself who has suffered from burnout, put my marriage in jeopardy for the sake of my business, and battled workaholic tendencies, I can tell you firsthand that if you don’t have boundaries within your business, you, your loved ones, and your clients will eventually suffer. 

We’ve talked about the importance of setting boundaries and how to set boundaries on Priority Pursuit before, but today, I want to break down the three kinds of boundaries all small business owners need to set so that you can protect yourself, your relationships, and your client experience.

These boundaries include: 

1. Boundaries that protect your mental, physical, and spiritual health 
2. Boundaries that allow you to prioritize relationships
3. Boundaries that enable you to serve your clients well

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: 

https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/three-kinds-bounaries-small-business-owners-need-set. 

Mentioned Links & Resources

 

• “Episode 002: How My Business Almost Cost Me My Marriage” - ​​https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-my-business-almost-cost-me-my-marriage/ 
• “Episode 003: How to Set Boundaries in Your Business & Get Your Clients to Respect Them” - https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-set-boundaries-your-business-get-your-clients-respect-them/ 
• Save 50% on Your First Six Months of Quickbooks Self-Employed - http://victoriarayburnphotography.com/quickbooks/ 
• Receive 50% Off Your First Order with Photographer’s Edit - http://victoriarayburnphotography.com/pe/

Is there a brand you can’t get enough of? You watch their every story on Instagram, open any email they send with excitement to see what’s new, and quickly add any new product to your cart before deciding whether you really need it or not. Is this sounding familiar? Well, my friend, it sounds like you’ve found yourself a bingeable brand, and in this episode on Priority Pursuit, we’re going to talk about how you too can make your own brand binge worthy. 

Nikki Arensman is the former Founder and CEO of a nearly million-dollar women’s activewear line, JIVA Active, that started with only a $300 investment. Since then, Nikki is the host of The Business Branding Podcast and the creator of a DFY Branding Kit - Brand Identity Breakthrough that helps service providers to stand out online in an ethical way while not spending thousands on their branding! 

Nikki has over a decade’s worth of experience in the branding world and helps female creatives and service providers build binge-worthy brands while staying true to who they are. Whether working one-one-one with a client, coaching in her courses, or speaking on stage, Nikki aims to help her audience realize that they have expertise and uniqueness that, if tapped into, can give them access to standing out, being seen, and selling more. 

In this episode, Nikki shares 13 steps you can use to make your own brand binge worthy. 

*Note: Nikki briefly touches on each of the 13 steps in this episode of Priority Pursuit. To get a more in-depth understanding of how each step works, please check out her Brand Strategy Blueprint!

In this episode, Nikki explains:

1. What a brand is & what it means to have a “binge-worthy” brand
2. 13 steps for creating your binge worthy brand

1. What is your vision?<