Priority Pursuit

019. In this week’s episode of “Priority Pursuit,” Mallory Balducci, co-owner of Willow and Grace Boutique and a digital content creator located here in Lafayette, Indiana joined to share how to use Instagram Reels for your business.

We’ll be answering the following questions: 

1. What is happening with Instagram’s algorithm change?
2. How can entrepreneurs practically adjust to this change?
3. What are Instagram Reels? 
4. How can I come up with topics and ideas for Reels?
5. How can I help people see my Reels? 
6. How can I make my own Reels? 
7. How do I get started with Reels? 

Join the #PriorityPursuitReelChallenge in August

To practice and get acquainted with how to use Reels, Mallory and I decided to host our very own Reels challenge in August. I hope to see you join us next month! Join the Priority Pursuit Podcast Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/179106264013426   

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: http://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-use-reels-your-business

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Willow and Grace Boutique: https://shopwillowandgrace.com/ 
• Willow and Grace Boutique IG: https://www.instagram.com/shopwgb/
• Mallory’s Creator account: https://www.instagram.com/tallglassof_blonde/
• Episode 011: How to Build Your Team as a Creative Entrepreneur with Jessie Roseberry of Roseberry & Co: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/build-your-team-as-a-creative-entrepreneur-jessie-roseberry/
• Creator’s account on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creators/?hl=en
• Splice Video Editing App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/splice-video-editor-maker/id409838725
• Extendable Tripod: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NWC3L95/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07NWC3L95&linkCode=as2&tag=victoriaray01-20&linkId=78003c1a488c0939d949dc1e523dccc6.
• Canva:

018. In this week’s episode of “Priority Pursuit,” we’re continuing our conversation about creating an excellent customer experience by discussing how to create the perfect client welcome gift!

We’ll be answering the following questions: 

1. What kind of creative entrepreneurs should be sending a welcome gift?
2. Why should you send a welcome box or gift to your clients?
3. What should you include in your welcome box?
4. How much should you spend on a welcome gift?
5. How do you design a welcome gift? 
6. How do you find time to send welcome boxes?

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-create-perfect-client-welcome-gift

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Show Notes: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-create-perfect-client-welcome-gift 
• “Episode 017: How to Create a Client Experience that Allows You to Book More Clients & Raise Your Prices” - https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-create-client-experience-allows-book-more-clients-raise-prices/ 
• “Episode 014: 4 Easy Ways You Can Under Promise & Over Deliver to Your Customers” - https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/four-ways-you-can-under-promise-over-deliver-to-your-clients/ 
• Katelyn James’ Bridal Guide - https://katelynjames.com/kj-bridal-guide 
•  “Episode 007: How to Develop & Communicate Your Brand as a Creative Entrepreneur” - https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-develop-communicate-brand-creative-entrepreneur/ 
• Packlane - https://packlane.com/ 
• Crinkle

017. Friend, can I tell you something that you likely don’t want to hear? The quality of the client experience that you offer matters far more than the quality of your products or services. 

I don’t know about you, but as a photographer, I love what I do, and I take a lot of pride in my work. I want my images to speak for themselves, and I want people to book with me because they love my photos. 

But, here’s the thing. The average person doesn’t know what makes a great photo. The average person doesn’t look at a photo and think, “Whoa. I bet that harsh light was hard to shoot in. Victoria killed it!” Or, “I so appreciate how Victoria used lead lines and framed the couple in these images. She has to be our wedding photographer!” 

Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t master your craft or offer anything less than great work, but with this in mind, there comes a point where the key to being able to successfully sell your products or services at a luxury or just a higher price point that allows you to make ends meet is the client experience you offer. 

With this in mind, the next few solo episodes of Priority Pursuit are going to focus on strategic ways you can elevate your client experience. We’ll be talking about ways you can surprise your clients, how to create the perfect welcome box, and more. And, today, we’re going to start by simply thinking about and mapping out what you’d like your client experience to look like touchpoint by touchpoint with your ideal customer in mind. 

- Step 1: Know that the basis of a great customer experience is to under promise & over deliver. 

- Step 2: Determine what’s most important to your ideal customer in regards to your products or services. 

- Step 3: Map out what you’d like every step & touch point of your customer experience to look like. 

You can find a more detailed version of this episode’s show notes at: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-create-client-experience-allows-book-more-clients-raise-prices 

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Show Notes: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/how-create-client-experience-allows-book-more-clients-raise-prices  
•  “Episode 014: 4 Easy Ways You Can Under Promise & Over Deliver to Your Customers” - https://victoriarayburnphotography.co

016. In this week’s episode of Priority Pursuit, we’re discussing arguably the easiest and most affordable way to receive more inquiries and grow your business—online reviews!

4 Reasons Online Reviews Matter for Small Businesses

1. Word of mouth is your most powerful marketing tool
2. Prospective clients will look at your online reviews before ever contacting you
3. Having online reviews can boost your search engine rankings
4. Online reviews can improve your local search rankings

Make Asking for Reviews Parks of Your Workflow

If you aren’t already, ask your clients to leave you reviews!

After you’ve served your clients’ socks off, send them a short email thanking them for their business and asking them to leave you a review on Google, Facebook, Yelp and/or any other review site that makes sense for your business (like The Knot if you’re a wedding photographer).

Don’t wait to do this. Today, I want you to think of a client you’ve served recently who was really happy with your work. Send this client an email and ask him or her to leave you a review!

I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things your clients have to say about you online, friend!

For a more detailed written version of this episode, visit https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/why-online-reviews-matter-how-can-help-your-business-grow. 

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Show Notes: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/why-online-reviews-matter-how-can-help-your-business-grow

• Episode 004: Five Ways to Improve Your SEO for Free: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/five-ways-improve-your-seo-free/ 
• Join the Priority Pursuit Podcast Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/179106264013426
• Receive 50% Off Your First Order with Photographer’s Edit: http://victoriarayburnphotography.com/pe/

• Receive $20 Off Your First Pair of Rothy’s: http://victoriarayburnphotography.co

015. Arielle Peters of Arielle Peters Photography is a wedding photographer and educator based in South Bend, Indiana. When she isn’t capturing photos of blushing brides on their wedding days or offering workshops and coaching sessions to fellow photographers, she’s spending time with her husband Tannan and their energetic children who constantly keep them on their toes. 

Life has been very busy for Arielle since 2010. You see, she started her business (part time and then went full time), got married and became a pastor’s wife, had two children, and added an education component to her business. And, now, Arielle and Tannan are in the process of planting a church.   

Arielle by no means claims to have things all together and is a self-proclaimed recovering workaholic, but her business is thriving, she strives to be present for her kids, and in this episode of “Priority Pursuit,” she’s sharing a few tips and tricks that have allowed her to juggle (not necessarily balance) entrepreneurship and motherhood. 

1. Schedule regular help with your kids.  
2. Manage your time by outsourcing. 
3. Create boundaries that protect time with your family. 
4. Evaluate your business yearly, to determine what is and isn’t working for your business and family. 
5. Give yourself grace and lots of it.  

For a more detailed written version of this episode, visit https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/balancing-entrepreneurship-motherhood-arielle-peters.

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Show Notes: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/
• Arielle’s Website: https://ariellepeters.com/
• Follow Arielle on Instagram: @arielle.peters or https://www.instagram.com/arielle.peters/

• Follow Ari

014. Are you familiar with the concept of “under promising and over delivering”? Basically, this is a customer service strategy where you give your clients more than you initially promised to delight them and make them feel valued and well served.

I believe that under promising and over delivering is key in running a successful business of any size and crucial in offering great customer service.

With this in mind, in this episode of Priority Pursuit, we’re going to discuss four easy ways you can under promise and over deliver to your clients so you can (1) better serve your customers and (2) help your business grow!

Four Easy Ways You Can Under Promise & Over Deliver to Your Customers

1. Deliver ahead of schedule
2. Give your clients more than you promise
3. Find ways to surprise your clients
4. Respond to email & other messages as quickly as possible

For a more detailed written version of this episode, visit https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/four-ways-you-can-under-promise-over-deliver-to-your-clients/. 

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Show Notes: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/four-ways-you-can-under-promise-over-deliver-to-your-clients/

 

• 7 Ways to Stand Out as a Photographer: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/standout 

 

• Katelyn James Bridal Guide: https://katelynjames.com/kj-bridal-guide 
• Join the Priority Pursuit Podcast Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/179106264013426
• Receive 50% Off Your First Order with Photographer’s Edit: http://victoriarayburnphotography.com/pe/

• Save 50% on Your First Six Months of Quickbooks Self-Employed: http://victoriarayburnphotography.com/quickbooks  
• Follow Victoria on Instagram: @victorialrayburn or

013. Nate Dale of New Adventure Productions is a destination wedding and elopement photographer based in Lafayette, Indiana. While Nate and his wife, Felicia, live among the cornfields, Nate had a dream of photographing travel-loving couples in epic locations around the world. And, today, that’s exactly what he’s doing. 

Nate has strategically and intentionally created his dream business, and in this episode of Priority Pursuit, Nate guides you through the steps of creating a successful business where you’re able to sell what you love AND work with your dream clients! 

Nate shares six steps to help you start selling what you love and find your dream clients:

1. Decide what you want your business to look like
2. Identify your ideal client
3. Curate the work you want to do—even if you have to do some of it for free or at a loss— to build your portfolio
4. Don’t be afraid to ask or make offers
5. Only share what you want to shoot (or work on) again
6. Develop content specifically around what you want your business to look like

The tips, strategies, and adventure stories that Nate shares about his business and how he sells what he loves will help you do the same and start working with your dream clients. If you’re ready 

For a more detailed written version of this episode, visit https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/.

 

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Show Notes: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/
• New Adventure Production’s Website: https://newadventureproductions.com/
• Follow Nate on Instagram: @newadventureproductions or https://www.instagram.com/newadventureproductions/
• Follow Nate’s Workshops on Instagram: @thenewa

012. Do you have set systems in your business? Or, are you flying by the seat of your pants and simply spending day after day trying to get as much done as you can and going to bed stressed because you “didn’t get enough done”? 

As creative entrepreneurs, we make our own schedules, which is a beautiful thing. But, if we aren’t careful, our days can turn into nothing more than putting out fires or getting distracted by whatever we’re excited about at the moment. 

In order to serve your clients well and prioritize the things that actually move the needle in your business, you need to have systems in place to make sure that what’s most important is getting done as efficiently as possible. 

So, in this episode of Priority Pursuit, I want to share what my post-wedding process or system looks like with you in hopes of inspiring you to create concrete systems in your own business.

Now, if you aren’t a photographer, please don’t tune this out. While I’m using a photography example, chances are, a system can be created around every facet of your business. You just need to break it down. 

What is a system?

Within your business, a system is simply an organized way of completing what’s usually a large task, and systems are most effective when there are deadlines or time scheduled specifically for the task. 

Victoria’s Post Wedding Workflow

• Saturday
• • Shoot wedding
• Sunday
• • Edit previews for social media
• Monday
• • Cull photos using Photo Mechanic
  • Select photos for blog using Photo Mechanic
  • Begin editing blog photos
• Tuesday
• • Finish editing blog photos
  • Use BlogStomp to optimize photos for blog
  • Share images with Emma (my VA) so she care create the clients’ album and blog post
• Wednesday
• • Write the couple’s blog post
  • Begin preparing content for social media posts
  • Emma creates album 

011. What began as a fun, unique way to raise money for a mission trip through watercolor artistry became a passion, a way to connect with others, and a successful business. 

Jessie Roseberry of Roseberry & Co. is a watercolor artist and educator based in West Lafayette, Indiana. While Jessie’s business started small in 2017, she quickly had more work than she could handle on her own. Jessie knew she needed to add help if she wanted to continue serving her clients well.

In this episode of Priority Pursuit, Jessie shares valuable insights into the process of hiring and building a team that will grow and support your business—even if this simply means hiring one person to help you a couple hours per week. 

Jessie explains:

1. How to know you need help within your business
2. The process of adding and training new team members
3. Strategies for overcoming challenges when building your team
4. Helpful tips for when you’re feeling overwhelmed in your business

The insights, honest stories, and wisdom Jessie shares about her business and building a team as a creative entrepreneur are valuable nuggets for any business owner who is feeling a little (or very) overwhelmed and is ready to make a change!

For a more detailed written version of this episode, visit http://victoriarayburnphotography.com/build-your-team-as-a-creative-entrepreneur-jessie-roseberry

Mentioned Links & Resources

• Roseberry & Co.’s Website: https://roseberryandco.com/
• Follow Jessie on Instagram: @roseberryandco or https://www.instagram.com/roseberryandco/

• Follow Jessie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseberryandCo
• The Goal Digger Podcast with Jenna Kutcher: https://jennakutcherblog.com/goal-digger-podcast/
• The Business Boutique Podcast with Christy Wright: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-business-boutique-podcast

010. Anna and Ryan Leonard of Refuge Photography are crossfit buddies; sushi enthusiasts; and a destination, husband-wife photography team based in Rosemary Beach Florida. 

If you meet these two in person or even just follow them on the Gram, you’ll quickly fall in love with them. Between their service-centered hearts, matching PJs, and their frequent use of confetti, Ryan and Anna are essentially the epitome of “couple goals.” 

That said, owning and operating a business with your spouse is harder than most people realize. 

With this in mind, in this week’s episode of Priority Pursuit, Ryan and Anna are sharing what running a business with your spouse is actually like. Spoiler Alert: Ryan and Anna work until 2:00 am far more often than they take sunset walks on the beach. 

While I want to encourage you to listen to this full episode of Priority Pursuit because Ryan and Anna share countless nuggets of marriage and business wisdom in this episode that are applicable to both spouse business owners and simply married couples, you can find a summary of a few of the biggest takeaways from “Episode 010: The Good, The Hard, & The Myths About Running a Business with Your Spouse with Ryan & Anna Leonard of Refuge Photography” below! 

1. Consistent work is what leads to results. 
2. Focus on your spouse’s positives—not their negatives—& divide responsibilities based on one another’s strengths. 
3. Decide TOGETHER how hard & long you want to hustle.
4. If you aren’t a spouse team, don’t feel like your marriage is less than. 
5. Let your shared values & mission be the driving force behind both your marriage & your business. 

For a more detailed written version of this episode, visit https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/running-business-with-spouse-ryan-anna-leonard-refuge-photography 

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Show Notes: https://victoriarayburnphotography.com/running-business-with-spouse-ryan-anna-leonard-refuge-photography 
• “Episode 005: What It’s Like & Why It’s Hard to Be Married to a Creative Entrepreneur”: