This Can't Be That Hard

Photography businesses are like snowflakes... no two are exactly the same. That's often appealing to the creative in us - there are a ton of things you can customize and personalize about your business to make it the perfect fit for you. On the other hand, it's a problem when we're tempted to compare our success with someone else's because that comparison is never apples-to-apples.

Hannah Smith is a purposely-part-time photographer in Cincinnati, OH, who has gone from brand new to fully booked in just a few years' time. We talk about the growing pains she's experienced, and what has helped her mindset along the way. Hannah is so intuitive and articulate, the wisdom she shares in this episode will make it one you want to come back to anytime you need a little pick me up! 

LINKS: 

• Visit Hannah's website 
• Follow Hannah on Instagram

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Most photographers struggle with marketing. Whether it’s because we don’t have the time, have trouble coming up with fresh ideas, or just feel uncomfortable promoting ourselves, marketing often gets pushed to the back burner until we're desperate.

But marketing really only works well when you're consistent about it. 

Joining me on the show is Dayna, the woman at the helm of TCBTH’s marketing efforts. Over the last 18 months, she's had a front-row view of the marketing successes and struggles in our community, and today she's sharing her best tips for avoiding the most common marketing mistake she sees photographers make.

We're also announcing a new marketing resource we've created for you! It's called the Consistency Club, and we think it's going to be a HUGE help in keeping your marketing on track.

If you’ve ever wished you had a marketing fairy godmother, today your dreams are coming true! 

Links: 

•  Learn about The Consistency Club (and download this month's content)

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

A really great customer experience is something that will keep clients coming back to you again and again. But contrary to what we might think, our client's experience is a lot more than just what happens on the day of the session and how much they like the photos we deliver…. There are so many opportunities to give them that "WOW" experience (or not)!

Today, I'm sharing a tool that will help you map out your customer's journey every step of the way, then figure out where and how you can improve those steps to really elevate your customer experience. 

Links: 

• Download The Customer Journey Map Worksheet

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

• Get the Work Wheel and Journey Map Worksheets here

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Creating a membership program in your family photography business is a win/win: your clients get yearly photos they can rely on and you get a predictable monthly schedule and income. But what if you don't photograph families? What if you're a boudoir photographer, or a brand photographer, or something else... could a membership work for you? Today's guest is here to answer that question (and so many more)!

Monica Adelsteinsson is a dog photographer in Phoenix, and she's joining me on the show to share how she successfully introduced and launched a membership to her relatively niche market (including a fantastic Instagram strategy I'm DEFINITELY adding to my next launch)!

Links: 

• Learn how to create a portrait membership
• Monica's Website
• Follow Monica on Instagram

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

What would you do if you woke up one day to find that all the social media accounts you use for your business had been shut down? That's exactly what happened to my guest, Megan Lacy.

You've probably heard the old adage "don't put all your eggs in one basket," and when it comes to marketing your photography business, that's great advice... especially when the basket is owned by someone else! Social media can be an amazing place to build your network and market your business, but it's important to remember that your place there is never guaranteed. 

Today, Megan Lacy is sharing the horror story she's currently facing in the hopes that it can help you avoid a similar situation.

Links: 

• Megan-Lacy.com/podcast - contact Megan if you have advice for getting her accounts back

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of social media can feel like a full-time job on top of your photography career (especially if you’re like me and don’t really love doing it). But there’s no denying that social media is a big part of most of our marketing strategies these days, so love it or hate it, we need to at least be able to fumble our way through the basics!

I wanted to bring on a working photographer who juggles all the platforms, content creation, and algorithm juggernauts really well and pick her brain about how she approaches social media. That person is Cassidy Lynne, and I think no matter where you are in your social media journey, you are going to learn something from today's episode!

Links: 

• Cassidy on Instagram
• Cassidy's website: CassidyLynneEducation.com

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

I think we all know that SEO is crucial when it comes to growing our businesses and getting more inquiries, but it can feel like a complicated (or even impossible) nut to crack. 

Enter today’s guest! When Melissa Arlena relocated from DC to Florida, she was able to quickly and successfully relaunch her business with a simple SEO strategy based entirely on blogging.

It turns out, blogging is not dead, but there is a new and improved way to go about it that will help you rank more quickly on Google. In this episode, Melissa’s breaking the whole process down into a way that's easy to understand and simple to implement. Whether you're relocating soon or just want to increase your business' reach, this episode is a must-listen!

Links: 

• Melissa's "Where to Share" Checklist
• Melissa's SEO Resources

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

There's never a perfect time to start a business, have a baby, or get a puppy... at some point, you just jump in and say "I guess we're doing this!" 

We recently got a new puppy (Lasso... yes, after Ted Lasso), and spending so much time with this bundle of fluff has reminded me of all the joys - and struggles - that come with starting something new. It's both exciting and frustrating at the same time, with big learning curves in between... Which is exactly how I felt about starting a photography business!

So whether you're new in your business, in a period of growth, or just want to hear cute puppy stories while you edit, snuggle in for some Lessons From Lasso. 

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!

Brands evolve over time, and rebranding is a project that most of us have to tackle at some point in our businesses… but it can be a daunting process! Confusion about where to start, what to do, and what to say can turn what should be an exciting process into a frustrating slog.

Today, Rachel Greiman of Green Chair Stories is sharing her expertise on the rebranding process. She gives advice on the order of operations and tips on how to decide what you can DIY versus what's better to outsource.

If rebranding is on your radar in the near future, this is one you'll want to take notes on!

Links: 

• Green Chair Stories Website: https://greenchairstories.com
• 15% Off "The Guide to Write Your Site Right" with the code THISCANTBETHATHARD15

Resources:

• New to the podcast? Go to thiscantbethathard.com/welcome to get access to 3 of Annemie's best free resources.
• Join our community! We'd love to welcome you into our supportive, business-focused private Facebook group. Go to facebook.com/groups/thiscantbethathard to request access.
• Long-time listener? Leave a review!