Through the Business Lens: a podcast for savvy photographers

Selling is definitely one of the areas that most photographers hate... That and actually talking to clients either in person or on the phone. It can really intimidating to talk about selling your work and just trying to sell yourself in general. Unfortunately, the reality is that we HAVE to be able to sell our work if we want to be in business.

But, as uncomfortable as it can be to sell our work, we can make it painless and let it sell itself... How do we do this? We can do this by creating a sales strategy that starts with the first point of contact and carries through all the way to the ordering appointment. In this week's episode I'm going to talk about one of the most important appointments you can have with your clients - a consultation (or as I like to call it a Planning Session).

Most photographers are not big fans of blogging, but it's an important tool in your arsenal. Not only does it help with SEO, getting the word out, but it also helps to build your brand and trust with your clients. This episode outlines how to use your blog to build your brand, and how to do it so it doesn't overwhelm you. Don't like blogging? No problem!

In this week's episode I share one of the easiest (and free) ways to set you and your photography business apart. It's a short and sweet episode, and it's something most of us avoid. But, it's also a sure way to soar above the competition.

In this episode I chat with Nicole Begley about how to make the most of the silent auctions you participate in for your business. She goes into how to choose a silent auction that fits, what to offer, what to display and more!

In this episode I dig into why you need testimonials from your clients and how to get them. Testimonials are social proof that working with you is awesome! Best of all, it's free marketing too. Remember that word of mouth is the best type of marketing? Well, that's exactly what a testimonial is for your business.

Do you hate cold calling and trying to partner with businesses? I know I am not a fan of cold calling, and I much prefer an introduction to a new relationship or at least a little grease on the wheels before I pitch an idea.

If you're in the same boat as me, you might be interested in listening to my latest podcast episode: My Top Tips on Cross Marketing Your Photography Business. In this episode, I go over how to pick the right business to cross market with and how to approach them. There are a lot of ways you can do this, but I'm going to share the ones I've used and the ones that work!

Are you one of those ridiculously organized people who power through your day accomplishing everything you had on your to do list with time for a yoga class? Well this one is not for you. I'm calling all my fellow dilly-dalliers – those who have all the best intentions but 'quickly check' their social media and promptly fall down the virtual rabbit hole for hours at a time – the hardworkers who are also easily distracted – and those with kids and businesses and dogs and husbands and all the things that can keep us from getting down to business. Today on the podcast I'm sharing my best tips for productivity – and yes, these actually work! Well they work for me (and I'm the queen of getting sidetracked) so I hope they work for you too!

Does your About Page need an update? Take a look and see if you use the word "passion", talk in the third person, or if you list out all your awards… If you answered yes to any of those you might need to fresh take on your About Page. In today's market we have to be different and stand out, and our About Page is a great way to do this. Not sure what you need to do? Check out this week's episode on Why your About Page is holding you back and how to fix it!

In this episode, I talk about all the must haves you need to maximize your website's potential along with areas you may need to refine. Your website is your first step in setting the expectation of working with you, and it also speaks volumes as to how professional you are and what you offer.

Are you finding yourself on the fast track to burn out city? Are you trying to do too much and finding that you a) don't enjoy it b) are burning out fast c) not making the kind of money you need? If you answered yes to any of those three (or maybe all of them!) then this weeks podcast episode is for you.

In this episode, I go through what a niche is and how it can help your photography business. I also outline the steps you can take to find your niche and determine if it is a viable option for your to build a successful and profitable business.