Business-First Creatives

Colie James
  • 5.0 (44)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Every creative deserves to turn their craft into a business that brings them joy and profit. Here you'll find a no-BS approach to what it takes to put the business first, prioritizing the systems and strategies that will actually move the needle and ensure your creative business is profitable rather than an expensive side-hustle. Your host is Colie James, a Disney-loving family photographer, and filmmaker turned Workflow and Automations Guru who helps creative service providers automate their sh*t, reclaim their time and get back to living! 

  1. 1D AGO

    Why You Should Plan Your Customer Journey Like You Plan a Day at Disneyland

    I just booked my first Disneyland trip of the year, and the second I hit confirm, my brain went straight into planning mode — not because I love spreadsheets (okay, maybe a little), but because Disneyland is not a place you wing it. And neither is your client experience. In this episode, I walk you through why planning a Disney day is the exact same skill you need to design a calm, trustworthy client journey — and why most people make email writing way harder than it needs to be by skipping this step. You’ll hear: Why your customer journey doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to existHow mapping your touchpoints prevents overwhelm, silence, and confusionThe real reason writing client emails feels exhausting and repetitiveWhy “what happens next?” emails are a process issue, not a client issueHow planning the journey first makes email writing faster, clearer, and easier If you’re tired of making decisions in the moment, rewriting the same emails, or feeling like your client experience only works because you’re babysitting it — this episode will show you where to start. Inside Email Like You Mean It, we map your full customer journey first, then write every email that supports it together in five focused days — so you can finally trust the process you’re walking your clients through. ➡️ The next sprint starts February 2nd Learn more at coliejames.com/email And if a Disney trip has been on your to-do list? Take this as your sign to book it — and actually enjoy it.

    8 min
  2. The Only Way to Work with Me in 2026, and Why It Feels So Damn Good to Simplify

    JAN 6

    The Only Way to Work with Me in 2026, and Why It Feels So Damn Good to Simplify

    Welcome back to another year of the Business-First Creatives podcast. If you listened to last week’s episode with Kylie Kelly, we talked a lot about permission — permission to simplify your visibility and stop forcing strategies that don’t fit your life or business. This episode is my personal follow-through. If you’re craving clarity, support, and a more sustainable way to grow in 2026, this episode is for you. In This Episode, You’ll Hear:The three things you actually need to generate revenue (and what usually gets overcomplicated)Why Systems in Session became my signature offerHow done-with-you support changes implementation and confidenceWhy Email Like You Mean It is now a 5-day done-with-you sprintWhat it looks like to stop borrowing someone else’s visibility planHow I’m approaching visibility, systems, and revenue going into 2026 Ways to Work With MeEmail Like You Mean It — a 5-day, done-with-you client communication sprintSystems in Session — my signature 60-day container to design and implement your full client experience If you’re not sure what you need yet, come find me on Threads — I’m always happy to point you to the right resource or next step. Other Resources Building Authority and Visibility with Kylie Kelly - Last Week's Episode

    7 min
  3. You Can Build Authority & Visibility Without Shaking It on Social Media with Kylie Kelly

    JAN 1

    You Can Build Authority & Visibility Without Shaking It on Social Media with Kylie Kelly

    Does growing your business without showing up on Instagram sound like a dream? In today’s episode, visibility strategist Kylie Kelly joins us to explain how entrepreneurs can build authority, leads, and actual paying clients without having to live on social media. If you’re tired of the “you must be on Instagram to succeed” narrative, this is your permission slip to do business your way. Find It Quickly 00:24 - Meet Kylie 01:47 - Kylie's Journey from Photography to Systems 03:24 - The Power of Email Marketing 06:06 - Experimenting with Marketing Strategies 08:26 - The Importance of Data-Driven Decisions 12:13 - Adapting and Pivoting in Business 16:18 - Taking Action and Building Confidence 18:58 - Personal Stories and Reflections 21:38 - Permission to Take Action 26:41 - Discussing AI Bots and Lead Magnets 28:00 -Breakthrough Audits and Their Impact 32:56 - Human Connection in Business 34:29 - Networking Events and Their Benefits 36:13 - Empire Expansion Events Mentioned in this Episode: Empire Expansion Event: kyliekelly.com/event Colie's Networking Events: coliejames.com/connection Connect with Kylie Website: kyliekelly.com Podcast: kyliekelly.com/category/podcast Empire Expansion Event: kyliekelly.com/event

    52 min
  4. How I Spent Money Inside My Business in 2025

    12/30/2025

    How I Spent Money Inside My Business in 2025

    In this end-of-year episode, I’m breaking down how I spent money inside my business in 2025 — and more importantly, how I made those decisions. This isn’t a profit report or an expense spreadsheet walkthrough. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what I chose to invest in, what I outsourced, why the podcast is my biggest marketing expense, and how warm-up offers completely changed the way I decide who to work with and where to put my money. I’m also sharing how this buying behavior pushed me to rethink my own warm-up offers, what I’m carrying into 2026, and why my word for the year is simplify. If you’re thinking more intentionally about your spending, your offers, or how you want to work next year — this one’s for you. In this episode, we cover: How I evaluate purchases and investments in my businessWhat I outsource and why retainers matter to meWhy the podcast is my biggest and best marketing investmentHow I use warm-up offers to test fit before committing long-termWhy “no” can still be a powerful return on investmentWhat’s changing (and staying) in 2026 Links Mentioned Systems in Session Email Like You Mean It Client Experience Audit 1:1 60-Min Strategy & Implementation Calls Ping Pong Offers Episode on Business-First Creatives My Tech Stack My Resources Offers I Invested In (aff links) Sold Out Services with Emylee Williams Dama on Demand with Dama Jue Missed the Memo with Hollie of Latitude Lane Sales Parade with Ceels Lockley Cashflow Confident (now Six Figure Safety) with Emilie Nutley Launch Your Own Way with Kelsey McCormick of Coming Up Roses Say Less Sales Messaging Sprint with Chelsea Quint Email Growth Club with Kylie Kelly

    29 min
  5. Why Clear Client Communication Is Non-Negotiable for a High-Touch Experience

    12/26/2025

    Why Clear Client Communication Is Non-Negotiable for a High-Touch Experience

    Today’s episode is a replay from a conversation that originally aired on the Capture the Chaos podcast with Brittnie Renee—and it perfectly captures this client communication shift I’ve been talking about more and more lately. We’re diving into why clear client communication should be non-negotiable if you want to deliver a truly high-touch experience. Not luxury for the sake of luxury—but an experience that feels intentional, professional, and confidence-building at every step. If your systems technically work but still require too much babysitting, this episode will help you understand why communication—not more automation—is usually the missing piece. In This Episode, We Talk About:Why fixing broken workflows alone doesn’t fix a poor client experienceHow email communication builds trust and connection throughout the processWhy clients need guidance even when your automation is workingThe difference between moving tasks forward and guiding people forwardHow clear communication supports a high-touch experience without adding more manual work Mentioned Links & ResourcesEmail Like You Mean It (Live 5-Day Client Communication Sprint - starts Feb 2nd): coliejames.com/emailListen to Capture the Chaos podcast: brittnierenee.com/capture-the-chaos-podcast

    31 min
  6. Stop Fixing Your Client Communication Last

    12/23/2025

    Stop Fixing Your Client Communication Last

    In 2026, I want you to stop fixing your emails last—because it’s costing you money. The last two case study episodes of this podcast prove it. In this episode, I break down why “broken workflows” are usually a communication problem, not a tech problem, why client communication has to come before workflows, and what finally clicked for me after recording those two case studies. There’s a shift coming to Email Like You Mean It in 2026—and this episode explains why. 👉 If this hits, you’ll want to mark February 2–6 on your calendar 🎉

    10 min
  7. Personalizing the Client Communication Experience with Geneviève Masioni [Email Like You Mean It Case Study]

    12/19/2025

    Personalizing the Client Communication Experience with Geneviève Masioni [Email Like You Mean It Case Study]

    Wouldn't it be nice to automate 80% of your client communication, while still sending personalized emails and booking high-ticket clients? That’s exactly what Geneviève Masioni did after going through my program, Email Like You Mean It! Today, Geneviève is joining me to break down how she revamped her entire client communication system using the exact tools, templates, and strategies I teach inside the course. She went from rewriting the same messages and manually sending reminders to a streamlined, personality-driven system that books, upsells, and collects testimonials without her lifting a finger. Mentioned in this Episode Email Like You Mean It Connect with Geneviève Website: genevievemasioni.com/en LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/genevieve-masioni/ Free 15-min audit: genevievemasioni.com/colie

    39 min
  8. The CRM Emails That Turn New Leads into Booked Clients Faster (Without the Sales Call) with Kara Duncan

    12/17/2025

    The CRM Emails That Turn New Leads into Booked Clients Faster (Without the Sales Call) with Kara Duncan

    If you still think that a system for booking and onboarding new clients has to be complicated, this is the episode for you. What if you could take a potential client from inquiry to payment in under five minutes? In this episode, I sit down my copywriter Kara Duncan to show exactly how a fast, thoughtful, and human booking process changed her business. You’ll hear how a simple CRM, a quick Loom video, and thoughtful follow-up emails turned missed opportunities into the fastest payment she’s ever received. The best part? No sales calls required. Find It Quickly: 00:25 - Welcome Kara Duncan 00:52 - The Five-Minute Booking Process 02:01 - Client Communication: The Key to Success 05:21 - Enhancing Proposals with Loom Videos 14:17 - The Importance of Follow-Up Emails 22:11 - The Importance of Detailed Proposals 23:22 - The Power of Loom Videos 23:58 - Overcoming Sales Call Challenges 24:57 - Effective Client Communication 26:07 - The Value of Personalized Videos 27:41 - Sales Calls vs. Video Proposals 28:54 - Client Communication Strategies 32:32 - The Five-Minute Booking Process 39:53 - Reassuring Clients Post-Payment Mentioned in this Episode: Email Like You Mean It Episode 39 of The Kara Report: How to Create One (+ More Tips to SIMPLIFY Your Life With Your CRM) with Colie James Episode 14 of The System for Everything: The System for Keeping It Personal (Even When It’s Prewritten) with Colie James Episode 123 of Business-First Creatives: 3 Videos to Create for Your Client Experience Right Now (Video Visibility Series) Connect with Kara: Website: thekarareport.com Podcast: thekarareport.com/podcast Instagram: instagram.com/thekarareport

    43 min
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About

Every creative deserves to turn their craft into a business that brings them joy and profit. Here you'll find a no-BS approach to what it takes to put the business first, prioritizing the systems and strategies that will actually move the needle and ensure your creative business is profitable rather than an expensive side-hustle. Your host is Colie James, a Disney-loving family photographer, and filmmaker turned Workflow and Automations Guru who helps creative service providers automate their sh*t, reclaim their time and get back to living! 

Information

  • Creator
    Colie James
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    276
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Business-First Creatives | Colie James
  • Show Website
    Business-First Creatives

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