Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Consistency Club

We see it happen every year... photographers go into the busy season with the best intentions to not over-booking themselves but when push comes to shove it can be hard to say no. 

This month we want to spend some time talking about the value of your time and coaching you on how you can still maintain boundaries for your healthy and sanity, even if you are in the phase of business where you feel like you have to say YES to every inquiry. 

This months templates revolve around the very real deadlines that the holiday season impose on our time as well as suggestions for how to use that genuine scarcity mindset to encourage bookings. 

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

Now is the time! People need to get on your calendar! How are we going to encourage them?

Instead of convincing them that they want photos, we're going to talk like we assume that - it's a foregone conclusion - and we're going to focus instead on why they should want to book YOU.

A unique value proposition (UVP) is a clear, concise statement that describes the distinctive benefits and value that a product, service, or business offers to its customers, highlighting what makes it unique and better than competing options. It answers the question, "Why should a customer choose you over others?"

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

The end of the year is a great time to ask for reviews of your photography business!

Happy December, and happy final Consistency Club installment of the year! This first year of the Club has been amazing... we’ve seen some incredible success stories of photographers building their email and social followings and - even more importantly - effectively translating that growth into booked clients and money in their bank accounts.

All that to say, if you liked being part of the Club this year, get excited: based on your feedback, we’re implementing some changes for next year that we believe will make your membership even more valuable to your marketing strategy in 2024!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of what you can expect:

* Free access to our first-ever Marketing Summit (coming in January!)

* Earlier drop dates (the 15th of the month before)

* Private podcast access to the audio lesson (listen on Spotify, etc.)

* An over-the-shoulder guide to each month’s templates (as in, rather than reading this newsletter, we’ll be talking through each month’s templates and the secret strategy as part of the audio lesson.)

I’m so excited for these changes, and - as ever - so grateful to be on this journey with you. Happy holidays!

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

How to keep your marketing easy during the busy season.

I love November. Somehow, it feels a bit like a Thursday to me... like even though we're not to the finish line yet, we're at least in the home stretch.

(It doesn't hurt that the weather this time of year in NC is basically perfect )🍂

But although the finish line is in sight, we're still in the thick of things. I don't know about you, but all I want right now is for everything to feel easy... which means takeout for dinner, When it comes to marketing, I want it as turnkey as humanly possible... so that's exactly what we've got for you this month!

Before we dive in, we can't let the month dedicated to all things gratitude pass by without thanking you for helping the Consistency Club become the success it has this year...Your subscription, your feedback, and your success stories humble us and fuel us to keep showing up, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 

In the meantime, treat yourself to a warm, seasonally-appropriate beverage and get ready to stay Consistent with your marketing...even at the busiest time of year!

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

Learning who you and your people are, and also (just as importantly) who they are not.

We don’t make decisions in a vacuum, and neither do our clients.

Believe it or not, a huge motivator behind our decisions to buy something (or not) is based on what we perceive those around us to be doing. You only have to look as far as the success of influencers to see this at work. 

It all comes down to a simple question, “do people like me do things like this?”

And the same is true of your potential clients. 

The templates this month help you highlight who you and your people are, and also (just as importantly) who they are not.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

Helping your clients go from wanting to book, to actually doing it.

Regardless of where you live and what kind of clientele you serve, the coming season is likely one marked by shifting schedules and higher-than-normal demands on everyone’s time.

The good news is that it’s also a time of year when the demand for photos is at its peak in most circles.

Your job this month is to connect those dots: acknowledge that your clients have a lot to juggle and that they probably feel like their own needs often come last (or close to it). Then reassure them that working with you will not only be easy but actually relieve stress and/or reward them with the joy and satisfaction of new photos.

Don’t forget, even if you’re already booked up for the season ahead, be sure to keep on top of your marketing (and if you haven’t listened to Episode 226 of the podcast, be sure to check that out - Jaye McLaughlin shared a great strategy for hanging onto leads that come in after you’ve filled all your spots for the busy season).

If you’re on the other side of the coin and feeling nervous about a too-empty calendar, keep the faith! Episode 227 of the podcast will give you some strategies (as will the 5-day Business Plan Glow-Up).

Either way, I hope this month’s templates make it easy to stay consistent with your marketing!

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

Learning how to create and use deadlines to encourage clients to book, without feeling sleezy.

We are all being bombarded with sales pitches nearly every waking hour. As a matter of survival, our brains have become very good at saying "oh that sounds interesting... I'll get to it later." 

Without a compelling, time- or scarcity-based call to action, we tend to put off non-essential decision-making - including the decision to book a photographer - even if those decisions involve something we genuinely want.

To sum this month's lesson up in a single sentence, creating urgency is good; abusing it is bad.

Most photographers I know are so worried about coming across as pushy or manipulative that they miss out on one of the most powerful strategies to increase conversions.

But leveraging sales psychology doesn't have to be manipulative. As long as you are honest about the parameters of your offers and use them sparingly, they can give the people who want to hire you anyway the permission/kick in the pants that they need to do so today rather than tomorrow.

This month, we're going to explore different ways to encourage your followers and subscribers to "act now," (but maybe without using that "act now" phrase, which most of us associate with late-night infomercials).

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

How do we intentionally cultivate that sense of belonging among our readers/ followers without being manipulative?

Brene Brown (who - I'm certain - needs no introduction), says:

"I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment."

There's no more potent marketing juice than a prospective client who feels connected to you. If someone is randomly Googling around to find a photographer and reaches out to you and three others to compare pricing, you've got a far bigger hill to climb to book them than you would with the person who's been following you and reading your emails for months, thinking "I just KNOW we'd be friends in real life."

But how do we connect with strangers on the internet? How do we intentionally cultivate that sense of belonging among our readers/ followers without being manipulative?

If we go back to Brene's quote above, how do we make people feel seen, heard and valued?

How do we make them feel like they're in a judgment-free zone?

Generally, in the anonymous online world, the best way to do that is to show up honestly, which includes both the good and the bad. The trick is finding the balance... which is what this month's Consistency Club is all about.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

This month, we're going to walk you through making an offer to your audience, because ultimately, the whole reason for marketing is sales.

I got a message last month from a Consistency Club member who was feeling discouraged:

"I feel like I continue to ask for feedback, replies, input, a whisper of hello to know anyone's out there, and I get bupkis in return. Is that normal? Just putting out email after email and never getting any kind of response? It sounds like other people are getting all kinds of replies so maybe it's not normal."

And it occurred to me: I've been happily sharing the wins we've heard about, but maybe I should also share the marketing struggles.

Because yes: it is ABSOLUTELY normal to feel like you're shouting into the void. My email list for This Can't Be That Hard is close to 10K people with a 50% average open rate, but when I ask a question? MAYBE a few people reply. 

I know that can feel discouraging, but I encourage you to keep showing up because likes on IG and replies in your inbox - while nice - aren't the real reason for your marketing efforts... and not getting them doesn't mean your marketing is not working.

This month, we're going to walk you through making an offer to your audience, because ultimately, the whole reason for marketing is sales. I've got my fingers crossed for every one of you that even if your marketing feels futile, you get a solid win this month that puts fuel back in your tank.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

Marketing is a long game. How to keep building impressions with your audience while keeping it fresh.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Marketing is a long game, and this month's lesson is all about leaning into that: recognizing that your audience will need to "meet" you 7 or 12 or maybe even 20 times before they're ready to hand over their credit card, but that if you keep the faith and keep showing up - consistently - that those bookings will eventually happen.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

What is your smallest viable market?

This month Annemie and Dayna talk about the power of finding your smallest viable market - and how, when you learn to speak directly to them, your marketing really starts to shine.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

How to use clients' stories and reviews to market your photography business.

This month Annemie and Dayna dive into the psychology of marketing to talk about the importance of showing vs. telling and how you can utilize your best clients' stories to attract new clients.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

This episode offers encouragement to stay on top of your marketing, insights on using scarcity to drive bookings, and a strategy for opening your calendar to maximize sessions.

Dive into strategies for thriving during peak periods in our previous podcast episode, Mastering the High Season Madness Episode 

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

How to add value in your marketing so clients enjoy reading your emails and social media posts.

This month Dayna and Annemie talk about how adding (ahem) consistent value to your marketing materials is a surefire way to keep your clients coming back for more. 

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

We're 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.

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! 

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

Tips for Creating a Content Bank

A real key to being more consistent with your social media marketing is making sure your content (read: videos and photos) is easily accessible to you.

Today Dayna and Annemie talk you through tips for creating a content bank; an organized system for storing the videos and photos that you plan to use on social media. 

Why have a content bank? When you have a system (and a plan) for capturing and organizing videos and photos, the resistance to creating content will drop dramatically! Tune in to learn how you can quickly and (mostly) painlessly add a content bank to your workflow and improve your social media game. 

Don't forget! July 31st is the Consistency Club Marketing Summit. Tickets are free for Consistency Club members and non-members can buy a ticket for $47.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

The Do's and Don'ts of asking for referrals in your photography business.

Raise your hand if you've ever asked for referrals from your clients... and gotten crickets. 

You are not alone! Even though it seems like referring a friend to a photographer you love should be easy, it's actually one of the biggest things we can ask of our clients. So we have to do it properly! 

Tune in as Annemie and Dayna teach you the Do's and Don'ts of asking for referrals in your photography business.

LINKS: 

• Try Social Templates for free for a month using code TCBTH 

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

Learn how to promote your lead magnet to grow your email list and engage your current subscribers.

This month we are focusing on promoting your lead magnet!

What’s that? You still haven’t created one? Welp, this is the month you are going to do that! 

Annemie created a bonus training for you a few months back that is incredible and walks you through every single step of coming up with an idea, creating the actual document, making your sign-up form and so much more. It’s in the BONUS TRAINING section of the Consistency Club. We highly recommend you watch that.

Yes, this will take you a few hours to complete this whole process, but it is worth it because this will not only be a huge value add for your business and clients, but it will grow your email list for months (if not years) to come. So take the time!

PRO TIP: To take the marketing to another level, I like the idea of sharing five rad local activities/resources that vibe with your photography scene. This brings some serious value to your followers and team up with other cool local businesses who might share your posts, blogs, and lead magnets as well! 

Here are some Dayna-generated ideas: 

• Pet Photographers - Capturing the Furry Love: 5 Adorable Pet-Friendly Beaches in San Diego 
• Boudoir Photographers - Sizzling Style: My 5 Go-To Vintage Clothing Boutiques for Unique Boudoir Shoots in Los Angeles
• Newborn Photographers - Tiny Treasures: 5 Charming Baby-Friendly Cafés in Atlanta for Mommy-and-Me Sessions
• Family Photographers - Playful Portraits: 5 Quirky Outdoor Playgrounds in Houston Perfect for Family Photoshoots
• Wedding Photographers - Beyond the Chapel: 5 Romantic Rooftop Venues for Sunset Weddings in New Orleans
• Anyone: 5 Perfect Spots to (see wildflowers, catch the sunset, go on a hike)

You can always use ChatGPT to come up with more ideas for your niche until you find one you like. (Prompt: Come up with 5 more ideas similar to this one for Pet Photography)

PRO TIP 2: Does this sound like it could be a blog post? ‘Cause it definitely could be!

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

How do you build credibility with your audience? How do you share just enough to build a connection without tipping over into the TMI category? Annemie and Dayna talk about how the magic marketing equation of Authority + Vulnerability = Credibility with your audience.

How do you build credibility with your audience? How do you share just enough to build a connection without tipping over into the TMI category? Annemie and Dayna talk about how the magic marketing equation of Authority + Vulnerability = Credibility with your audience. 

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

This month we are talking about the very important email marketing update that Google and Yahoo rolled out and how to handle it. We are also giving you a social+ email marketing plan for your "pretty season" sessions.

This month we are talking about the very important email marketing update that Google and Yahoo rolled out. We are giving you the background on why, how to handle it, and most importantly, how to set yourself up for success moving forward. We are always looking to build trust, but after this tech update, it's more important than ever. This is a VERY important month for email marketing. Don't skip it! 

We are also giving you a social+ email marketing plan for your "pretty season" sessions. Whether it's fall leaves or spring blooms, we've got a mini-marketing campaign all ready to go for you. Make sure you listen to the podcast episode so you understand the whole strategy. 

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

The marketing magic for February is about getting allll up in your business...in a good way! This month is focused on helping people get to know you more personally.

Welcome back, Consistency Clubbers! We are into the swing of the year and hopefully, it's feeling good to be re-connecting with your clients. The marketing magic for February is about getting allll up in your business...in a good way! This month is focused on helping people get to know you more personally.

Remember, let yourself shine through in your marketing. That's where the magic happens. Enjoy!

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

How to use the P.S. real-estate in email marketing to increase your open rates.

Welcome back to Year 2 of The Consistency Club; a monthly marketing podcast for photographers. Each month we talk about a marketing strategy that is working well in the industry right now and give you tips for implementing it in your own photography business. 

Today we are talking about using the P.S. real-estate in your emails to create a sense of intrigue and excitement for your readers... which will increase your open rate! P.S? These ideas are anything but boring (which is why they work)!

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

In the spirit of gratitude, we’re diving into the power of client testimonials for photographers. As the year wraps up, it’s a perfect time to collect feedback from clients who are reflecting on their sessions and experiences. In this episode, we share our favorite strategies for asking for reviews without feeling salesy, and we talk about how both written and video testimonials can bring authenticity and trust to your business.

Here’s what we cover:

• Why testimonials are essential for building trust and growing your business.
• Easy ways to gather client feedback year-round.
• Creative tips for showcasing reviews on social media and your website.
• How to use the principle of reciprocity to encourage clients to share their experiences.

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club

This is the time of year that we become the squeaky wheel in your business; reminding you again and again to show up to do your marketing even when you are swamped with back-to-back sessions, endless edits, and the whirlwind of holiday planning and travel.

We always strive to make your marketing quick and easy, but this month we are going the extra mile to give you low-lift marketing strategies to stay engaged with your clients during the busy holiday season by creating fun, entertaining content that builds relationships, rather than heavy sales pitches.

P.S. If you want to learn more about the specific holiday sales training we talk about in this episode go to thiscantbethathard.com/holiday

Ready to join the Consistency Club and get more monthly content, along with Mad Libs-style email and social media templates just for photographers? Join us at go.thiscantbethathard.com/club