470: Annemie Tonken: Avoid the Overwhelm in Photography by Creating Systems

In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with family photographer and host of the This Cant Be That Hard podcast, Annemie Tonken about developing essential systems in your photography business to ensure efficiency, client satisfaction, and growth. Learn how strategic planning can transform your operational approach for the better.

The Big Ideas:

• Embrace Systemization: Treat your photography business like a well-oiled machine. You'll save time and avoid stress.
• Audit Your Processes: Regularly checking your current processes teaches you where improvements can be made for smoother operations.
• Focus on Fulfillment: Perfect your fulfillment system first; this ensures your client’s last interaction with you is memorable and professional.
• Use Tools Wisely: Leveraging tools like CRMs can drastically improve your workflow and client management.

Photography Action Plan:

• Audit Your Current Workflow: Review each step in your current process from handling initial client inquiries to final delivery of photos. Identify any bottlenecks or repetitive tasks that slow you down. Document your findings in a simple spreadsheet or flowchart. This will give you a clear visual representation of where you can begin implementing improvements.
• Set Up Basic Systems for Marketing, Sales, and Fulfillment: Implement a CRM tool to manage client communications and keep track of sales leads. This step is crucial for maintaining organized client interactions. Create a checklist for each project phase. This ensures that nothing is missed and each client receives consistent, high-quality service.
• Automate Repetitive Tasks: Identify tasks that are repetitive and time-consuming, such as appointment scheduling, email responses, or social media posts. Find tools that can help automate these processes. Start small, perhaps with automating appointment confirmations or thank-you emails, and gradually expand as you become comfortable with the technology.
• Focus on Client Experience: Map out your ideal client journey from first contact to post-delivery follow-up. Think about how you want your clients to feel at each stage. Solicit feedback from recent clients to understand what they loved about working with you and areas where you might improve the experience.
• Educate Yourself Continuously: Enroll in online courses or workshops that focus not only on photography techniques but also on business practices specific to photography. Seek out resources that offer practical advice on systematizing your business, such as free video lessons or worksheets that help you develop efficient workflows.

Resources:

• Annemie's systems audit resource - https://www.thiscantbethathard.com/bpp
• Follow Annemie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thiscantbethathard_

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Thanks for listening & keep shooting!