Grow Your Video Business

This week on the Grow Your Video Podcast, Ryan Koral tells the origin story of Tell Studios and talks in detail about the processes they’ve used to help create a successful business. No business or entrepreneurial endeavor would be complete without making some mistakes, and in this episode, Ryan gets vulnerable and breaks down the three biggest mistakes he made in 2021 and gives some advice on how to avoid making the same mistakes in your business. Get ready to set some goals for 2022 and buckle up for an episode that will absolutely help you grow your business and live a happier life. Crush 2022 with the FREE 5 Day Grow Your Video Business Challenge…This is a free 5 Day Challenge for action takers ONLY. If you're ready to level up your video business this year, You NEED to Implement These Crucial Steps… that will accelerate the growth of your business. Sign up at studiosherpas.com/challenge Key Takeaways  It’s important to set goals for your business, so you know where you’re going and where you’ve come  from.   As business owners we often get stuck in a phase of doing everything ourselves, the power of delegation is one of the most effective ways to grow your business and create a sustainable lifestyle. In this Episode Tell studios history [4:50]  Getting into corporate work [12:30]  Making Mistakes [18:00]  Project Management Software [21:00]  Video Blueprint Method [23:00]  Mastermind [29:00]  Onward Summit [30:00]  3 Mistakes I made this year [31:35]  Goal Setting [46:00]  Hiring an assistant [49:30]  5 Day Grow Your Video Business Challenge [56:14] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Things get really vulnerable this week on the Grow Your Video Business Podcast when Matt Davis, founder of Harvest Filmworks, Lifestage Films, AND co-founder of Studio Sherpas joins Ryan to talk about his journey since leaving the podcast, overcoming adversity, dealing with addiction, and more. We’ve all dealt with imposter syndrome at some point in our careers, in this episode Matt and Ryan talk actionable tips to deal with imposter syndrome, jealousy, and how to create a business that matches the life that you want to live. Matt Davis is a 16 year seasoned video storyteller for luxury weddings and compelling brand films for large businesses and corporations based in Wilmington, NC. Wife, dogs, 4 kids, ups and downs, booming economies and multiple recessions, Matt has been able to consistency evolve and grow his brands while making a profit, but also focusing on what matters most….what his businesses provide…freedom. As a co-founder of Studio Sherpas, the passion to speak on podcasts, at conferences and video retreats has always allowed Matt to speak truth into the good, and not so good aspects of running a profitable video business. You can follow Matt here: https://www.facebook.com/lifestagefilms/ https://www.facebook.com/harvestfilmworks https://www.instagram.com/lifestagefilms/ https://www.instagram.com/harvestfilmworks/ https://twitter.com/LifeStageFilms Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Contracts, contracts, contracts…for most of us as small business owners they can be confusing, complicated, and scary. This week on the Grow Your Video Podcast, Paige Hulse chats with Ryan about all the basics you need to know from contracts, revisions, NDAs, and what you should do if you’re using a contract, you found online. Paige Hulse is an attorney and entrepreneur based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After practicing as a contract/business litigator, she formed her law firm in 2017, where she practices trademark law and advises entrepreneurs/startups, as well as the Creative Law Shop, where she has converted every contract, she's written for clients in the wedding industry into templates. Check out her contracts at https://shopcreativelaw.com and use promo code STUDIOSHERPAS10 to receive 10% off your purchase! Has your contract ever saved you? What type of changes can you make to your contract that will offer more protection for your business? Leave a comment on the episode page and let us know! Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

What’s your favorite part of running your business? For most small business owners, it’s probably not running payroll and keeping up with the books. This week Jeremy Doorn of Core Financial returns to the podcast to answer tax and accounting questions from our listeners. How do I pay myself? How much should I pay myself? Should I be an LLC or S-Corp? We get answers to all these questions and more this week on the Grow Your Video Business Podcast. Key Takeaways Setting up the correct business structure can save you tons of money in taxes if you’re business is ready for it. There are systems that you can use to pay yourself correctly to make accounting and bookkeeping easier and to make sure you're maximizing your tax deductions. Forming an S-Corp offers multiple benefits for most small business owners. About Jeremy Doorn As a ten-year-plus employee of Core Wealth Management, Jeremy Doorn helps small businesses do a better job of tax planning. In addition to firm administration, he handles business advisory services and business succession planning for his clients.  LLC vs. S-Corp If you’ve been in business very long you’ve probably heard people argue about whether or not you should file as an LLC or an S-Corp, Jeremy breaks down the main differences between the two, what type of business benefit for each category, and when you should consider changing your status. In This Episode Sole Proprietorship vs S-Corp/LLC [6:45] How do I pay myself? [12:00] How much should I pay myself? [22:30] How to pay yourself if you have multiple DBAs [25:45] How to pay yourself in a partnership [27:00] How to pay yourself when you’re just getting started [31:00] Why Ryan uses Core Financial [34:20] How to set up a discovery call with Core Financial [36:30] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Do you remember the first time you saw people react to your videos? That feeling of seeing people’s emotional response to your work is so motivating. Today’s guests, having only started their studio a few years ago, are still riding that feeling. In this episode, they share the joys and the tribulations that come with building a business from scratch as partners. Key Takeaways A partnership helps you play to your individual strengths. Identify where each person is strongest and assign clear roles as early as you can. There is probably a production studio in your area that isn’t getting used. Connecting and networking with other creatives can create opportunities that can get you into these spaces. About Glory Visuals Glory Visuals is a video production company based out of Omaha, NE. Austin Hall and Darren Clausen started it as a 50/50 partnership and have hired a full-time employee as well as some part-time contractors. Their goal is to raise the standard of quality content and creativity in the Midwest. Navigating the Complexities of Working as Partners Not everyone is cut out to be in a partnership like Austin and Darren. It comes with its challenges and special considerations, such as tax prep, budgeting, and goal setting. However, if you can agree on priorities and practices, you can be each other’s greatest assets. Austin and Darren learned to set clear roles for themselves to make the most of their partnership. When you each operate within your respective strengths, the team will be much greater than the sum of its parts. Getting Creative with Studio Spaces Having recently moved into their own studio space, Darren and Austin are enjoying a new sense of freedom. By being masters of their own space, their creative juices are flowing like never before.  With this investment, they have given themselves time and flexibility to shoot whenever they want. They now have a space that they can set up just the way they want and are proud to bring clients to. I bet there are underutilized studio spaces in your area. Reach out to other creatives, you may be able to find and go in on one of these places together. Just think of all the opportunities this could create! Do you have a business partner? How do you make it work? What would you do with your very own studio space? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Building a partnership and business from the ground up [8:00] The benefits and challenges of partnerships [16:20] Asking the questions that help you pinpoint your areas of strength [28:00] Finding freedom inside your own studio space [33:00] What happens when you approach everything with an abundance mindset [43:35] Quotes “The more we do this, the more powerful we realize video is.” [15:30] “We have both found out our strengths. I would rather he operate in his strength and I operate in mine so that we can win as a team.” [21:59] “You cannot have a lack mindset at all. It will literally be the worst thing for you.” [45:33] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Glory Visuals online Follow Glory Visuals on Facebook | Instagram | Vimeo | YouTube | Twitter Traction by Gino Wickman Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

I know what makes your video business like no other. It’s you. Each of us is unique and that’s what sets our businesses apart. Today’s guest shares how he uses this to connect with his perfect clients and how the formula for success involves a healthy dose of failure. Key Takeaways Establishing habits and processes that lead to good results are just as important as your goals themselves. Saving time will make you more money. Identify and leverage the efficiencies inside your business to make your processes as streamlined as possible. Your personality is what sets you apart. Use it to build relationships with the clients who are perfect for you. About Joe Harris Dallas based Comedy-Director Joe Harris got his start in Post-Production at Reel FX Creative Studios. A desire to tell stories and direct was nurtured in his time there and beyond while he honed his skills for directing.  With 15 years in the industry, Joe started directing spots with local creatives and agencies, building a network of relationships. With a strong love for advertising and absurdly wild visual style, he uses his skills to help brands and agencies solve problems and entertain viewers. Joe is currently on the Southern Sky Films roster. Following Your Gut and Learning From Failure Comedy is at the core of Joe’s work. He explains how that didn’t come the easy way. In fact, Joe credits much of what he knows from the times that he’s failed. Joe is the type of guy who follows his gut instincts. This leads to all sorts of opportunities, but also to some mishaps. No matter what happens, there’s a lesson to be learned for next time. You just need to be open to learning from everything you do. You Are The Key to Your Own Branding Anyone who spends any time with Joe knows that he’s one of a kind. His personality is a central part of his brand. We discuss how when it comes to branding, being yourself is the best way to create, lead your team, and connect with clients. Joe understands the power that comes with embracing your identity in business. By being who he is, quirks and all, Joe taps into his innate confidence. Clients pick up on this and are all the more eager to work with him. There are a million video companies, but there’s only one you. That’s your strength. Use it! Building Processes to Increase Efficiency Efficiency is also a key part of earning more. Joe talks about what it means to have systems in place that save you time. When you are more efficient with your time, you can actually start earning more without needing to raise your rates. To do this, look at what runs smoothly already in your business while identifying the bottlenecks. Maybe there’s something you can outsource to help free up your schedule. Having clear communication with clients from the very start also helps everything run smoothly. Think of all the time you could save! What lessons have you learned from failure? What can you do to free up time in your business? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In This Episode: Recognizing the lessons that come from failure [7:50] Why the best branding highlights your authentic self [11:40] Managing a diverse team when working on big projects [18:00] Lining up the pieces that will eventually lead you to a larger goal [24:20] Establishing processes to strengthen and grow your business [30:00] Where to start if you want to direct [43:30] Quotes “Some of my biggest educational moments are from my failures. Most are from my failures.” [8:43] “I’m not even thinking about charging more. I’m trying not to focus on goals. I’m focusing on the processes that get me the results.” [31:25] “Create something. If you’re an artist, start creating some art. If you want to DP, just go shoot something. Be everything and do it yourself until you can find some people to help you.” [45:33] “Just be yourself. There is no one who can do you better than you.” [48:21] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Joe Harris online Follow Joe on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Basecamp Asana Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes Episode 243: Why Creating Systems Will Let You Work In Your Zone of Genius with Austin Netzley

Do you think you know what your clients want? Maybe you do, but you won’t know for sure until you ask. Today’s guest has seen the amazing results of simply surveying his clients to discover what he can sell them that he had never considered before. Key Takeaways Don’t assume that you know exactly what your clients will pay for. Ask them. You might be surprised by their answers. There are an infinite amount of opportunities for your business to give back to the community. Not only will this lead to increased satisfaction in your work, but when done with genuine intentions, it can lead to more opportunities. About Griffin Stewart Griffin is a husband, father, and lover of people. He is a serial entrepreneur and Intrapreneur who has started multiple small businesses and worked for Apple, Hyundai, and many more. Griffin is the co-founder and CEO of 5DayDeal. He loves photography and travel and is an advocate for lifelong learning. Griffin and his wife have visited more than 60 countries. Letting Your Clients Guide Your Marketing Griffin wants us all to remember the value of effective marketing. Making the best videos isn’t enough to sustain your business. You have to be able to extend your reach. Griffin explains how you can incentivize your customers to help expand your reach by leveraging their own social impact. It helps to find out as much as you can from your clients. Griffin sends his customers surveys to gauge their satisfaction, wants, and needs. What they might be willing to pay for could be something you wouldn’t expect. With this information he has expanded his offers, allowing him to sell more without needing to find more customers. Doing Good is Good for You and Your Business Beyond making a living for himself, Griffin sees the power of business to do good in the world. He donates ten percent of his revenue to charity. While his motives are rooted in altruism, he’s found that this also helps him stand apart from the crowd. Clients have told him that they chose to work with him precisely because of his philanthropic mission.  There’s a lot of ways you can give to the community. It doesn’t have to be just money. We discuss how you can donate all sorts of things, from your time, to equipment, to knowledge, to projects. When done sincerely, I’m pretty sure that this will lead to more opportunities for your business as well as the knowledge that you’re doing something to make the world a better place. How can you use your business to start giving back? What have you been surprised to learn that your clients want? How can you provide it for them? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Finding joy and making the world a better place while doing the work you love [5:00] Why effective marketing makes everything else in your business possible [8:40] Creating channel partners to increase your client base [17:15] How charitable giving actually benefits your bottom line [20:15] How to efficiently onboard your clients with a systematic approach [27:15] Where to place your upsell effectively [32:40] Quotes “Marketing is so important. You may be the best videographer. You may be able to edit better than anyone in Hollywood. But if nobody knows about you and you don’t have reviews to prove that, then you’re not going to get business.” [9:59] “Just because you wouldn't pay for it, doesn’t mean your clients wouldn’t gladly pay for it.” [12:37] “Consider, if you haven't already, ways that you can give back, as long as your business is sustaining you.” [41:11] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Griffin Stewart Online Follow Griffin on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Audio Ninja - Lifetime Account Dubsado SamCart Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

With everything on your plate, how can you grow your video business without burning out? How do you find the right clients and projects that you love? Today’s guest wears many hats and explains how he creates a successful and sustainable balance between them all. Key Takeaways Be intentional with how you spend your time. By being efficient, you’ll save time and be able to focus on what really moves your business forward. Confidence is crucial to landing new work. Be open to opportunities and ready to take them when they arrive. About Jordan Berns Jordan Berns is a video producer/DP/editor and founder of JSB Video located in Seattle, WA. In Jordan’s 5+ years of experience, he has won multiple awards for his student short films including the Vincentian Award for social impact.  After graduating college at the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in journalism and entrepreneurship, he was hired to start an African sports television show where he traveled the world interviewing the likes of Victor Oladipo, Seyi Olofinjana, Izu Ugonoh, and many more. After 2.5 years and 5 seasons, he left to start his own production company in Seattle. Creating Balance So You Can Focus on Your Clients With all his many roles in his business, Jordan is very intentional with his time. Sometimes, he even has to step back and take time away, even if just for a few hours. This gives him room to get his creative juices flowing and rest his mind and body. When it’s so easy to get caught up in the minutiae of business, these little breaks become essential to staying focused on the bigger picture. Within this headspace, Jordan is able to focus on creating solid relationships with his clients. Building a comfortable connection is an essential part of putting clients at ease. By emphasizing the experience of the filming process, he finds that clients are eager to come back again and again. Where to Find Retainer Clients I imagine that we all want retainer clients. But many clients just want one video. Jordan intentionally seeks out clients who will need a lot of work overtime. Media companies are a good place to look. So is Upwork. In fact, that’s where Jordan finds the majority of his clients. Sites like this are where you’ll find potential clients just starting their video process who need an expert like you. What do you do to put your clients at ease? How do you manage your time to leave room for creative space? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: How Jordan creates a balance between his many roles at work [5:30] The importance of focusing on client experience [11:15] Investing in your business to fuel its growth [15:55] How to secure retainer clients [20:00] Finding great opportunities when you lack experience in the industry [24:45] Quotes “Sometimes you gotta step away to find inspiration.” [11:11] “It’s being able to find clients that you can get on retainer. It comes back to that personal aspect of the business. If you’re able to create a comfortable environment for somebody and they like you, they’ll come back for more.” [18:58] “I want to be doing work that changes people’s lives, that can inspire people to either change their minds or change policy.” [27:14] “You have to invest the time into the craft. You have to invest time into creating that portfolio - putting yourself into a position to get opportunities.” [31:02] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Jordan Berns online Follow Jordan on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Procrastinate on Purpose by Rory Vaden Upwork Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

A long time ago, I realized just how powerful branding is. Sure, you and your clients can do it alone. But there’s a lot to be said about having an outside expert come alongside you and take it to the next level. On today’s episode, I have just such an expert here to tell you how to make branding stand out and bring you and your clients more business. Key Takeaways Proper branding will help your clients see that you offer so much more than what they’re initially looking for. It puts you in control and allows you to provide more value. Don’t just offer your services to clients. Become their guide to identifying and overcoming the issues that affect their business. About Justin Keller Justin Keller is first and foremost a dad. Justin founded Circlefifty, and he is the author of two business books: Human Always and Rebel Brands. Justin has also written one kid’s book, The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance. He uses his books, podcasts, business, and the life he lives to help brands and individuals fight for brilliance in everything they do. Justin’s methods have helped nonprofits and businesses alike, increase engagement, launch new momentum, and experience massive growth. Become the Expert Guide for Your Clients Throughout this episode, Justin explains how branding is about much more than just saying what you do. It’s about creating a perception around the problems that you solve. Communicating this instantly increases your value in a saturated market.  Remember that you’re in a service that exists to solve your clients’ issues. Justin wants you to think of yourself as more than just someone who completes tasks. You’re not just providing a commodity. Instead, become a guide who identifies issues and successfully overcomes them. Building Patience and Empathy to Help Others Succeed In both his personal and professional life, Justin prioritizes addressing the needs of other people. This doesn’t mean that you should neglect yourself. Rather, it means being patient enough to empathize with others and being able to respond.  This outlook allows you to build all sorts of genuine relationships. Justin finds that being there for others not only feeds your soul and improves your community, but it also provides the motivation to continue doing all sorts of good work with less struggle. How are you a guide for your clients instead of just a tripod? What do you do to build genuine relationships in your life and business? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: The power of branding to establish a clear message [11:00] How to be a guide, not a commodity [16:00] The most common branding mistake that small businesses make [26:25] The value of patience and doing good for others [35:00] Why you should always be your authentic self in your business [43:10] Quotes “The brand is the impression that you make. When you think about it like that, brand has probably never been more important than now.” [15:15] “Design does still matter. But ultimately what you’re paying for when you charge more is expertise. You’re paying for a guide.” [19:15] “We all exist first to make someone else’s life better and, in return, ours is made better.” [35:48] “You can’t underestimate the idea of having courage and believing in yourself. That determines what you charge, who you work with, and every aspect of what you build.” [56:03] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Justin Keller online Follow Justin on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Get your free PDF of Rebel Brands: 10 New Rules For Building Brilliant Brands® Circlefifty One Day to Better Procrastinate on Purpose by Rory Vaden Originals by Adam Grant Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Have you ever fallen into the trap of taking any job that pays? While it’s healthy to try a bunch of different stuff to see what you enjoy, you also don’t want to spread yourself too thin. Today’s guest explains all these considerations and what he learned while building his video business. Key Takeaways Setting expirations for proposals and bids will push clients to act faster and allow you to get more work done in a shorter time frame. If you have a partnership between multiple people, make sure that one person is a majority owner. That way hard decisions will ultimately fall to just one person and impasses can be more easily avoided. About Guy Giaimo-McClung Guy has been filming since 2012 in one avenue or another. Today, he is the owner and operator of Skinikid Productions. From wedding videography to political and industrial work, he has experienced many different facets of the freelance world. He is currently working on the challenge of building a business while balancing the demands of family life and parenting. Being Clear with Clients From the Start In this episode, Guy and I discuss the importance of setting proper expectations for clients. In order to eliminate unnecessary work for both you and them, be clear on your process from the very beginning. For instance, communicating your revision process and timeline will ensure that you’re not working endlessly on a project. One way to do this is to set expiration dates for proposals. You don’t want clients sitting endlessly on a bid. Let them know from the start that they need to act by a certain date if they want the price you quoted. It also gives an extra incentive for them to work with you now rather than later. Considerations When Forming Partnerships Guy also explains the structure of his business, which is a partnership between him and one other person. These arrangements have a lot of benefits. But they can also be fraught with potential strife. I share my advice that one person should be the majority owner. That way, bickering, and standoffs can more easily be avoided when tough decisions arise. I also urge anyone entering into a partnership to prepare for its possible end. No matter how awesome working together may seem at the start, it’s best to have all eventualities covered. Having contingencies planned for and expectations set from the start will prevent possible complications and strife further down the road. What do you always communicate to clients to set proper expectations? Do you provide statements of work? How do they help you avoid issues with clients later on? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Balancing work and family life while starting and building your business [6:00] Learning what type of work fulfills you the most [9:00] Our responsibility to communicate the process and set expectations for clients [11:50] Building partnerships as you grow your business [17:00] The importance of segmenting and having specific language around your niche [23:20] Doing extra freelancing work that you’re passionate about [28:30] Learning how to learn from your mistakes as your business grows [33:00] Quotes “It’s been super beneficial to narrow down the type of work that I like to do, and probably more importantly, the type of work that I don’t like to do.” [10:04] “If clients have a timeline that they’re trying to get this done by, we have this bit of time open for now. It’s not yours until you sign the contract.” [15:45] “In retrospect, I feel that I really would have appreciated if I’d made the effort and invested in myself and went out and figured out how to make it happen and learned on the business end what I didn’t know.” [33:45] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Guy Giamo-McClung online Follow Guy on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 250: The Biggest Takeaways from 5 Years of This Podcast