What Processes and Systems Do You Need In Your Photography Business for Better Time Management?

“Time is what we want most, but use worst.”

I don’t know who said the above quote, but isn’t it true? Each day that goes by, we long for just a little more time—a little more time (and sometimes energy, let’s be honest) to wrap-up an editing session…

… a little more time to get the dishwasher loaded before we crash for the night…
…a little more time to iron out our marketing and content strategies…
… a little more time to get on the floor and play with our littles…
…a little more time to spend a long weekend back home. The list goes on.

And, if we’re really honest, we often use our time in the worst ways.

Sure, there’s that quick scroll through Instagram that turns into 20 minutes, but there’s also the barrage of emails, the constant repeating of tasks that could be automated, the lost time digging through disorganized files looking for that one packet you created spur of the moment that one time.

So often we’re not in charge of our time, our time is in charge of us.

While it feels like you need more time, what we all really need is more productive time, because there’s a big difference.

Productive time is the time we spend producing something not just doing something.

So, what systems and processes do you need to create more productive time to move the needle in your business?

Well, here’s a quick checklist of some of the most important systems your small business needs for better time management:

• A mapped out workflow for your client experience, including branded “touchpoints” of where you’ll wow your clients
• Brand strategy and style guide that directs every visual piece of content you put on social media, in your local newspaper, on a handout during Small Business Saturday, or on your website
• A marketing strategy including brand collateral that informs what days you’ll focus on marketing, where you’re going to market, and how much your marketing budget is
• A content strategy including a really clear understanding of your brand voice, brand story, and message and how often you’ll post content to your blog, social media, etc.
• A filing and storage system that makes it easy for you or your team to retrieve information, find materials to send out, keep client images organized, and more.

This is just the basics of the kind of systems you need to create. Do you see how creating a system for these saves you time? If you have a workflow to follow, you know where you’re at with each client, what you need to do next, and that you’re replicating a well-thought out and amazing experience each time.

When you have a brand strategy and messaging strategy that informs your content, you know what to share and how to share it.

And when these systems are custom created for you, not some ONE SIZE FITS ALL approach that you can’t get to fit into your lifestyle, you streamline your life and business and…

….Finally, feel like you’re the photographer, wife, mama, and businesswoman you want to be!

So, how do you get these kind of processes and better time management?

Well, the FIRST thing I’m going to tell you to do is one of the first things Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and the world’s leading CEOs do…

Buy Time by Buying Expertise

I know. Arrrgh, you probably didn’t want to hear about another investment. But, let’s pull back the curtain and take a look for a moment.

You need more time—more productive time. And to get that you need to likely overhaul your entire business (at least it’ll feel that way if you tackle it alone).

Where are you going to get the time to create a process or workflow checklist or system just to follow to create your ACTUAL processes and workflows?

Because you know if you sit down to “work on your systems,” you’re going to start Googling “how to create systems for your small business,” “how to create a brand style guide,” or “how to create a content strategy” and you’re going to get lost down the rabbit hole, sign up to 5 more email lists to get 5 more free downloads to guide you and then—wham! just like that 2 hours are gone.

I can give you a list of experts to check out for each of the pieces you need. I also want to share with you a client experience overhaul package that I have available that tackles well over 50% of that list IN ONE SHOT.

I’m a firm believer that if you have a solution to someone’s problem, it’s selfish not to offer them that solution. You’re here searching and if I just give you a checklist to follow, I’ve just created MORE WORK for you.

You’re here to get your time back not divide it down even further and allocate it to other things.

So, let’s look at what a brand experience looks like Ally B style, shall we?

The Ally B Brand Experiences that Will Improve Your Time Management

Listen—I can’t organize your files and help you with all of your systems, but I can help you with your client experience, workflows, brand, brand voice and messaging, AND marketing materials. Whew!

Girl, I can help you overhaul. And while I’m doing over 50% of the overhaul you need, you can tackle some of those other systems that need your personal attention.

So, here’s what we do in the Venti Brand Experience….

• Develop your client experience timeline using the Client Experience Playbook where we’ll dive into who does client experience well, map out your own client experience as well identify key touchpoints in it to elevate your experience and build loyalty and brand awareness.
• Reinforce your brand foundation with a brand discovery questionnaire and Develop Your Story Call with message extraordinaire Jessica Rasdall
• Create a custom brand identity  to further align with your brand story and vision
• Design custom stationery, social media templates, a welcome packet, and more, there are over 10+ pieces of brand collateral (wait until you see what’s included in the package!) so your entire brand is on point
• Build a NEW website which includes basic SEO setup plus video tutorials to show you how to update your site
• Nail your messaging and copy with copywriting for your Homepage, About Page, and One Main Service Page courtesy of my conversion copywriter, Holly Mthethwa, who does ALL my messaging and copywriting

I’m just going to be real with you…this package contains the whole kitchen sink. And I don’t care what “they” say about NOT throwing in the kitchen sink. I KNOW how much we all LOVE ourselves some farmhouse sinks and I’m giving your business house one because it’s time for a complete remodel….

…It’s Time to Transform Every Aspect of Your Client Experience And Client Interactions

You’ve done the hard work already. You’ve created a solid client base, you have demand for your work, and you create really amazing photography. Now, it’s time to truly legitimize your business and run it like the CEO of a fortune 500, so that you have a well-run ship that sails without you and allows you to step away.

CHECK OUT THE  Brand Experience packages AND FIND OUT WHAT AWAITS YOU

Hearts and Hoorays Friends!

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