Business-First Creatives: Client Experience & Systems for Service Providers

Most business owners think they need a dramatic transformation story to connect with their audience. In this episode, I sit down with Megan Yelaney to unpack one of the most overlooked pieces of effective marketing: your origin story. We explore why so many entrepreneurs struggle to tell their story, how to identify the version that's most relevant to your current audience, and why authenticity will always outperform trying to sound impressive.
Along the way, I found myself reflecting on my own business evolution (from photography to systems strategy) and realizing that my story has changed just as much as my business has. If you've ever wondered whether your story is "interesting enough," this conversation will completely change how you think about marketing.

Find It Quickly
00:25 - Meet Megan
01:48 - Why Origin Stories Matter
03:23 - Megan’s Career Pivot
06:03 - Pretty Awkward Goes Viral
08:03 - Twins and Business Reset
10:30 - Colie’s Professor Edge
16:00 - Not Dramatic Enough
21:32 - Choosing Your Story
25:06 - Beyond Your Own Story
26:59 - Case Studies That Convert
28:33 - Organizing Client Proof
32:29 - Who Gets the Credit
34:34 - Reusing Testimonials Smartly
37:40 - Where to Share It
40:56 - hort Form to Long Form
43:08 - Stories Beat Teaching

Mentioned in this Episode
Brittany Herzberg: brittanyherzberg.com
Done-for-You vs. Done-with-You: Which Model Fits Your Business? with Brittany Herzberg
SEO is Everywhere: Optimizing Your Content with Brittany Herzberg
Embracing Workflows & Automations in Your CRM: HoneyBook Case Study with Brittany Herzberg
SEO through Case Studies | Simple SEO Series with Brittany Herzberg (Part 3)
Jordan Gill: instagram.com/systemssavedme

Connect with Megan
Website: meganyelaney.com
Instagram: instagram.com/meganyelaney
Business Story Blueprint: meganyelaney.com/business-story-blueprint
Business Not As Usual: meganyelaney.com/podcast

Hey y'all, it's Colie. I'm popping back in after two weeks of guest episodes to talk about something that's been shifting in my business — and honestly, in how I think about systems altogether.
I recently noticed a real shift in who's showing up to work with me, and it sent me down a rabbit hole of rethinking how I talk about automation, personalization, and what I actually deliver for clients. That rethink turned into a new framework I'm calling Human by Design — the idea that you can automate the hell out of your client experience and still have it feel personal, present, and led by you.
I'm walking through what changed, why "automate everything" shouldn't be THE goal, and how you can start applying this in your own systems — plus, I'm announcing a free training where I'll break the whole thing down.
In this episode:
Why I've moved away from "automate everything that can be automated"
The real difference between personal and manual (they're not the same thing)
An inside look at how I'm rethinking my own offers and sales pages
Details on my free training, Human by Design — August 20th at 11 AM MT

Sign up for the free training: coliejames.com/human
Join the waitlist for The Experience Edit: coliejames.com/experience

What if giving away something for free was actually the smartest marketing move you could make? In this episode, I'm joined by David Enloe, who shares how a simple idea born during the uncertainty of COVID transformed into one of the most effective marketing strategies I've heard for photographers. What started as a way to meet people in a brand-new city has grown into a long-term client acquisition system that continues to generate premium bookings years later.
Instead of chasing social media algorithms or relying on paid ads, David built his business through free pop-up photography experiences at local community events. We dive into why this strategy works, how it builds trust, and why nurturing relationships over time can outperform short-term marketing tactics.

Find It Quickly
00:24 - Meet David
01:50 - Origin Story During COVID
05:13 - Why Its Free Marketing
10:38 - Delivery Pricing And Timeline
14:33 - Reviews And Community Building
20:00 - Business Partnerships And Events
22:45 - Who This Works Best For
28:00 - Logistics Finding Venues

Mentioned in this Episode:
Pop-Up Studio Guide: the-enloe-creative.myflodesk.com/popup-studio-guide
Applying the Rule of 7 with Dayna Schaaf: coliejames.com/applying-the-rule-of-7-with-dayna-schaaf
You Can Build Authority & Visibility Without Shaking It on Social Media with Kylie Kelly: coliejames.com/you-can-build-authority-visibility-without-shaking-it-on-social-media-with-kylie-kelly
How to Grow Your Email List as a Photographer at In-Person Events with Tiffany Crenshaw: coliejames.com/growing-your-email-list-at-in-person-events-with-tiffany-crenshaw

Connect with David
Website: theenloecreative.com
Instagram: instagram.com/theenloecreative

What if the systems slowing down your business aren't your workflows, but the software you're forcing yourself to use?
In this episode, I'm joined by Notion consultant and workflow strategist Ania Ha to pull back the curtain on the custom Notion workspace she built for my business. We talk about everything from team management and automations to the growing conversation around replacing traditional CRMs with personalized systems built in Notion.
I share what it was like hiring someone to build my systems for the first time, how that experience completely changed the way I think about my own clients, and why I believe the best tech stack isn't always the one with the most features—it's the one that actually fits the way your brain works.
Find It Quickly:
00:25 - Meet Ania
05:38 - Instagram Widget
09:17 - Why Clients Hire Her
13:11 - Learning Notion as a Client
19:36 - Toggles and Dashboard Design
21:47 - Team Tracking and Databases
25:45 - CRM Alternatives Debate
28:58 - Simple CRM Starts
30:18 - Zapier and Breakpoints
31:54 - Frankenstack vs Scaling
33:44 - Notion Client Portals
35:43 - Notion Pricing Advantage
36:51 - Team Workflow Automation
41:49 - DIY Automation Tweaks
44:00 - Notion Second Brain
46:23 - Design Views and Tables
49:39 - Mobile App and Shortcuts
50:26 - Ask an Expert

Mentioned in this Episode:
Notion: notion.com
Dubsado: coliejames.com/dubsado
HoneyBook: coliejames.com/honeybook
Airtable: airtable.com
Google Workspace: workspace.google.com
Zapier: zapier.com
TidyCal: tidycal.com
Descript: descript.com/?lmref=0HiLlg
Loom: loom.com
Metricool: metricool.com
Canva: canva.com
The Subscriber Society: latitudelane.com/subscribe-society
Launch Your Own Way: cominguproses.co/products/lyow

Connect with the Guest:
Website: shecreatesmgmt.com
Instagram: instagram.com/shecreatesmgmt
Threads: threads.com/@shecreatesmgmt
Tiktok: tiktok.com/@shecreatesmgmt

What do you do when the strategies that used to work… suddenly don't? In our Q3 Business Bestie Chat, Sabrina and I are getting real about what it looks like to navigate a season of uncertainty in business—even after years of experience. We're sharing an honest conversation about shifting markets, changing client behavior, and why staying grounded is so important.
With nearly 29 years of combined entrepreneurial experience, we've both found ourselves asking hard questions this summer. Instead of pretending everything is perfect, we're pulling back the curtain on what it's like to adapt, trust the process, and keep moving forward when business feels different than it did even a year ago.

Find It Quickly
00:24 - Biz Bestie Chat
02:34 - Colie Offer Pivot
04:30 - Replacing Sales Calls
05:36 - Sabrina Summer Camp
08:55 - Root to Rise Revamp
11:38 - Systems in Session Tweaks
14:23 - Ads Strategy
17:04 - New Freebie Waitlists
21:22 - Launch Ethics Drama
23:31 - Root to Rise Launch Results
29:37 - Colie Launch Timing
32:18 - Summer Launch Experience
33:35 - Price Versus Trust Objections
37:38 - Micro Wins Build Confidence
39:01 - Trial Week Idea
42:09 - Pricing and Logistics
49:13 - Audits as Downsell
51:44 - New Fall Retainer Offer
53:01 - Serving Q3 and Q4 Plans
54:03 - Sharing Client Wins

Mentioned in this Episode:
Systems in Session: coliejames.com/systems-in-session
The Experience Edit: coliejames.com/the-experience-edit
Root to Rise: sabrinagebhardt.com/mastermind-waitlist
First Class Lounge: sabrinagebhardt.com/membership
Summer Camp: sabrina-gebhardt.myflodesk.com/summercamp

Our Quarterly Business Bestie Chats:
Q2 2026: coliejames.com/business-bestie-chat-q2-2026-with-sabrina-gebhardt
Q1 2026: coliejames.com/business-bestie-chat-q1-2026-with-sabrina-gebhardt
Q4 2025: coliejames.com/business-bestie-chat-q4-2025-with-sabrina-gebhardt
Q3 2025: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast/q3-business-besties-chat-with-colie-james
Q2 2025: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast/q2-2025-business-bestie-chat-with-colie-james
Q1 2025: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast/128-q1-2025-business-bestie-chat
Q4 2024: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast/q4-business-bestie-chat-with-colie-james
Q3 2024: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast/q3-business-besties-chat-with-colie-james
Q2 2024: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast/88-q2-business-besties-chat-with-colie-james
Q1 2024: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast/75-quarterly-business-chat-with-colie-james

Connect with Sabrina
Website: sabrinagebhardt.com
Instagram: instagram.com/sabrinagebhardtphotography
Podcast: sabrinagebhardt.com/podcast