Episode 250

full
Published on:

9th Oct 2025

Before You Automate, Communicate - Challenge Recap

Most system struggles aren’t tech problems — they’re communication gaps. In this episode, I’m unpacking what I learned from hosting the Client Email Glow-Up Challenge and why clear client communication has to come before you start automating anything.

You’ll hear the biggest wins from participants, the ah-ha moments that changed how I teach Email Like You Mean It, and the one shift that makes every workflow easier to build and actually use.

If your emails still feel stiff, scattered, or inconsistent, this is your reminder: start with the words first. Then build the systems to match.


What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Why automation can’t fix unclear or inconsistent communication
  • How better emails lead to better workflows (not the other way around)
  • The simple exercise from the Glow-Up Challenge that revealed hidden touchpoints
  • How rewriting a few key emails can instantly strengthen your client experience
  • The real magic behind combining Email Like You Mean It + Systems in Session

🔗 Links Mentioned:


Show artwork for Business-First Creatives

About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives
A podcast about systems, workflows, and business advice for creative service providers.
Business-First Creatives is a podcast for photographers and creative service providers who want to build a profitable, sustainable business without drowning in admin work, client experience chaos, or systems that let you down.

This show delivers clear, actionable conversations around marketing, CRM workflows, client communication, Dubsado and Honeybook automation, Airtable systems, and workflow strategies, giving photographers and creative entrepreneurs the systems that scale, operational clarity, and strategic, human-first client experiences they need to build streamlined, referral-worthy business operations that don't require working 24/7.
If you're tired of babysitting your inbox, chasing down contracts, or watching your workflows break the moment you look away, this show will help you move beyond "figuring it out as you go" and toward a creative business that brings you joy and a paycheck.

This podcast provides answers to questions like:
How do I automate my client journey without losing the personal touch?
What CRM workflows do photographers and creative businesses need?
How can I use Dubsado or Honeybook to streamline my client experience?
What systems do photographers need to save time and deliver exceptional client experiences?
How do I reduce admin time in my creative service business?
Why do my workflows keep letting me down (and how do I fix them)?
How can I build a profitable creative business that brings me joy and a paycheck?
What's the best way to communicate with clients throughout their journey?
How do I create systems that work even when I'm not babysitting them?
How can I map my client journey to convert more inquiries into bookings?

Hosted by Colie James, a Dubsado Certified Specialist, Honeybook Educator, and Workflow and Automations Guru with 10+ years helping creatives systemize their businesses—this show delivers practical, no-BS guidance for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who are ready to streamline their client journey, automate their operations, and make money from their craft.

If you're done dropping balls and ready to build a business-first creative operation with systems that scale, you're in the right place.

Find out more about Systems in Session ➡️ https://coliejames.com/systems-in-session