Episode 265

full
Published on:

9th Dec 2025

Creating Natural Urgency without Discounts and Timers with Samantha Hoillett

Do you dread the word launch, because you think that "doors open/doors close” structure feels icky? We're flipping the script in today's episode with Samantha Hoillett! She's showing us how to build urgency into our launches that doesn’t feel pushy, but it does feel aligned.

Listen in as we explore what urgency normally means in marketing, why so many of us do it the usual way (limited spots, price‑going‑up soon, and hurry), and then how you can shift into urgency rooted in your client’s real internal motivations, not just your business timetable.

Find It Quickly

00:24 - The Ickiness of Traditional Launches

00:59 - Introducing Samantha and the Concept of Urgency

01:08 - Redefining Urgency in Marketing

02:03 - The Evolution of Online Courses

05:12 - Internal vs. External Urgency

09:40 - The Importance of Clear Messaging

14:36 - Balancing Pain Points and Results

19:35 - Diagnosing Business Problems

24:42 - High Converting Proposals: The First Win

26:01 - The Importance of Micro Wins

27:37 - Documenting Client Journeys

29:44 - Value Stacking and Communicating Results

33:21 - Email Marketing Strategies

40:16 - Personalizing Email Campaigns

Mentioned in this Episode

Urgency on Evergreen: samanthahoilett.com/urgency-on-evergreen

Urgency Upgrade: samanthahoilett.com/urgency-upgrade-2026

Connect with Samantha

Website: samanthahoilett.com

Instagram: instagram.com/samanthahoilett.writes

Youtube: youtube.com/@samanthahoilett

Theads: threads.com/@samanthahoilett.writes

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