Episode 266

full
Published on:

11th Dec 2025

Stop Chasing Vanity Metrics: The 4 Habits That Actually Grow Your Business with Zoë Dew

If you think the key to business growth is chasing website stats, are you considering the fact that those numbers may not tell the full story? In this episode, metrics and data specialist Zoë Dew shares how tracking behaviors, not just clicks, can transform your revenue and clarity.

Zoë explains how she helps creative entrepreneurs grow by using data already sitting in their business, and not by chasing fleeting “industry-standard” metrics. We dig into the four core behaviors that predict sales and how to start tracking them, even if you hate spreadsheets.

Find It Quickly

00:42 - Meet Zoe

01:18 - The Importance of Data and Metrics

02:25 - Behavior-Driven Business Strategies

02:57 - Tracking and Analyzing Business Activities

04:53 - The Four Key Business Behaviors

06:15 - Email Marketing Insights

07:44 - Compounding Visibility and Customer Journey

09:36 - Effective Email Strategies

19:28 - Growing and Managing Your Email List

20:57 - Collaborations and Ads for List Growth

22:26 - The Creator Network Experience

24:34 - Challenges of List Growth and Audience Size

25:18 - Importance of Data-Driven Decisions

26:20 - Tracking and Analyzing Audience Behavior

31:23 - Tools for Tracking Website and Sales Data

33:49 - Understanding Customer Behavior and Sales Patterns

37:49 - Re-engaging Potential Customers

44:16 - The Power of Consistent Messaging

Mentioned in this Episode

Zero Google Moment of Truth

Ceels Lockley - Email Parade

Google Analytics

Microsoft Clarity

Hotjar

Hannah Isted - 10 Minute Marketing

Connect with Zoë

Website: zoedew.com

Instagram: instagram.com/zoerdew

Threads: threads.com/@zoerdew

Habit Tracker: zoedew.com/business-first-creatives

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