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Episode 282

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Published on:

2nd Feb 2026

3 Things Making Your Dream Clients Ghost You

Ever had a dream client inquire, seem excited… and then disappear?

No reply.

No booking.

Just silence.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why ghosting usually isn’t about your price or competition — it’s about what happens after someone raises their hand to work with you.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “all the right things” but still losing leads, this episode will help you zoom out and see where the breakdown is actually happening.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  1. The three core elements of your inquiry + booking process that directly affect conversions
  2. Why fixing your systems in isolation creates leaks you can’t see
  3. How your instant inquiry response can either build momentum or quietly stall it
  4. Why a “pretty” proposal doesn’t automatically lead to bookings
  5. How follow-up emails help clients finish decisions they already wanted to make
  6. When a sales call replacement video can work better than a live call

Related Episodes Mentioned:

  1. Episode 225: Instant Inquiry Response Red Flags
  2. Episode 198: How to Create a 5-Minute Booking Process
  3. Episode 108: The Magic of Follow-Up Emails
  4. Episode 280: Stop Overthinking Your Follow-Up Emails

If you’re tired of guessing which part of your booking process is broken, this is exactly what we design inside Systems in Session.

➡️ Learn more at coliejames.com/sis

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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