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Episode 214

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Published on:

10th Jun 2025

The 5 Workflows Every Creative Needs in Their CRM (2025 Update)

In this solo episode, I’m giving a glow-up to my most downloaded and shared episode from this podcast: the workflows every creative business needs.

I'm expanding from the original 4-workflow framework to 5 — because not only have the tools improved (hello, HoneyBook Automations 2.0 👀), but so has my perspective. Your workflows aren’t just about automation… they’re about the conversation.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series called Emails Behind the Experience. In Part 2, I’ll be sharing the very first lesson from my new course, Email Like You Mean It. Stay tuned!

Find It Quickly:

00:27 – Why I’m giving this episode a glow-up (and what’s changed)

00:55 – The shift from automation to communication in workflows

01:42 – How to start strong with pre-qualifying and personalization

03:02 – Creating a five-minute booking experience with smart follow-ups

05:10 – Building momentum and trust in the “messy middle”

06:33 – Turning handoff moments into clarity and celebration

07:28 – How to extend the relationship with rebooking + referrals

09:19 – How you can listen to Lesson 1 in Email Like You Mean It

Links Mentioned:

Episode 23: Original 4 Workflow Framework

Replay: The Magic of Follow-Up Emails

Email Like You Mean It (new email course)

CRM Blueprint for Creatives (client experience implementation course)

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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