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Episode 260

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Published on:

18th Nov 2025

Workflow Overwhelm? Create These 3 Microsystems First

You’re never going to find time to fix your workflows — you have to make the time. And today, I’m giving you the exact place to start.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the three microsystems every creative needs before building a full workflow: your instant inquiry response, your five-minute booking proposal, and your booking confirmation email.

These simple assets become the anchor activities for your inquiry, booking, and onboarding workflows — and they’re the fastest way to build momentum (and confidence) inside your client experience.

If mapping workflows has ever felt overwhelming, unclear, or like something you’ll “get to eventually,” this episode shows you how to begin without building everything at once.

And if you want to build these microsystems with me, join me inside Systems in Session at coliejames.com/systems

Mentioned in this episode:

3 Must Have Elements in Each Client Communication

5 Workflows Every Photographer Needs

How to Create a 5-Minute Booking Process

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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