370: Julie Christie – How to use an email autoresponder series in your photography business

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Julie Christie of www.togsinbusiness.com featured on the podcast in episode 245 and was an absolute hit with listeners. In this interview, Julie shares everything you wanted to know about setting up and utilising an email autoresponder series in your photography business.

I was preparing to introduce her for this episode but can't go past what I said last time…

Here is a photographer turned business coach who is based in Scotland but helps photographers around the world with their businesses.

She is a powerhouse when it comes to producing actionable, money-making content for photographers on her website, inside her Facebook Group and in her membership.

She's obsessed with the business of photography. And, everything she creates just looks beautiful!

Now… I'm wary when it comes to recommending business coaches. Still, with hand on heart, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Julie for any help you need with your photography business – because I know she's as passionate about your success as I am.

Here's some more of what we cover in the interview:

• Who are Julie's typical photography clients?
• Following a formula to help her members with their businesses
• What differentiates Julie from other photography business coaches?
• Helping photographers who lack the confidence in marketing themselves and their business
• Embracing your personality to connect with similar-minded clients
• How Julie defines a perfect client
• Get as much work as you can to grow your business – in the beginning
• Why working with the wrong clients is good for you in the long run
• Business mistakes Julie made in the past
• What does – websites that convert – really mean
• Building high impact first impressions to engage clients
• The importance of adding a call-to-action
• 70% of the buying decision is made even before clients reach out to you
• Different opt-ins to consider for your photography business
• Julie's tips for creating opt-in lead magnets
• Software to use to create your opt-in forms
• The best platform to use for setting up your website opt-in forms
• Why it is important to have a great looking website?
• Why opt-ins are so important
• The common mindset of photographers who refuse to send newsletters
• The importance of sending emails that serve your clients
• The two sets of people you should be email-nurturing
• Never assume that prospects are not interested if you don't hear from them
• Who to add to your nurture sequence
• The contents of a good email nurture sequence
• The need to have separate lead magnets and email nurture sequence for every photography niche
• What tone to use when composing your emails
• What to write in your email nurture sequence
• Every single email should have a call-to-action and one focus
• More than one CTA reduces your conversion rates
• What conversion actually means in reference to emails
• Pointers in writing your email nurture sequence
• Why adding a postscript is important in every email
• Don't be afraid to push people away
• The secret to not being bothered by people unsubscribing to your mailing list
• 20% of people usually unsubscribe from email nurture sequences
• How long should the email sequence be?
• How frequently should you send emails?
• What happens at the end of an email nurture sequence?
• The importance of using your email marketing programs tagging system
• What to send after the first email sequence
• Can you share too much information in your emails?
• Why thinking of an email subject heading is more important than writing the actual content
• Why you should not use a clickbait email subject headline
• What to do when you don't get a response at the end of the email nurture sequence
• Sending feedback inquiries to leads who never replied
• Images in your emails sequences – good or bad idea
• What is a nice percentage for open rates?

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

If the subject heading is not brilliant and clickable and something they are going to want to read, then there is no point writing the email because they are not going to read it. – Julie Christie

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role-play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group. You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Julie shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in today's episode.

The minute you have more than one call-to-action, you reduce your conversion rate. – Julie Christie

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Julie or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and ultimately a better show.

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast and email me your keywords or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has made a difference to you and your photography business.

PhotoBizX Daily Vlog Challenge – the waitlist is open

Why utilise video in your photography business? The number one reason – to make a personal connection with our prospective client, faster than ever before.

You can do this with video on your website, email replies with video plus advertising and retargeting with video. 

There is no faster way to make a connection than you talking to your clients via video. 

If you generally book most of the clients you meet with face to face, imagine building that bond earlier in your process and before other local photographers. It'll mean more bookings for you. Fantastic right? As long as you can be yourself and make the same kind of connection you do in person. And you can! 

Want to learn how to get comfortable being yourself on camera?

This Challenge will get you there. 

The improvement and transformation in members videos has been extraordinary as we add something new to focus on throughout each module – from lighting, framing, eye contact, intro and outros – all with daily prompts.

Everyone involved is getting daily feedback, and it's easy to see the fun we're all having as we progress.

The next Challenge is starting soon! Click the link and add your details to get involved: http://dailyvlogchallenge.com

The way it works

1. Watch the daily video (with topic/Challenge included) uploaded into a separate post each day – excluding weekends.
2. Record your video reply and upload into the comments for that unit.
3. Once your video is uploaded, leave comments or constructive feedback (if requested) on at least 2 videos from other participants. 
4. Wait for feedback on your recording and implement suggestions into your next Challenge.

That's it, as simple as that.