Ever feel like you're doing ALL the things in your business but somehow still not seeing the results you want? Girl, we've been there. That's exactly why we're diving deep into the 80/20 rule (also known as the Pareto Principle) and how it can completely transform the way you run your photography business.

The 80/20 rule isn't some made-up business guru nonsense – it's a real principle that shows there's always a huge imbalance between your input and your results. And once you understand this, you can stop wasting time on activities that aren't moving the needle and start focusing on the 20% of efforts that produce 80% of your results.

We're getting real about our own businesses in this episode – like how Alison discovered that her social media clients were spending way less money than her SEO clients, or how Melissa realized she was spending hours creating custom pricing videos that half her leads weren't even watching all the way through.

What You'll Learn:

• What the 80/20 rule actually is and why it matters for your business

• How to identify which marketing channels are actually bringing in your best clients

• Why Alison limited her discovery calls to only 3 days a week (and saw better results)

• How to use your CRM data to make smarter business decisions

• The specific reports in Google Search Console and Google Analytics that matter most

• Why putting pricing on your website can actually increase your booking rate

• How to prioritize which pages on your website need SEO attention first

• The power of batching and planning (like how we organized 6 months of podcast content in 2 hours)

Resources Mentioned:

• Tave CRM for tracking inquiry sources and client data

• Google Search Console for blog performance and keyword insights

• Google Analytics traffic acquisition report

• Flodesk for email analytics

• The Blogging Club membership

Your Next Steps:

-Work with Alison: https://alisonbellphotographer.com/how-to-move-your-business
-Free Moving Checklist: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/checklist
-Marketing Funnel Basics: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/funnel

-Work with Melissa: https://pictureperfectrankings.com
-SEO Self Audit Checklist: https://pictureperfectrankings.myflodesk.com/self-seo-audit -35+ Blog Post Topics for Photographers: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/35-blog-post-ideas

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify

• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients

• Get Melissa’s Free Blog Post Topics

• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast

• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings

• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

Re-Airing: Our Chat with Colie James About Marketing That Actually Works

We had such an amazing conversation with Colie James on her Business First Creatives podcast that we just had to share it with you all! Colie invited us on to talk about marketing strategies, and honestly, we got so real about what's actually working (and what we've totally abandoned) in our businesses.

If you don't know Colie, she's a business systems expert who helps creative entrepreneurs streamline their workflows and grow profitable businesses. Her podcast, Business First Creatives, is all about the behind-the-scenes business strategies that actually move the needle – which is exactly why this conversation was so good!

We dove deep into our Marketing Monday routines, why we're both considering ditching Instagram for YouTube, and how AI has become our "employee of the month." Plus, Alison shared her genius scouting trip strategy that helped her book clients before she even moved to Hawaii, and Melissa talked about why her five-minute homepage audits are her best lead conversion tool.

What You'll Learn:

• The real reason why getting found is harder than creating beautiful work

• How to use AI as your "employee of the month" (seriously, best $20/month we spend)

• Why Alison's rankings dropped when she got "content" with her SEO success

• The power of five-minute audits for converting leads into paying clients

• How scouting trips and model calls can skyrocket your business in a new location

• Why we're both considering ditching Instagram for YouTube

• The art of batching content when you're feeling motivated (not forcing it on a schedule)

• Email marketing strategies that actually work for photographers

• Why sometimes the best marketing happens when you blow dry your hair and change shirts five times

About Colie James: Colie is a business systems strategist and the host of Business First Creatives podcast. She helps creative entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses through smart systems and strategic thinking. Her no-nonsense approach to business growth is exactly why we love chatting with her!

Resources Mentioned:

• Colie James' Business First Creatives podcast

• ChatGPT for content creation and repurposing

• Flodesk for email marketing

• Descript for video editing

• Trello for content planning

• Google Tasks for marketing organization

Your Next Steps:

-Work with Melissa: https://pictureperfectrankings.com
-SEO Self Audit Checklist: https://pictureperfectrankings.myflodesk.com/self-seo-audit -35+ Blog Post Topics for Photographers: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/35-blog-post-ideas

-Work with Alison: https://alisonbellphotographer.com/how-to-move-your-business
-Free Moving Checklist: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/checklist
-Marketing Funnel Basics: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/funnel

-Check out Colie James: Business First Creatives podcast

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify

• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients

• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast

• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings

• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

Y'all, can we talk about the elephant in the room? That pile of receipts sitting on your desk, the QuickBooks notifications you've been ignoring for months, and that sinking feeling every time tax season rolls around? Yeah, we're going there today.

This week, we're bringing you Melissa's actual bookkeeper, Jenny Vazquez from Foxtrot Bookkeeping, to spill ALL the tea about why photographers need to stop DIYing their books and start treating their finances like the business asset they are.

"I just think putting negative energy towards your money is never good... when you're working on your money or looking at your money, you want it to be positive." - Jenny

• The #1 reason photographers should outsource their bookkeeping (hint: it's not what you think)
• How often you should actually be updating your books (Jenny's answer might surprise you)
• The most common bookkeeping mistakes photographers make and how to avoid them
• Why using your personal Venmo for business expenses isn't the end of the world (but here's how to fix it)
• The difference between working with an independent bookkeeper vs. your CPA's bookkeeping service
• When to make the leap from spreadsheets to QuickBooks (and why you probably should have done it already)
• Smart receipt organization systems that will save you during an audit
• How proper bookkeeping can actually help you make better business decisions throughout the year

💎 The Gmail Receipt Hack: Create a new email folder each January (like "2025 Receipts") and set up automation to tag PayPal receipts. Just drag and drop receipts throughout the year for instant organization.

💎 The B&H Photo Strategy: Buy all your camera gear from one retailer so you can log into your account years later and pull all purchase history for depreciation tracking.

💎 The Weekly 10-Minute Rule: Jenny's ideal schedule is just 10-15 minutes weekly to review transactions while they're fresh in your memory.

💎 The Venmo Mix-Up Fix: Accidentally paid a contractor from personal Venmo instead of business? Just email your bookkeeper the receipt - they'll handle the reconciliation magic.

💎 The Subscription Audit: Ask your bookkeeper for a list of all your monthly subscriptions. You might be shocked at what you're paying for and forgot to cancel.

• Jenny Vazquez - Foxtrot Bookkeeping
• Instagram: @foxtrotbookkeeping
• Website: foxtrotbookkeeping.com

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify

• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients

• Get Melissa’s Free Blog Post Topics

• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast

• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings

• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

Alison is interviewing Melissa, who literally went from fixing computers in corporate suits to building photography empires with killer SEO strategies. If you've ever wanted to throw your laptop out the window because of alt text and header tags (while simultaneously trying to feed your kids lunch), this episode will save your sanity.

• Why your keywords are having an identity crisis - Spoiler: Google doesn't know what you do either when you try to be everything to everyone.

• The brutal truth about SEO timelines - Real talk: 6-9 months to see decent progress, 18 months to consistently book clients. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

• Group coaching vs. done-for-you decoded - Melissa breaks down why both paths work, depending on whether you have more time or money to burn.

• Blog post templates are secretly broken everywhere - Melissa finds websites with EIGHT H1 headers on every single blog post. That's like wearing eight different hats to one event - confusing and not cute.

• The blogging club that doesn't make you cry - Because apparently everyone hates blogging (shame on you!), Melissa created outlines so easy that even your overwhelmed mom brain can handle them.

• AI prompts that don't sound like robots - She's teaching photographers how to use Claude for personal stories via voice messages, so your blog posts actually sound like you instead of a corporate manual.

• The moving photographer's secret weapon - Start your SEO work 6 months before you PCS. Your future self will thank you when you're not scrambling to book clients in a new location while unpacking boxes.

Ready to stop letting SEO be the monster under your business bed? Melissa's approach strips away all the overwhelm and gives you a clear path forward - whether you want to DIY it or hand it off completely.

Feeling stuck? Get a Book free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to talk through your biggest business challenges and map out a strategy that actually fits your chaotic, beautiful life.

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Get Melissa’s Free Blog Post Topics
• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Use #keepitmovingpod on socials!

Melissa is putting Alison in the hot seat because honestly, she's been way too humble about moving her photography business SEVEN times. Time to spill the tea on how she turned military-spouse chaos into her coaching superpower.

• "Too Early" Doesn't Exist - Start prepping your business move yesterday. SEO takes 12-18 months to work its magic, and everyone underestimates how time-consuming this whole thing is.

• Stalk Your New Market (Legally) - Research everything: traffic patterns, permit costs, whether you can actually shoot on Fridays without losing your mind on I-95. Your business model depends on it.

• Embrace the Post-Move Cricket Sounds - After running two businesses simultaneously, you'll hit radio silence. Use it to unpack, find a dentist, and become the local expert instead of panicking at your computer.

Ready to level up your photography business? Whether you're moving or staying put, I've got the goods to help you rank higher and book better. Check out my offerings for ambitious photographers who are done playing small.

Moving your business and feeling overwhelmed? Alison's done this dance seven times and lived to tell about it. Book your free 15 minute discovery call and let her guide you through the chaos with actual sanity intact.

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Get Melissa’s Free Blog Post Topics
• Find Alison on IG @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• Find Melissa on IG @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Use #keepitmovingpod on socials!

On this episode, we sat down with Shannon Vondy (aka Mrs. Vondy, aka The Email Queen) to talk about a topic many photographers struggle with - email marketing. As someone who's been a member of Shannon's email club for over a year and a half, Melissa was excited to bring her expertise to our listeners who are relocating or restructuring their photography businesses.

Shannon went from burnt out wedding photographer to email obsessed when she sent ONE email and earned $2,600. After earning an additional $13k that year from email marketing alone, she created The Email Club. Through her Email Club Membership, she's helped hundreds of business owners make thousands of dollars using email all in the time it takes to bake a batch of cookies! She's on a mission to make email the easiest and most fun part of your business.

1. Starting an email list is simpler than you think - You don't need freebies or complex welcome sequences to begin. Choose an email provider, create a simple opt-in page, and start emailing consistently. Shannon made $2,600 from her very first strategic email!

2. Email weekly for best results - Consistency is key. You can batch-write four emails at the beginning of the month (they don't need to be long) and schedule them. Unsubscribes are normal and shouldn't discourage you - focus on serving those who want to hear from you.

3. Location changes don't mean abandoning your list - When relocating, segment your lists by location and continue providing value to past clients. Share a mix of location-specific content and universal photography tips to stay top-of-mind, even with clients you may never photograph again.

SEO doesn't have to be complicated! With 15 years in photography and 10 years in IT, I've cracked the SEO code so you don't have to. Whether you want to learn or have someone handle it for you, my coaching and done-for-you services will help you get noticed online and attract your ideal clients. Visit pictureperfectrankings.com to make SEO simple and effective for your photography business.

As a military spouse photographer who has moved my business seven times, I know what it takes to adapt and thrive! I've gone from hobby income to consistent 6-figure sales through strategic business practices. If you're ready to break through roadblocks, attract dream clients, and finally see the profits you've longed for, let's work together! Book a free 15 minute discovery call and let's get your business moving in the right direction.

Links:

• Special gift for listeners from Shannon:Free eBox Keep It Moving Podcast — The Email Club Co
• theemailclub.co
• Instagram (@mrs.vondy)
• Get half off your first year of Flodesk: Design emails people love to get.
• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Download Blog Post Topics
• @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!

In this week's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Caroline Eidson for our mini mentoring series where we help photography entrepreneurs navigate business transitions. Caroline's journey from wedding photographer to mom of four to relaunching her photography business specifically for families and newborns offers valuable insights for photographers at any stage of business restructuring.

1. SEO Strategy for Photography Websites: Focus your SEO efforts on creating dedicated landing pages for each service, not portfolio pages. Landing pages should combine portfolio images, details, investment information, and FAQs all in one scrollable page for better user experience and stronger search ranking.

2. Target Smaller Markets First: When relaunching in a competitive area, consider targeting smaller suburban markets with dedicated landing pages to build domain authority faster while your main city keywords gain traction.

3. Content Marketing That Serves: Create local-focused blog content that helps your ideal clients (like best baby boutiques or family-friendly restaurants) and repurpose these into lead magnets and social media content to maximize your marketing efforts.

If you're struggling with SEO, keyword research, or creating effective content for your photography business, Melissa offers customized marketing services to help you attract your ideal clients. Her expertise in keyword research and SEO strategy can help you get found online and book more clients. Learn more at Melissa's website.

Want to be featured on a mini mentoring episode like Caroline? DM Alison at @keep.it.moving.podcast on Instagram to apply for your own session!

Ready to discuss your photography business challenges? Book a free 15 minute discovery call with Alison to explore how mentoring can help you create a business that fits your life.

Links:

• Leave a review in Apple or on Spotify
• Download 39 FREE Ways to Get More Clients
• Download Blog Post Topics
• @‌keep.it.moving.podcast
• @‌pictureperfectrankings
• Keepitmovingpod.com

Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!