PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast - 530: Audra Harris – How to successfully outsource lead qualification calls in your photography business

530: Audra Harris – How to successfully outsource lead qualification calls in your photography business

09/04/23 • 54 min

PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

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

Audra Harris of www.focusonyourphotos.com was warmly referred to in episode 457 of the podcast with Jennifer Lindberg. In that episode, Jennifer shared a true success story where she took her photography business from financial trouble to an exceptional and very profitable business. I had no reason to believe Audra wasn't a staff member of the team.

I have since learned that Audra is a contractor and runs the “Focus on Your Photos” business in the USA. Jennifer was utilising Audra, her team and their services to fill a critical role in the success of her business.

Audra and her team are a business focussed on supporting photographers by offering services to do the things we don't want to do in our businesses. From Facebook Ads to calling and qualifying leads, running your reveal sessions, setting up software, workflows, CRM's and more.

Judging by Jennifer's success and what she had to say about Audra, they are incredibly good at what they do.

With so many PhotoBizX members asking about outsourcing, especially lead qualification, I am excited to learn how it all works when outsourcing to a reputable business with the runs on the board.

Note for listeners: Audra emailed me right after recording to say...

There is one LARGE item that I didn't touch on during the interview, and that is expectations!

Setting them with the clients/prospects right from the start. Letting them know the process, pricing, deposit information, etc., is so important for appointment setting and their overall happiness throughout their journey with the artist.

I'm sure there is more, but that was one thing that popped into my mind when we finished today.

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

Audra's business model and how she's helping photographers with their business
A brief background on Audra's skillset
How Audra got into the photography genre when building her business
Why did Audra hire only female staff in the beginning
Why Audra believes it is necessary to use only one persona when communicating with different clients
On-boarding process when hiring Audra's team to take phone calls for your business
Why you need to outsource to help run your business smoothly
Why it's a good thing to disqualify potential clients
Why it's important to call every single lead you get from your ads
How to prioritize who to call first
How frequently should you contact leads that haven't responded yet
The importance of being flexible with each lead's availability
How to handle leads who don't want to talk on the phone
Why Saturdays are the worst time to contact leads
Typical rates to outsource your booking appointment process
The difference between a good lead and a bad lead
Contracts and pricing
Audra's secret to getting successful booking appointments
How to handle clients who find photography sessions to be expensive
The importance of knowing or learning what makes your business unique from the rest of the competition
How to deal with FB Ad fatigue
Different ways to find new leads
Is it right to send out a break-up email with your leads

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

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, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, special member-only interviews.

We don't want the prospects to realize that they are talking to multiple people...We want the people, both on the phones and on the ordering session to feel like it's one smooth process. And so, we use the same name. – Audra Harris

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. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

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

Judging by Jennifer's success and what she had to say about Audra, they are incredibly good at what they do.

With so many PhotoBizX members asking about outsourcing, especially lead qualification, I am excited to learn how it all works when outsourcing to a reputable business with the runs on the board.

Note for listeners: Audra emailed me right after recording to say...

There is one LARGE item that I didn't touch on during the interview, and that is expectations!

I'm sure there is more, but that was one thing that popped into my mind when we finished today.

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

Audra's business model and how she's helping photographers with their business
A brief background on Audra's skillset
How Audra got into the photography genre when building her business
Why did Audra hire only female staff in the beginning
Why Audra believes it is necessary to use only one persona when communicating with different clients
On-boarding process when hiring Audra's team to take phone calls for your business
Why you need to outsource to help run your business smoothly
Why it's a good thing to disqualify potential clients
Why it's important to call every single lead you get from your ads
How to prioritize who to call first
How frequently should you contact leads that haven't responded yet
The importance of being flexible with each lead's availability
How to handle leads who don't want to talk on the phone
Why Saturdays are the worst time to contact leads
Typical rates to outsource your booking appointment process
The difference between a good lead and a bad lead
Contracts and pricing
Audra's secret to getting successful booking appointments
How to handle clients who find photography sessions to be expensive
The importance of knowing or learning what makes your business unique from the rest of the competition
How to deal with FB Ad fatigue
Different ways to find new leads
Is it right to send out a break-up email with your leads

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

Plus, special member-only interviews.

Seriously, that's not all.

Previous Episode

529: Caro Telfer – How to generate an income with stock photography

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

Caro Telfer of www.carotelfer.com catalysed last week's interview with Claire Bonnor of Aus Stock Photo – the Australian-based stock library.

Caro sent me a message about supplying stock photography to the library and said...

I’m not quite making a living out of it, but it has given me a new option and changed how I work.

So far, I have about 5,000 images on the Austockphoto website.

Until last year (which was a disaster health-wise for me), I had been adding on average, 1,000 new photos each year.

Last year, my gross sales came to just under $20K. Considering that I hoped to cover my weekly coffee spend when I first signed up, it exceeded my expectations!

Following the super informative interview with Claire, I was keen to learn more about shooting for a stock library, from a working photographer's perspective. I'm rapt to say I have Caro agreed to record this interview and share how she's generating an income with stock photography.

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

How to survive as a photographer living in remote areas
Caro's introduction to stock photography
Caro's thought process when shooting stock photography for the library
Why does Caro prefer to stock photos than shoot for clients
The advantage of sending stock photos exclusively to one stock library
Sharing the latest shoot, Caro did for Autostock
How model call shoots work when photographing for stock libraries
How model release forms work when photographing public workers
How to submit model release forms to libraries
Who keeps the copy of model release forms
Average number of photos taken during stock photo shoots
Caro's culling process
How to rename stock photos and what metadata tags to include
How to ensure buyers select Caro's stock photos
Which stock photos sell
Why do people agree to get their photos taken and uploaded to stock libraries
Dealing with knockbacks from people when asking permission to take stock photos
Fee for model calls
How Caro finds models for her stock photo shoots
How to approach would-be models and ask for approval to do stock photo sessions
Acceptable age for kids in AU to sign model release forms for themselves
Do's and dont's when shooting stock photography
Using a reverse image search to know how your stock photos were used
How to organize stock photos in libraries
Income expectations when growing your stock library collection
Why stock photos with people are more saleable
Why Caro doesn't like taking photos of beautiful flowers or sunsets for her stock library
How to distinguish between a spectacular photo and an authentic photo
What is microstock

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

Plus, special member-only interviews.

I'm finding that rather than having to shoot to your client specs and get the work to them on time, for me, it's feeling a lot better coming up with the ideas and shooting to what I'm wanting, which I know the library also wants. – Caro Telfer

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access 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 from what Caro 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, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me k...

Next Episode

531: Nik Buttigieg – How to relocate your photography business and get profitable fast

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

Today's guest is Albury Wodonga Family Photographer Buttigieg, who needs almost no introduction for long-time listeners and Premium Members.

I first interviewed him as part of The Coaching Diaries when he was working with Photography Business Coach Johl Dunn. At that time, he was on track to take his small, part-time business to full-time and highly profitable.

In the subsequent interviews, we heard how a total shift in mindset had put him on that path. He was full-time, profitable, supporting his family with photography... life was good in the small town he was living and working in.

Then, at the end of the third and most recent members-only interview, when things are going better than ever, he reveals that he's packing up and moving across the country to start over.

It's been around a year now, and I thought it'd be the perfect time to check in and see if a photography business and its lead generation and sales tactics are as easily transferable as we'd like to believe.

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

Why Nik relocated to a different location
Preparations to consider before relocating your photography business
Marketing strategies to implement when moving to a new location
The need to update your website and socials to reflect your new location
Do you need to change your pricing when relocating your business
Is it necessary to have a photography studio to have a successful business
The pros and cons of studio sessions vs. outdoor sessions
Having a formula for studio photography sessions
Dealing with the stress of doing studio sessions for the first time
Benefits of hiring a business coach
How to have a fun and memorable experience when doing family sessions
Why it's important to speak with dads before family portrait sessions
How to respond to clients who ask for average spend
Dealing with clients who cancel after learning the cost
How to make dads open up and express emotions
How to handle the influx of customers coming into your business
Is it better to increase pricing or hire more photographers
What's the one task that Nik wants to outsource to lighten his load
Nik's thoughts on hiring another photographer
Nik's online viewing process
Work-life balance as a photographer
How to determine the best brand name for your business
Nik's long-term goal for his photography business
Creating a business to sell
What Nik will do differently if he needs to relocate again
Nik's advice for people who want to relocate their business
The key to Nik's success
Should you focus more on getting a lead or converting a lead
The need to create an avatar for your photography business
Nik's goals for the next 12 months

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

Plus, special member-only interviews.

I'm a big believer in sticking to what's working and then making little changes alongside of that. – Nik Buttigieg

Seriously, that's not all.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Nik 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, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business due to what you heard in today's epis...