67: Q3 Check In: The Good, The Bad, & The Chaotic
Keep It Moving
We're back after our summer break! Today I'm sharing our quarterly review process and the wins, challenges, and lessons learned from Q2 while juggling business and kids. Key Takeaways: Do quarterly reviews Finding the right associate takes time Plan ahead for time off Melissa's SEO services and Blogging Club help photographers build sustainable online traffic for long-term growth. Book your with Alison for personalized business mentoring. Links: or Download Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!
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66: Stop Marketing Like a Hot Mess
Keep It Moving
We're talking about getting your marketing calendar planned out so you stop throwing together last-minute events and hating life. Master Calendar Strategy Long Marketing Runways VIP Lists & Testing Ready to level up your marketing? Get Melissa's . Book Alison's to explore how she can help you create a business that moves with you. Links: or Get Melissa’s Free Find Alison on IG Find Melissa on IG Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!
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Summer Bonus : From Writer's Block to Marketing Machine
Keep It Moving
Have you been wondering how AI and ChatGPT fit into your blogging strategy? Or maybe you're still stuck on the "should I even be blogging" question altogether? I had the pleasure of chatting with Kim Box on the Motherhood Anthology podcast about all things blogging – from overcoming writer's block to using AI as your brainstorming partner (not your ghostwriter). We covered everything from the evolution of blogging for photographers to practical strategies for turning one blog post into a week's worth of marketing content. Here's the thing about blogging that's changed dramatically since the...
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Summer Replay : Marketing Mondays: How to Stop Working IN Your Business
Keep It Moving
If you're tired of feeling like you're always working IN your business instead of ON your business, this episode is for you. We're breaking down the concept of Marketing Mondays – dedicating at least one day a week to focus on marketing tasks that actually move the needle. The truth is, we've all been there: busy season hits in the fall, we get caught up in client work, and suddenly we stop marketing. Then January rolls around and our calendars are empty because we weren't nurturing our pipeline. Sound familiar? Today we're sharing our real marketing systems – not the pretty Instagram...
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Summer Replay : Evergreen Content That Works While You Sleep
Keep It Moving
What if we told you that a blog post you wrote almost ten years ago could still be driving traffic and booking clients today? That's the magic of evergreen content, and today we're pulling back the curtain on our best-performing blog posts that keep on giving. We're talking about content that literally works while you sleep – posts that continue to attract your ideal clients months or even years after you hit publish. From Alison's Virginia Beach restaurant guide that still ranks nationally to Melissa's DIY newborn photo tutorial that gets 10,000 clicks in three months, we're sharing the...
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Summer Replay : Our Favorite Keyword Research Tool + How We Use It Daily
Keep It Moving
Ever feel like you're writing blog posts into the void? Like you're creating all this content but nobody's actually searching for it? We've been there, and we have the solution. Today we're diving deep into our absolute favorite keyword research tool that has completely transformed how we approach SEO and content creation. This isn't just another "SEO is important" conversation – this is the actual tool we use every single day to figure out what our ideal clients are typing into Google. You know how we're always telling you to blog consistently and target specific keywords? Well, this one...
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65: The Truth About AI Search (Spoiler: It's Still Just SEO)
Keep It Moving
Have you been seeing those "SEO is dead" headlines all over your feed lately? Yeah, me too. And honestly? I'm getting a little fired up about it. So here's the deal – everyone's trying to tell you that AI has killed SEO and now you need to learn some fancy new "AIO" (AI optimization) strategy. They're launching courses, hosting webinars, and basically trying to convince you that everything you've learned about getting found online is now useless. But I'm here to tell you the truth: it's all BS. I literally tested this myself. I hopped on ChatGPT (not even logged in) and asked it to recommend...
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Summer Bonus : The SEO Strategy That Saved My Photography Business
Keep It Moving
Hey there! While Alison and I are soaking up those summer vibes until September, I'm not leaving you hanging. I'm sharing some of my favorite guest appearances from this past year – the ones that had you frantically taking notes and diving into implementation mode. This week, I'm bringing you my conversation with Colie James from the Business First Creatives podcast. We dive deep into something that literally transformed my photography business from struggling to fully booked: SEO. And before you roll your eyes and think "SEO is too complicated" or "my Instagram is doing just fine, thank you...
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Summer Replay : Blog Better Than A Bot, How to Stand Out in an AI World
Keep It Moving
AI-generated content is everywhere, flooding the internet with bland, forgettable posts that all sound exactly the same. So how do we make our blog content stand out to both Google and our dream clients in 2025? Here's the thing - we're not anti-AI. Both Alison and I use it regularly in our businesses, and we think you should too. But we're seeing a huge problem with how photographers are using it for their blogs. They're letting AI completely replace their voice, their stories, and their personality - the exact things that make content memorable and convert readers into clients. The result?...
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Summer Replay : Time Blocking, Calm the Calendar Chaos
Keep It Moving
Feeling like a ping pong ball bouncing between tasks all day? Constantly switching from editing to emails to client calls and ending up mentally exhausted with nothing meaningful accomplished? We've been there. That scattered, overwhelmed feeling where you're busy all day but can't point to what you actually got done. The research backs it up too - every time we switch from task to task, we waste time and mental energy. As military spouses who've moved our photography businesses multiple times, we've learned that protecting our mental energy isn't just nice to have - it's essential for...
info_outlineRe-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:
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The real reason why getting found is harder than creating beautiful work
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How to use AI as your "employee of the month" (seriously, best $20/month we spend)
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Why Alison's rankings dropped when she got "content" with her SEO success
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The power of five-minute audits for converting leads into paying clients
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How scouting trips and model calls can skyrocket your business in a new location
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Why we're both considering ditching Instagram for YouTube
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The art of batching content when you're feeling motivated (not forcing it on a schedule)
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Email marketing strategies that actually work for photographers
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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:
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Colie James' Business First Creatives podcast
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ChatGPT for content creation and repurposing
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Flodesk for email marketing
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Descript for video editing
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Trello for content planning
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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:
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Find Alison on IG @keep.it.moving.podcast
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Find Melissa on IG @pictureperfectrankings
Used #keepitmovingpod on socials!