Business-First Creatives

How I Spent Money Inside My Business in 2025

In this end-of-year episode, I’m breaking down how I spent money inside my business in 2025 — and more importantly, how I made those decisions.This isn’t a profit report or an expense spreadsheet walkthrough. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what I chose to invest in, what I outsourced, why the podcast is my biggest marketing expense, and how warm-up offers completely changed the way I decide who to work with and where to put my money.I’m also sharing how this buying behavior pushed me to rethink my own warm-up offers, what I’m carrying into 2026, and why my word for the year is simplify.If you’re thinking more intentionally about your spending, your offers, or how you want to work next year — this one’s for you.In this episode, we cover:How I evaluate purchases and investments in my businessWhat I outsource and why retainers matter to meWhy the podcast is my biggest and best marketing investmentHow I use warm-up offers to test fit before committing long-termWhy “no” can still be a powerful return on investmentWhat’s changing (and staying) in 2026Links MentionedSystems in SessionEmail Like You Mean ItClient Experience Audit1:1 60-Min Strategy & Implementation CallsPing Pong Offers Episode on Business-First CreativesMy Tech StackMy ResourcesOffers I Invested In (aff links)Sold Out Services with Emylee WilliamsDama on Demand with Dama JueMissed the Memo with Hollie of Latitude LaneSales Parade with Ceels LockleyCashflow Confident (now Six Figure Safety) with Emilie NutleyLaunch Your Own Way with Kelsey McCormick of Coming Up RosesSay Less Sales Messaging Sprint with Chelsea QuintEmail Growth Club with Kylie Kelly

Why Clear Client Communication Is Non-Negotiable for a High-Touch Experience

Today’s episode is a replay from a conversation that originally aired on the Capture the Chaos podcast with Brittnie Renee—and it perfectly captures this client communication shift I’ve been talking about more and more lately.We’re diving into why clear client communication should be non-negotiable if you want to deliver a truly high-touch experience. Not luxury for the sake of luxury—but an experience that feels intentional, professional, and confidence-building at every step.If your systems technically work but still require too much babysitting, this episode will help you understand why communication—not more automation—is usually the missing piece.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why fixing broken workflows alone doesn’t fix a poor client experienceHow email communication builds trust and connection throughout the processWhy clients need guidance even when your automation is workingThe difference between moving tasks forward and guiding people forwardHow clear communication supports a high-touch experience without adding more manual workMentioned Links & ResourcesEmail Like You Mean It (Live 5-Day Client Communication Sprint - starts Feb 2nd): coliejames.com/emailListen to Capture the Chaos podcast: brittnierenee.com/capture-the-chaos-podcast

Stop Fixing Your Client Communication Last

In 2026, I want you to stop fixing your emails last—because it’s costing you money.The last two case study episodes of this podcast prove it.In this episode, I break down why “broken workflows” are usually a communication problem, not a tech problem, why client communication has to come before workflows, and what finally clicked for me after recording those two case studies.There’s a shift coming to Email Like You Mean It in 2026—and this episode explains why.👉 If this hits, you’ll want to mark February 2–6 on your calendar 🎉

Personalizing the Client Communication Experience with Geneviève Masioni [Email Like You Mean It Case Study]

Wouldn't it be nice to automate 80% of your client communication, while still sending personalized emails and booking high-ticket clients? That’s exactly what Geneviève Masioni did after going through my program, Email Like You Mean It!Today, Geneviève is joining me to break down how she revamped her entire client communication system using the exact tools, templates, and strategies I teach inside the course.She went from rewriting the same messages and manually sending reminders to a streamlined, personality-driven system that books, upsells, and collects testimonials without her lifting a finger.Mentioned in this EpisodeEmail Like You Mean ItConnect with GenevièveWebsite: genevievemasioni.com/enLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/genevieve-masioni/Free 15-min audit: genevievemasioni.com/colie

The CRM Emails That Turn New Leads into Booked Clients Faster (Without the Sales Call) with Kara Duncan

If you still think that a system for booking and onboarding new clients has to be complicated, this is the episode for you. What if you could take a potential client from inquiry to payment in under five minutes? In this episode, I sit down my copywriter Kara Duncan to show exactly how a fast, thoughtful, and human booking process changed her business.You’ll hear how a simple CRM, a quick Loom video, and thoughtful follow-up emails turned missed opportunities into the fastest payment she’s ever received. The best part? No sales calls required.Find It Quickly:00:25 - Welcome Kara Duncan00:52 - The Five-Minute Booking Process02:01 - Client Communication: The Key to Success05:21 - Enhancing Proposals with Loom Videos14:17 - The Importance of Follow-Up Emails22:11 - The Importance of Detailed Proposals23:22 - The Power of Loom Videos23:58 - Overcoming Sales Call Challenges24:57 - Effective Client Communication26:07 - The Value of Personalized Videos27:41 - Sales Calls vs. Video Proposals28:54 - Client Communication Strategies32:32 - The Five-Minute Booking Process39:53 - Reassuring Clients Post-PaymentMentioned in this Episode:Email Like You Mean ItEpisode 39 of The Kara Report: How to Create One (+ More Tips to SIMPLIFY Your Life With Your CRM) with Colie JamesEpisode 14 of The System for Everything: The System for Keeping It Personal (Even When It’s Prewritten) with Colie JamesEpisode 123 of Business-First Creatives: 3 Videos to Create for Your Client Experience Right Now (Video Visibility Series)Connect with Kara:Website: thekarareport.comPodcast: thekarareport.com/podcastInstagram: instagram.com/thekarareport