Girl Means Business
Business & Finance
About
Welcome to the Girl Means Business podcast, the ultimate destination for creative female entrepreneurs looking to elevate their small businesses to new heights! Join your host Kendra Swalls, a former teacher turned photographer and marketing expert, as she, and her guests, share invaluable insights and actionable strategies every week. Whether you're just starting out or already on your entrepreneurial journey, this podcast is your go-to resource for inspiration, guidance, and practical tips. Kendra's laid-back and fun approach will make you feel like you're chatting with a close friend over a cup of coffee (or wine...no judgment here). Get ready to dive into engaging conversations with successful female entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders who have mastered the art of building and growing businesses. They'll share their stories, triumphs, challenges, and insider secrets, giving you the tools you need to navigate your own entrepreneurial path. Fr
Episodes
- Blogging for Photographers (part THREE)
This episode of Girl Means Business focuses on turning blog readers into paying photography clients. It explains how to guide readers to the next step, introduce services naturally, use calls to action, and leverage internal linking and tr…
- Blogging For Photographers (Part TWO}
This episode of Girl Means Business focuses on Part 2 of Blogging for Photographers, explaining SEO in simple terms. It covers choosing client-focused topics, the significance of blog titles, writing naturally, structuring posts, and using…
- Blogging for Photographers {Part ONE}
This episode explains why blogging continues to be an effective marketing strategy for photographers, especially for attracting clients through Google searches rather than social media. It covers why blogging works long-term, how it helps…
- Will AI Replace Photographers? The Truth About AI in Photography
This episode of Girl Means Business discusses the impact of AI on the photography industry, addressing concerns about photographers being replaced. It covers AI capabilities in editing and image generation, the real risks involved, and how…
- What To Do When Your Business Feels Overwhelming
This episode addresses the feeling of business overwhelm, suggesting that simplification, not increased effort, is the solution. It explores burnout, the role of a "word of the year" in refocusing, and provides strategies for simplifying b…
- Photography Marketing Mistakes That Are Costing You Clients
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast discusses 8 common marketing errors photographers make, such as posting editing queues online or being vague about services. It explains how these small habits can harm a photographer's brand…
- Automations Every Photographer Needs (To Save Time & Book More Clients)
This episode discusses essential automations for photographers to save time, reduce stress, and increase bookings. It covers inquiry response systems, automated follow-up emails, nurture sequences, editing workflows, and content scheduling.
- 10 Minute Marketing Strategies for Photographers
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast offers photographers marketing strategies that can be implemented in 10 minutes or less daily. It covers using small time pockets for marketing, social media engagement, email actions, websit…
- How to Make Your Photography Business Stand Out in 2026
This episode of the Girl Means Business podcast discusses marketing trends for photographers in 2026. It emphasizes being intentional and connecting with the right audience to stand out in a crowded industry. The focus is on using what wor…
- Are Your Emails Going to Spam? What Photographers Need to Know About Deliverability
This episode of Girl Means Business explains email deliverability for photographers, detailing why it is crucial for reaching audiences. It covers common mistakes that lead to emails landing in spam or promotions folders and offers actiona…
- What Should Photographers Charge? A Realistic Guide to Pricing Your Sessions
This episode provides a practical guide for photographers on how to price their sessions realistically. It emphasizes calculating the Cost of Doing Business (CODB) rather than copying others, and explains how to set prices that align with…
- Why Follow Trains Don’t Grow Your Business (Even If Your Follower Count Goes Up)
This episode of Girl Means Business explains how follower trains negatively impact social media algorithms and engagement, leading to vanity growth rather than valuable client acquisition. It differentiates between superficial follower inc…
- The Mini Session Marketing System That Actually Sells Out
This episode details a marketing system for photographers to successfully sell out mini sessions. It covers strategies such as pre-selling, the effectiveness of email marketing over social media, essential elements for a mini session sales…
- Marketing Trends for Photographers in 2026
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast discusses marketing trends for photographers in 2026, emphasizing shifts like search-based marketing over social media, the importance of email lists, community visibility, and simpler offers…
- {REPLAY} How To Be More Visible In Your Photography Business
This episode discusses the importance of visibility for photographers. It covers why personal branding matters, how showing your face builds trust, and strategies for appearing online confidently to attract clients.
- {REPLAY} SEO For Photographers with SaraDoesSEO
This episode features SEO expert Sara Dunn of SaraDoesSEO discussing search engine optimization for photographers. Key topics include the importance of SEO for client bookings, optimizing websites for Google, common SEO errors, and actiona…
- {REPLAY} Creative Lead Magnet Ideas for Photographers
This episode of Girl Means Business addresses common mistakes photographers make with lead magnets and introduces creative ideas, such as location guides and family traditions checklists, designed to convert and attract ideal clients.
- Pinterest Marketing for Photographers: A Beginner’s Guide with Expert Kelli Michelle Creative Co.
This episode features Kelli Michelle, a Pinterest strategist, explaining how photographers can leverage Pinterest to increase visibility, website traffic, and attract clients. It covers why Pinterest is beneficial for business, beginner st…
- Dear Tired Photographer… Take a Breath This Week
This episode offers a Thanksgiving reminder for photographers to pause and rest, emphasizing that rest fuels creativity and worth is not tied to productivity. It encourages embracing quiet moments and reconnecting with one's purpose before…
- Decision Fatigue Is Real: How to Make It Easy for Photography Clients to Say Yes
This episode discusses how decision fatigue, caused by too many choices or confusion, can prevent clients from booking photographers. It offers strategies to simplify offers and the client journey, making the booking process straightforwar…
- Be the Photographer Everyone Talks About (for the Right Reasons)
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast introduces the Local Celebrity Strategy, a method for photographers to gain recognition within their community. It covers building local visibility without relying on social media algorithms,…
- Your Biggest Photography Marketing Questions Answered
This listener Q&A episode of Girl Means Business addresses common marketing challenges for photographers, including standing out in a saturated market, responding to price objections, and the relevance of blogging.
- The TRUST Factor - How to Turn Fans Into Paying Photography Clients
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast focuses on the "Know, Like, Trust" journey, explaining how to build strong trust with photography clients. It details using social proof, client experience, consistency, and communication to…
- The LIKE Factor - How to Build Connection With Your Dream Clients
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast discusses the "Like" stage of the marketing framework, explaining why clients need multiple interactions to book services. It covers using consistent content and connection to stay relevant a…
- The KNOW Factor - How to Get Your Photography Business Seen
This episode of the Girl Means Business podcast discusses the "Know" factor in business visibility, explaining how to get a photography business seen by the right audience without relying solely on social media. It covers strategies like S…
- Does Your Photography Brand Feel Vanilla?
This episode of Girl Means Business discusses how to add personality to a photography brand. It covers making your brand feel authentic, avoiding generic marketing, and implementing simple strategies to create a memorable brand identity.
- The Comparison Trap: How Photographers Can Stay Confident in a Crowded Market
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast addresses the comparison trap faced by photographers in a crowded market. It explores why comparison hinders business growth and provides strategies to foster confidence and attract ideal cli…
- {Pt 4} Marketing For Photographer - 4 Week Challenge
This episode explains how photographers can build a marketing funnel to consistently book clients and avoid burnout. It details what a marketing funnel entails and how to integrate social media, websites, and email lists for a cohesive sys…
- {Pt3} Marketing for Photographers - 4 Week Challenge
This episode of Girl Means Business focuses on email automations for photographers. It details why follow-up sequences are crucial for turning inquiries into bookings and covers the five essential emails for such sequences, how automations…
- {Pt 2} Marketing for Photographers - 4 Week Challenge
This episode focuses on creating lead magnet ideas for photographers to build an email list. It covers why lead magnets are necessary, how to create one that attracts clients early in their decision-making process, and common pitfalls to a…
- {Pt 1} Marketing for Photographers - 4 Week Challenge
This episode of Girl Means Business is the first in a 4-part marketing challenge for photographers. It focuses on setting up an email marketing platform, recommending Flodesk for its ease of use.
- Grow Your Email List With Creative Lead Magnet Ideas
This episode of the Girl Means Business podcast addresses common mistakes photographers make with their lead magnets. It offers creative lead magnet ideas, such as location guides and family traditions checklists, designed to attract ideal…
- What Photographers Can Learn from Taylor Swift’s Marketing Genius
This episode of the Girl Means Business Podcast explains how photographers can adapt Taylor Swift
- SEO for Photographers: How to Book More Clients with Sara Dunn of SaraDoesSEO
This episode features SEO expert Sara Dunn discussing search engine optimization for photographers. Topics include using SEO to book more clients, optimizing websites for Google, common SEO errors, and beginner-friendly steps for higher se…
- 5 Things I Would Do Differently If Starting a New Business {REPLAY}
This is a replay of a popular episode from Girl Means Business where the host discusses five actions she would take differently if launching a new business in 2025.
- The One Email That Books Me More Clients Every Month
This episode of Girl Means Business details how a single, intentional email to past clients about a referral program can be an effective way to book more clients. The host shares the specific email content, sending frequency, and strategie…
- Why Success Looks Different for Every Photographer (And That’s Okay)
The Girl Means Business episode "Why Success Looks Different for Every Photographer (And That’s Okay)" explores the concept of success in business, encouraging listeners to define it for themselves rather than adhering to traditional metri…
- Get Ahead of Busy Season: Why Content Batching is Your Secret Weapon
This episode of Girl Means Business explains the benefits of content batching to prepare for the busy fall season. It offers a system for planning and executing weeks of content efficiently, discusses what content types to focus on, and sh…
- A Conversation about Social Media and AI Trends with April Pinto
Host speaks with photographer April Pinto about the challenges and authenticity of social media marketing, and April shares her perspective on AI trends within the photography industry.
- How a Negative Mindset is Sabotaging Your Photography Business
This episode of Girl Means Business explores how negative mindsets, including self-doubt and comparison, can sabotage photography businesses. It discusses mindset blocks, the importance of coachability, and offers strategies to reset persp…
- Photographers: Do This Mid-Year Audit Before You Plan Anything Else
This episode guides photographers through a mid-year business audit using the Keep, Tweak, Ditch method. It helps identify what is attracting clients and joy, what needs adjustment, and what is no longer serving the business.
- Grow Your Audience by Borrowing Someone Else’s
This episode discusses how photographers can grow their audience by strategically collaborating with other businesses and creators. It covers ethical methods for borrowing an audience, shares examples like giveaways and styled shoots, and…
- Social Media for Photographers: Should You Play the Game or Focus Elsewhere?
This episode of Girl Means Business examines the necessity of social media for a successful photography business. It guides listeners on deciding whether to prioritize social media marketing, explore alternative strategies, and create genu…
- Your Photography Website: It Matters More Than You Think
This episode explains the importance of a dedicated photography website for business growth and client acquisition. It highlights the risks of depending only on social media and outlines key elements every photographer's website should fea…
- Summer Success: Marketing Ideas for Photographers During Slow Season
This episode offers marketing strategies for photographers to combat the summer slow season. It covers promotional ideas, strategies for growing an email list, and preparing for the busier fall season to maintain visibility and bookings.
- How Brand Photos and Online Visibility Help Photographers Book More Clients
This episode discusses the importance of brand photos and online visibility for photographers aiming to grow their business and attract clients. It covers why personal branding is essential, how showing your face online builds trust, and p…
- Photographer Burnout Signs + Solutions: How to Find Balance in Your Business
This episode of Girl Means Business discusses the signs and causes of burnout in photography businesses. It offers practical advice on setting boundaries and managing energy to foster creativity and ensure business sustainability.
- Tired of Instagram? How to Create A Marketing Plan Minus The Social Media
This episode discusses marketing strategies beyond social media, covering its history and effective, often overlooked, tactics. It offers an alternative to daily social media demands for business growth.
- Why Attracting Everyone Is Hurting Your Photography Brand (And What to Do Instead)
This episode explains that attempting to appeal to everyone can harm a photography business. It emphasizes the importance of niching down and embracing a unique brand personality to attract clients who appreciate the photographer's style a…
- How to Turn Your Photography Website Into a Client-Booking Machine
This episode focuses on optimizing photography websites to convert visitors into clients. It covers essential website sections, strategies to attract clients, the importance of mobile optimization, and a simple method for auditing your web…