Happy New Year to all!
I can still say that even though it's the end of January, right?
I'm jazzed about this year already, you guys, and we are less than one month in. I'm going to be open and vulnerable here with ya'll (I wouldn't have it any other way). About a year ago I was in a place of uncertainty with my business. I knew that I needed to make some changes or that I would need to close my doors. In fact, I sat down with others and made some goals for myself that I needed to meet by the end of 2019 or I would be doing just that-closing my business. I'm jazzed to say that I exceeded those goals.
In the last quarter of 2019 I was a bit discouraged because I had hired a marketing/business mentor (paid her a lot of money) who fell through on her promises (so I fired her-lol). I had done so much with my business (re-branding, new website, new business name, everything) and I was all in! But after that experience, although it sucked, I didn't let it get me down enough to where I would quit. Nope! I prayed... a lot! And I hired an SEO pro (that I should've hired instead of the mentor-but we won't go there) and pushed on. It took a couple months for the SEO to kick in and for Google to start recognizing me, but I jumped up to page one late last year! I'm #3 for Redlands Baby Photographer! (Scratch that-I just moved up to #2) That's so amazing-seeing that I was nowhere to be found before I hired her. I won't bore you with all of the details, but my clients are now finding me on Google, and that is super exciting to me.
Some of you may (or may not) have seen my recent posts on social media that I am opening a studio in Redlands. In fact, I'm moved in, and although it's still not 100% set up yet, I've already had 4 client sessions in there this past week! I know!!!! It's all kind of amazing how it all works out sometimes. I had been praying about moving my little studio out of our home some day. I had approached the owner of Unique Ultrasound in Redlands last year about the possibility of renting out her back warehouse space (We have known each other for a few years). She wasn't interested in it at the time, but the day after Christmas she texted me to set up a meeting to discuss it. Less than a month later, I'm moved in and doing business there already. And I have about triple the amount of space that I did in my home studio. It's a great location & partnership and I totally look forward to my future there. I will be announcing the grand opening for next month & a special offer very soon, so be watching your social media and e-mail.
I will of course still be offering my on-location outdoor sessions (which I love) but this studio does offer me more space to accommodate families and others who may need a studio look. And I'm jazzed to have the space to really utilize my new lighting set up! I will also still be editing in my home office but all of my studio sessions will be in Redlands from now on!
To top all of this off with a nice, juicy cherry, I opened my e-mail the other day to something I thought was spam but at a closer look, it was a genuine e-mail from Peerspace telling me that they had featured my business as one of their top 6 event photographers of Riverside! No joke, you guys. There's no way I could've ever guessed that this is how 2020 would start out for my humble little business-and I just cannot wait to see what else it has in store for us! Check out the article here and give Peerspace some love on social media.
Keep your eyes out for the studio grand opening and other fun events soon! And I hope you all are having a fantastic year as well.
2 Comments
Jan 30, 2020, 6:28:30 PM
Mary Cox - I am soooo happy that you are coming into your own and finally realizing your dreams, Cristy ! I love you dearly and am so proud of you !!! Love, Momma
Jan 29, 2020, 7:10:25 PM
Terrilynn Adrian - This news is so fantastic!! I'd love to hear about the SEO specialist... I just found out I had to register with google so I'm in process now.. next is the website! I'm so happy for you!