Marketing Answers with Jaime Coast

You're not going crazy — here's why reaching out to planners isn't workingThe 3 things you need to do to get wedding planners referring youIf you've been told that reaching out to wedding planners is a great referral strategy — it is. But the way most creative business owners go about it doesn't work. It's not by sending an intro email. It's not by participating in a styled shoot. And it doesn't matter how beautiful your work is.In this episode I'm breaking down exactly what I did to get referred by celebrity wedding planners and land $10k stationery clients at luxury events — and the three-part framework that actually gets planners excited to send you business.IN THIS EPISODE1. What happens when you send out cold emails to planners2. How to lead with value, not just an intro email3. How to create reciprocal value during and after the projectSubmit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy EssentialsTools I couldn't run my creative business without — with special deals to get you started:🖥 1 free month of Showit → showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x — my preferred website builder🚀 20% off Dubsado → dubsado.com/?c=coast | code: coast — client management, invoicing, proofs, and more📧 25% off your first year of Flodesk → flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U — beautiful emails, zero stress💰 $100 back on Gusto - https://gusto.com/d/jaime4e47acac - pay employees, contractors, and stay on top of taxes & regulationsMay contain affiliate links at no cost to you.

"How can I make time for marketing in my business?" Episode 108📩 Submit your question for the show: 👉 marketinganswerspodcast.com/ask5 Productivity Hacks for Creative Business OwnersIf you feel like you're being pulled in too many directions and can't figure out what to focus on — this episode is for you. I'm sharing the exact systems I use to run a multi-six-figure stationery business, produce this podcast, and still show up as class mom at my kid's school picnic.Tip #5 is one most creative business owners are completely sleeping on — don't skip it.In This Episode1. Batch your days by category2. My rocks before sand method3. Parkinson’s Law4. Multitasking the right way5. What to outsource in your business Resources Mentioned• Wispr Flow — voice dictation app for capturing ideas on the go• Claude AI — for turning rough notes into structured content• Related episode: How to AI-proof your creative business Submit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy EssentialsTools I couldn't run my creative business without — with special deals to get you started:🖥 1 free month of Showit → showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x — my preferred website builder🚀 20% off Dubsado → dubsado.com/?c=coast | code: coast — client management, invoicing, proofs, and more📧 25% off your first year of Flodesk → flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U — beautiful emails, zero stress💰 $100 back on Gusto - https://gusto.com/d/jaime4e47acac - pay employees, contractors, and stay on top of taxes & regulationsMay contain affiliate links at no cost to you.

📩 Submit your question for the show: 👉 marketinganswerspodcast.com/askWhat if you could double — or even triple — your revenue without finding a single new client? In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the most underused marketing strategies in the creative business world: the upsell. Most creative service providers leave thousands of dollars on the table every single year because they never offer their clients anything beyond the base package. That ends today.I'll cover what an upsell actually is, why it doesn't have to feel pushy or gross, whether it works for service businesses (spoiler: absolutely yes), and I'll walk you through exactly how I use upsells in my own stationery business — from onboarding all the way through to post-project follow-up.In This EpisodeWhat an upsell is and why it's one of the highest-ROI marketing strategies available to you right nowWhy upsells don't have to feel spammy — and the mindset shift that makes selling feel naturalHow to upsell in a service-based creative business (with specific examples for photographers, artists, and graphic designers)A full walkthrough of my upsell marketing strategy as a stationery designer — at every stage of the client journeyHow to build passive upsells that make money without you having to ask for anythingSubmit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy EssentialsTools I couldn't run my creative business without — with special deals to get you started:🖥 1 free month of Showit → showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x — my preferred website builder🚀 20% off Dubsado → dubsado.com/?c=coast | code: coast — client management, invoicing, proofs, and more📧 25% off your first year of Flodesk → flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U — beautiful emails, zero stress💰 $100 back on Gusto - https://gusto.com/d/jaime4e47acac - pay employees, contractors, and stay on top of taxes & regulationsMay contain affiliate links at no cost to you.

📩 Submit your question for the show: 👉 marketinganswerspodcast.com/askYou just dropped $10K on a new logo and website — and crickets. Sound familiar? In this episode, I'm answering a question from Carole W., who did everything she was told to do to elevate her brand, and still isn't seeing new sales come in. I'm going to tell her exactly why — and it has nothing to do with her new logo.This episode breaks down the real difference between sales and marketing, why so many creative business owners are accidentally skipping the one thing that actually brings in clients, and what to do instead starting today.In This EpisodeWhat marketing actually is (hint: it's not just your branding)The 4 P's of marketing — and which one most creative business owners completely ignoreWhy rebranding feels productive but doesn't generate leadsReal examples for artists, stationery designers, and photographers showing the difference between the wrong move and the right oneThe specific activities that generate clients right now, not 12 months from nowSubmit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy EssentialsTools I couldn't run my creative business without — with special deals to get you started:🖥 1 free month of Showit → showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x — my preferred website builder🚀 20% off Dubsado → dubsado.com/?c=coast | code: coast — client management, invoicing, proofs, and more📧 25% off your first year of Flodesk → flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U — beautiful emails, zero stressMay contain affiliate links at no cost to you.

🎙️ Have a question about your business? Submit it at marketinganswerspodcast.com/ask — I answer real questions from real creative business owners every week.Everyone is panicking about AI stealing their clients. Here's what they're getting wrong.If you're a creative — an artist, designer, photographer, florist — you've probably asked yourself whether AI is coming for your business. In this episode, I'm giving you the honest answer, and a real marketing strategy to future-proof yourself.Here's what most people miss: AI is artificially cheap right now. Not a single AI company is profitable today — they're all VC-backed. When they have to make money, prices go up and casual usage drops. And the clients who were always willing to pay for exceptional creative work? They're still not going to Canva.In this episode, I cover:How we're in an "AI novelty phase" — and what happens when it ends5 concrete ways to AI-proof your creative businessWho AI actually threatens (and who it doesn't)Why your signature style, physical craft, and personality are your biggest competitive advantages right nowWhether you're a watercolor artist, calligrapher, interior designer, wedding planner, or any other creative service provider, this episode will help you stop panicking and start positioning.The creative businesses that win aren't the ones trying to out-AI the AI. They're the ones doubling down on what makes them irreplaceably human.Submit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy essentials:I couldn’t run my creative business without these tools. Here are some special deals to get you started:🖥 1 free month of Showit - https://showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x - my preferred website and client proposal builder🚀 20% off Dubsado - dubsado.com/?c=coast code: coast - my favorite client management system for sending invoices, proofs, and more📧 25% off your first year of Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U  - my preferred email service provider to create stunning emails easily

📩 Submit your question for the show: 👉 marketinganswerspodcast.com/askIs Pinterest still worth your time as a wedding professional in 2026 — or is it a relic of 2011? In this episode, I'm answering that question from listener Kim L., a wedding photographer wondering if Pinterest deserves a place in her marketing strategy.The honest answer: Pinterest still works — but not the way it used to. The wedding professionals winning on Pinterest right now aren't just pinning pretty photos and hoping for the best. They're using an intentional, full-funnel marketing strategy that turns Pinterest into a steady stream of high-intent traffic from couples who are actively looking to book.I'll cover the current state of Pinterest, 5 strategies you can implement today, and the biggest mistake I see wedding professionals make that's costing them clicks, traffic, and bookings.In This EpisodeThe real state of Pinterest in 2026 — what's changed and what still worksWhy Pinterest traffic is different from every other platform (and why that matters for wedding pros)The demographics that prove Pinterest is absolutely still worth your time5 Pinterest strategies wedding professionals can implement right nowThe biggest Pinterest mistake that's killing your conversions — and how to fix itWhy Pinterest ads should NOT be your first paid advertising moveFor the latest Pinterest trends, go to trends.pinterest.comSubmit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy essentials:I couldn’t run my creative business without these tools. Here are some special deals to get you started:🖥 1 free month of Showit - https://showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x - my preferred website and client proposal builder🚀 20% off Dubsado - dubsado.com/?c=coast code: coast - my favorite client management system for sending invoices, proofs, and more📧 25% off your first year of Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U  - my preferred email service provider to create stunning emails easily

📩 Submit your question for the show: 👉 marketinganswerspodcast.com/askIs Instagram still worth your time as a wedding professional in 2026 — or should you be pivoting to TikTok? In this episode, I'm answering that exact question from listener Stephanie, and breaking down the marketing strategy that actually converts Instagram viewers into paying clients.Spoiler: it's not about going viral or chasing followers. With just 2,000 followers, I was generating 5 million reel views per month and booking $8K–$12K packages — and I'm going to show you exactly how.I'll cover the current state of Instagram for wedding pros, three tips to optimize your profile for sales (not just vanity metrics), and the one aspect of Instagram that most wedding professionals are completely sleeping on — stay until the end, because that last tip is where the real sales happen.In This EpisodeThe real state of Instagram for wedding professionals in 2026Why Instagram is no longer a follower game — and what actually matters nowHow Gen Z is using Instagram to vet vendors (this will change how you think about your profile)3 tips to turn your Instagram into a sales-generating marketing strategy — not just a content calendarThe most underutilized part of Instagram that wedding pros are ignoringKey Takeaways✔ You don't need a massive following to generate real revenue from Instagram — you need the right marketing strategy ✔ Your bio and top 3 pinned posts should function as a sales funnel, not just an introduction ✔ Reels drive awareness; Stories drive conversions — most wedding pros are only doing one of these Submit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy essentials:I couldn’t run my creative business without these tools. Here are some special deals to get you started:🖥 1 free month of Showit - https://showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x - my preferred website and client proposal builder🚀 20% off Dubsado - dubsado.com/?c=coast code: coast - my favorite client management system for sending invoices, proofs, and more📧 25% off your first year of Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U  - my preferred email service provider to create stunning emails easily

📩 Submit your question for the show: 👉 marketinganswerspodcast.com/askIf you've been bouncing between marketing platforms hoping one of them finally clicks — stop. The problem isn't your platform. It's your strategy. In this episode, I'm answering three questions from real creative business owners that get to the heart of why so many creatives struggle to grow consistently.In this episode:Q1 — "What's the best way to get consistent clients?" (from Riley C., Graphic Designer) There is no single silver bullet marketing channel — but there IS a right one for you. I walk through 15 ways to market a creative business, how to pick the one that fits your audience and personality, and why you shouldn't move on until it's making you six figures.Q2 — "What's your response to 'everyone just throws invitations away'?" (from Lindsay G., Invitation Designer) Every creative business has objections standing between you and the sale. I share exactly how I handle this one — including the personal story I tell on discovery calls and in social media that stops this objection before it's even raised.Q3 — "How do I market something couples don't actually need?" (from Sally G.) Spoiler: they do need it — just not in the way you've been thinking. I break down Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how to use consumer psychology to speak directly to the emotional drivers behind every luxury or creative purchase.📩 Submit your question for the show: 👉 marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy essentials:I couldn’t run my creative business without these tools. Here are some special deals to get you started:1 free month of Showit - https://showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x - my preferred website and client proposal builder20% off Dubsado - dubsado.com/?c=coast code: coast - my favorite client management system for sending invoices, proofs, and more25% off your first year of Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U  - my preferred email service provider to create stunning emails easily 

Submit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askAre you tired of business coaches who talk you in circles and never just tell you what to do? You might not need a coach — you need a real marketing strategy.I'm Jaime Coast, a former Fortune 500 marketing strategist turned multi-six-figure wedding stationery business owner. In this first episode, I'm answering the questions I know are already on your mind: Why should you listen to me? Why am I starting this podcast? And what can you expect from this show?With 15+ years of experience developing marketing strategy for brands like Nickelodeon, MTV, Pepsi Co, Burger King, and Hasbro — and now running my own successful creative business — I'm here to give creative service providers something that's genuinely hard to find: practical, no-fluff marketing advice that actually moves the needle.Sales. Not Vibes. Strategy. Not Manifestation. Just real marketing strategy built for real creative businesses.🎙️ In this episode:How I'm the anti-business-coach — and why that matters for youMy 15+ year marketing background and what it means for your businessWhat I'm building for creative entrepreneurs (and why it's different)What to expect from Marketing Answers episodes in the future.Submit your question to be answered on the show:👉 www.marketinganswerspodcast.com/askMy essentials:I couldn’t run my creative business without these tools. Here are some special deals to get you started:1 free month of Showit - https://showit.com/r/4z8t4m9x - my preferred website and client proposal builder20% off Dubsado - dubsado.com/?c=coast code: coast - my favorite client management system for sending invoices, proofs, and more25% off your first year of Flodesk - https://flodesk.com/c/N6G0FA6U  - my preferred email service provider to create stunning emails easily