From Customer Service to Photography in the Academic World

by Skip Cohen
 
Two more great podcasts in the pipeline, thanks to Platypod and Photofocus. And both are with guests who offer outstanding insight to help you through the challenges you're dealing with right now. Take the time to click on the two banners below, grab a cup of coffee and then just kick back and listen!

Shep Hyken:  I share a quote every morning on Twitter. Several years back, I quoted NYTimes best-selling author Shep Hyken about Customer Service. Well, Shep replied, and it's so rare I get a response directly from the author. Since then, he's joined us on podcasts, I've been a guest on his show, and SCU has even shared a few links to his website.

Shep's specialty is Customer Service, and you'll notice I always capitalize those two words. Why? Because they're the most critical component of any business! And Shep's an expert, lecturing worldwide and helping companies focus on creating the very best level of service.

In this new podcast, we covered a lot of ground. It's so relevant, especially with today's challenges created by the pandemic. Here are just a few of our discussion points:

• how to stand out with your photography clients
• making every moment count
• building loyalty
• cultivating customers for life
• the process of operating beyond your own personal assumptions as photographers
• identifying every single touchpoint with your clients
• "Moments of truth."
• the "F-bomb" of customer service

This podcast is loaded with excellent points to help you maintain a strong business presence even through the pandemic. Just click on the banner above to listen to the podcast.

And With Levi Sim...

Levi Sim:  In 2009 I launched a summer program called Skip's Summer School. Levi Sim was one of the attendees and was just getting started in his career. Over the years, he's become one of the most recognized personalities in photography. He's an ambassador of goodwill and support for the professional photographic community. Over the last ten years, he's the guy with the bow tie and brown fedora at any convention. He's a photographer, writer, educator, podcaster and has spent most of his career in imaging, asking other photographers and manufacturers, "How can I help?"

A few months ago, Levi made a considerable change in his career - staying with his love for imaging, he joined Utah State University as their lead photographer. So working for a full-time employee is a significant change from freelance. In this new podcast, Levi shared a lot of great insight into the challenges and benefits of giving up being a freelance artist and moving into the academic world.

Here are few of the topics we talked about in this podcast:

• The importance of being helpful and having a thick skin as you build your photography business
• The other elements of running a business besides taking photos
• How Levi is using Platypod’s Ultra Twin Pack
• The most important lessons Levi has learned over his career
• The role of relationship building
• Advice for photographers just getting started

Click on any of Levi's images above to listen to the podcast!​

The Beyond Technique podcast is brought to you thanks to Platypod. They've got some incredible savings going on right now, but only while supplies last. For example, there are only twenty of the Ultra Essentials Kits left for holiday savings. Click on any of the holiday bundles below for more information.

A BIG thanks to the team at Photofocus.com for their never-ending support of the photographic community. Check out all of their podcasts and an incredible archive of great content growing more and more every day! Just click on the banner below and check out one of the very best resources for photographic information!