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HoneyBook for Stationers & Calligraphers: How to Get Your Honeybook Streamlined and Optimized!

October 7, 2024

When you’re a creative business owner juggling endless custom designs, deadlines, and client communications, the last thing you need is chaos in your backend systems. Enter HoneyBook, the CRM (client relationship management) tool that’s basically your new BFF. This platform was originally a favorite of photographers, but stationers and calligraphers—get ready to fall in love, too. We’re going to talk specifically about using Honeybook for Stationers and Calligraphers today!

Today, I’m diving into why HoneyBook is perfect for you as a creative, the basic steps to set it up, and a few insider tips to help you get the most out of it (without tearing your hair out). And hey, if setting up software isn’t your thing, no worries—when it comes to Honeybook for stationers and calligraphers, I’ve got you covered with setup services and audits, so you can just focus on creating your beautiful work.

Let’s get into it!

wedding planner looking to setup Honeybook for stationers and calligraphers

Why HoneyBook for Stationers and Calligraphers Is a Game-Changer

Before we jump into the how-to’s, let’s talk about why HoneyBook is amazing for creative businesses like yours. Sure, it’s popular with photographers, but it’s equally magical for anyone who deals with custom projects and needs a smooth, professional way to manage clients. It’s even what I use in my own virtual assistant business! Here’s why:

  1. Custom Project Tracking: From wedding invitations to brand calligraphy, you need to know what stage each project is in and who owes you what. HoneyBook makes it super easy to track everything—from the first inquiry to the final payment—so you can focus on the art, not the admin.
  2. Automated Workflows: You know that repetitive stuff like sending invoices or follow-up emails? HoneyBook automates a lot of those tasks so you don’t have to. You can create custom workflows for different types of projects, making sure nothing falls through the cracks. Less busywork, more time for designing!
  3. Contracts & Payments: No more piecing together a Frankenstein system with random PDFs and PayPal links. HoneyBook lets you send contracts, accept e-signatures, and collect payments all in one place.
  4. Client Communication Hub: We all know that clients love to email you… a lot. HoneyBook keeps every message, file, and contract related to a project in one hub. No more digging through your inbox—everything is stored in your client’s project file for easy access.
  5. A Professional Edge: Last but not least, with its sleek design and easy-to-use features, HoneyBook helps you put your best foot forward with clients. I might sound a little like an infomercial here but Honeybook helps your business look polished and professional, which is exactly the vibe you want to give off when you’re creating such personal, custom pieces.

Getting Started: Basic Steps for Setting Up HoneyBook for Stationers and Calligraphers

Alright, now that you know how much using HoneyBook for stationers and calligraphers is going to simplify your life and business, let’s get you set up. The process is pretty straightforward, but here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

  1. Create Your HoneyBook Account: Head over to the HoneyBook website and sign up. They offer a free trial, so you can test out all the features before committing. (Trust me, you’ll fall in love long before the trial ends.)
  2. Set Up Your Branding: Next, one of the first things you’ll want to do is set up your branding. You can upload your logo, brand colors, and even custom fonts to keep everything looking cohesive and on-brand. We all know how important an *aesthetic* is in the wedding industry!
  3. Create Your Project Templates: HoneyBook lets you create templates for everything—proposals, contracts, questionnaires, emails, you name it. This will save you a ton of time when onboarding new clients, and it helps you create a consistent experience for everyone.
  4. Build Your First Workflow: Workflows are HoneyBook’s secret weapon for saving time. A workflow is basically a step-by-step process for how you handle projects. You can create one for each type of project—whether it’s wedding stationery or signage design. The workflow can send automatic emails, reminders, and even invoices, so you don’t have to remember to do everything manually.
  5. Add Your Services & Pricing: Next, head to the services section and add your offerings. You can list each type of service you provide, with pricing tiers or custom quotes. This makes it super easy for clients to see what you offer and for you to send proposals in just a few clicks.
  6. Test, Test, Test: Before you start sending out real contracts and proposals, make sure to test everything. Run through your workflows, send yourself test emails, and make sure all your templates look good. If you’re going to use HoneyBook for stationers and calligraphers, better to catch any mistakes now than when you’re dealing with a paying client.

Things You Might Not Think About When Setting Up HoneyBook for Stationers and Calligraphers

Here’s where I get to save you some headaches with things you might not have thought about during your setup of Honeybook for stationers and calligraphers. Trust me, I have even more nuggets to share if you hire me to setup your HoneyBook!

  1. Make Your Contracts Ironclad: HoneyBook’s built-in contract feature is amazing, but remember, it’s only as good as the content you put in. Make sure your contract is clear, detailed, and legally sound. If legal language isn’t your thing, consider hiring a lawyer to draft it up or review what you’ve written. Trust me, this is one area where you don’t want to wing it.
  2. Create Custom Client Questionnaires: Sure, HoneyBook has templates for client questionnaires, but you want to make sure you’re asking the right questions for your business. Think about the info you always end up emailing clients for later and build those questions into your onboarding forms upfront. It’ll save you a lot of back-and-forth and give you a clear picture of what your client needs from the get-go.
  3. Automate What Makes Sense, But Stay Personal: While it’s tempting to automate everything (hey, who doesn’t love efficiency?), remember that your clients are likely coming to you for custom, personal work. Automate the admin stuff, like invoices and reminders, but keep some personal touchpoints in there, too. A quick personalized email or phone call can go a long way toward building trust with your clients.
  4. Use the Calendar Feature: HoneyBook’s calendar feature syncs up with Google Calendar, making it super easy to keep track of all your deadlines and meetings. Use this tool to block off project time, schedule client calls, and even set reminders for follow-ups. Staying organized here will keep you from getting overwhelmed when you’ve got a lot of projects on the go.
  5. Keep It Up to Date: When using HoneyBook for stationers and calligraphers, it’s important to remember that it is not a set-it-and-forget-it tool. You’ll want to regularly update your templates, pricing, workflows, and services as your business grows and changes. The more you use it, the more streamlined your business will become.

Need Help? That’s Where I Come In!

If all this setup talk feels a little overwhelming, don’t worry—you don’t have to do it alone. I’ve helped plenty of stationers and calligraphers set up HoneyBook to work seamlessly for their businesses. Whether you need a full setup or just an audit of what you’ve got going on, I’m here to help you get it right. Because let’s be real, you’ve got enough on your plate with creating stunning work for your clients!

I offer both full HoneyBook setups and audits, where I’ll go through your current system, make sure everything is optimized, and help you tweak things that aren’t working. That way, you can feel confident that HoneyBook is working for you—not the other way around.

Let’s Get Your Honeybook for Stationers and Calligraphers Set Up!

At the end of the day, HoneyBook is a total game-changer for creative entrepreneurs like you. Once you’ve got it set up, using Honeybook for stationers and calligraphers will save you time, keep you organized, and give your clients a seamless, professional experience. And if you need a little help getting it all in place, I’m just a message away! In the meantime, come say hi over on Instagram!

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I'm Sophie Robinson— I’m a wedding pro VA, wife, dog mom, and table-side-guac enthusiast! Ready to ditch the overwhelm?

freebies you'll love

Access My Free Resource Library

download the Wedding Pro Tasks to Outsourcing

PODCAST feature: how you might be treating your contractors like employees

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