Archives – January, 2009
Coaches don’t plan to fail but they do fail to plan and the result is a coaching business with few clients. If you are going to have a successful coaching business, you must have a marketing plan and you must work that plan diligently and consistently. That means taking action every day to ensure that you reach your goal of growing a successful coaching business.
“Tell me about your marketing plan”. I give that response to coaches who ask me “how do I get more clients”. The question gets to the heart of the problem they have no marketing plan. I will list several coaching marketing strategies that you must utilize every week to have a successful and growing coaching business.
Networking
Networking with potential clients and people who can refer clients to you is the first step to stand out in your market. Attend networking meeting and groups that are compatible to your niche coaching market. Do not go to meetings where other coaches are! Go to meeting where your niche-coaching clients are. Search others in businesses that target the same niche market and become referral partners. Go to events that target your niche market.
Direct Contact
Make sure you have direct contact with current coaching clients, past coaching clients, and potential coaching clients. Develop a newsletter, offer consistent free reports, write personal notes or letters, make check up phone calls, take people to lunch or out to coffee. You have to make contact with potential clients so they can begin to know, like and trust you.
Gain Expert Status
Become know as an expert in your niche through public speaking. Find groups that people in your niche join and offer to speak to them free. Develop a workshop that will give benefit to your audience and show them how your coaching can help them and offer introductory sessions at the end of your presentation. Planning and strategy are covered in depth in my home study course "Coaching Business Blast Off"
These are just a few of the many possible strategies available to you. The key to marketing success is to determine the strategies you will use then make a plan to use them consistently and follow through with that plan on a daily basis. I tell my coaches to use three different marketing strategies every day. A marketing plan that uses effective strategies and is consistently applied will always result in success.
Be sure to join my FREE teleclass every Wednesday at 9p EST. Go to the top of this page and register so you will get the link and replay link each week.
January 31, 2009
There are several stages in any coaching business and there are appropriate marketing steps for each stage. The keys to success are planning and taking action. You cannot stay stuck in the planning phase and have a successful business so do not insist on perfection before you take action. Take each business development phase one at a time, give it your best effort, evaluate and take the next action.
Launching Pad and Blast Off Stage
The first stage is what I call the launching pad and blast off stage. This is the stage where you design your business and get a clear vision of who you are, what you do, who you serve, what makes you different, and how you serve your clients. During this stage, it is appropriate to work on marketing issues like name, location, basic internet presence, business structure and beginning client attraction. It takes time, money, and a ton of work to become an internet empire so remember during the blast off phase your goal is to use the resources of the internet as a small part of your marketing strategy. If you are in this stage you should consider my home study course "Coaching Business Blast Off"
What should my site look like?
Every coach I know thinks his or her business must have a website right away. Many go out and hire a web designer, at great expense, to design an elaborate coaching business website. Internet presence is important to any business today but a website is not always the best place to begin. If you are working mainly in your local market then potential clients will look you up on the web to judge you legitimacy. Now that presents a bit of a problem because what you want them to see is something professional but many times you have no idea how to go about getting a site or what elements to include.
Look at your individual situation
The first step is to look at who your niche market is and where you will find them. Do not feel like you need to go out, hire a fancy web designer, and put up an expensive website. Even some very successful internet marketers do not have fancy website and a website does not have to be flashy or slick to be effective. I use a Typepad blog.
Web design is not what you need to be doing at this point in your coaching business.
The emphasis should be on presentations, workshops, and networking during the launching period of your coaching business. You need to focus on activities that bring in new clients, generate revenue, and give you a successful record of accomplishment and a full bank of testimonials.
Website or Blog, Keep it simple
A simple form of either one will do in the beginning. There is a huge likelihood that you will change your mind and content in a few months so this is not the time to make a large investment in either format.
Websites
Websites are static and the information on them does not change very often. They are great for sharing information about your business and your products. You can set up a simple website with hosting through many vendors.
Blogs
Blogs are more fluid and changing. Many blogging platforms can look very much like a website. The biggest difference between a blog and a website is that the information on a blog is updated regularly, in the form of blog posts. Most people update the blog posts or information on their blog several times a month even daily. The advantage of this method is that it makes your blog up to date like a Newsletter. These updates also bring the search engines around on a regular basis. Blogs are far easier to set up and can be very adaptable.
They key to success is to plan your marketing strategy and use the marketing tools that are appropriate for the stage your coaching business is in.
Be sure to join my FREE teleclass every Wednesday at 9p EST. Go to the top of this page and register so you will get the link and replay link each week.
January 24, 2009
Thank You For Purchasing the
“Coaching Business Blast Off Telecourse”
Teleclass will be help January 5, 12, 19, 26
You will receive an email containing the eBook, eWorkbook, and webcast/teleclass call in information, and learning guides for each teleclass. Congratulations for making the choice to have the coaching business you desire!
Announcing, The Coach Marketer:
“No Selling Necessary Client Attraction”
Telecourse
Registration will begin February 16, 2009
January 22, 2009
“No Sales Required Client Attraction”
Home Study Program
This program teaches you what coaching school didn’t…
how to get coaching clients and grow a successful coaching business!
You will learn how to…
- Get coaching clients to sign up on the spot during introductory sessions.
- Conduct dynamic workshops that draw clients to you for coaching.
- Speak with confidence.
- Network easily, comfortably, and help others.
- Develop a power team to sell for you.
- Attract clients without selling.
Program includes 4 teleclasses, eBook, eWorkbook, and bonuses
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“Coaching Business Blast Off”
Home Study Program
Learn how to get your coaching business off the launch pad!
You will…
Choose a target coaching niche
Learn the secrets of niche marketing
Learn to communicate to your target coaching niche
Learn to motivate your target coaching niche
Develop a Unique Selling Proposition
Engineer your business structure
Develop marketing materials
Set up your financial structure
Imagine having a full schedule of coaching clients and all the tools you need in place to develop multiple streams of income, passive revenue sources, and a marketing plan to establish an impressive Internet presence. You can have the coaching business you dream of and this course will give you the step by step instruction you need to see your coaching business take off!
Course includes 4 Teleclasses Learning eBook eWorkbook
Learn more about Coaching Business Blast Off
(click the link above)
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“Coach Mentor Program”
This is a comprehensive year long program that provides group and personal coaching so you can reach goals you haven’t even thought of yet!
You will be one of 30 coaches in this exclusive incubator of learning and growth.
This exclusive program includes..
A mentee group call each week
A one-on-one personal coaching call with me once a month
FREE enrollment in all my classes for one year
Email access
Telephone access
Make this the time that you take the steps to have the coaching business and life you deserve!
Learn more about “Top Coach Mentor Program”
(Click the link above)
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The Coach Marketer Inner Circle
This is an ongoing program at a very low monthly fee of only $37.00
This program is a huge value and a wonderful way to get more personal direction to get your coaching business skyrocketing to the level you desire.
Sign up now to claim your…
- weekly inner circle teleclass
- access to the inner circle forum
- a
weekly email with ideas and action steps
- FREE access to all Coach
Marketer Greatest Hits collection.
Learn more about the Inner Circle program
(click link above)
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The Coach Marketer Audio Recordings and Teleclasses
The Coach Marketer Greatest Hits Volume 1 – a collection of 6 teleclasses including…
- targeting your coaching
niche
- powerful workshops
- your personal brand
- irresistible coaching
offer
- marketing process
- become an authority
Learn more about The Coach Marketer Greatest Hits Volume 1
(Click above)
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January 21, 2009
I know you are already having an internal battle about if you should read this post or not. When I mention networking many of my clients get a sour look on their face, pull away from the conversation, and cross their arms and legs. Hmmmm, what does that body language indicate? The word networking brings to mind a room full of fake smiles, lightly veiled sales pitches, and cold food. Not the most inviting thought for a coach who wants to help other people become more and have a full life.
Re-define Your Idea of Networking
OK, take a deep breath, grin, relax and keep reading. Networking does not have to be that way for you. I know because I used to hate it too! Networking is what you make it so make it something that you want to do and you look forward to doing. The first step to changing your attitude is to change your focus from what is in this for me to how can I be of service to others. You are not the only person that feels awkward at a networking even so try starting a conversation with someone who looks uncomfortable; at least you have one thing in common already!
Share Your Coaching Skill by Helping Others
You are a coach and you are trained to listen more effectively than most people so use that skill and listen to another person. Use your coaching skills to recognize the needs, challenges, and desires of another person. Provide value to that person by helping them recognize or uncover a truth that they may not have seen before. Encourage them to overcome their challenges and help them see a path to make changes that will help them.
Success Depends on Whom You Know
Everyone goes to a networking event looking me make contact with someone who will help them succeed. Most people are looking to push their agenda on another person and get them to buy something. Dare to be different by looking for ways that you can help another person. Help someone connect with someone you know in a way that could benefit both parties. If the connection works out well then both parties will be grateful and will desire to help you in the future.
Be Yourself
If you do not like phony people who are trying to sell you something or manipulate you then do not be that way with others at a networking event even if they are. People like people who are sincere and genuine and it is much easier on you to be real. Relax and be the wonderful person you are when you are among friends. People are attracted to people who are relaxed and confident so chill out and be yourself.
Remember, you are there to meet others, make connection, and serve.
You are not selling you are doing what you love connecting with others.
You know that how you experience something has everything to do with your thinking. Now you have a new way to think about networking that will serve you and help you enjoy what you used to dread. Life and business are all about connecting with others in a genuine and loving way. Networking does not have to be different and you can teach others to network like you do by being a shining example.
Be sure to join my FREE teleclass every Wednesday at 9p EST. Go to the top of this page and register so you will get the link and replay link each week.
January 14, 2009
Coaching businesses are personal businesses that are tied to the owner and their personality. Your business has a brand and as a service businessperson, you need to develop your own personal brand. Your personal brand describes who you are, whom you serve and why you serve that group. It tells the public what you are made of and why you do what you do.
Personal Brand
Your personal brand is a way to clearly define your nature as a person, coach and businessperson. Your brand helps you describe who you are in your heart. It is a vehicle to communicate whom you serve so that people can determine if they are a fit for your coaching services. If people are not a fit then it is best that you both become aware before you expend energy and time. A personal brand expresses why you have chosen to dedicate your life to serving your specific niche market. By having a personal brand you are able to attract your perfect coaching client and tell them what make you uniquely you. I am a coach that helps other coaches market and grow their coaching business because I believe that coaches can change the world with their marketing and their coaching.
Dare to Be Different
You are unique and you have your own quirks, experiences, history, sense of humor and personal style. This makes you different then any other person in your field serving your chosen niche coaching market. It is tempting to make sure that you do not water down whom you are and what makes you unique in order to appeal to everyone. Work hard to be who you are and allow your quirks and uniqueness shine. No one appeals to everyone but people are attracted to people who are comfortable with who they are. I am an outspoken, driven, energetic, motivator and I don't hold back on any of those qualities when I am coaching. When I first started coaching I did hold back with my clients but I have had much better results and so have my clients since I began using my more straight forward or in your face appraoch.
What Makes You Uniquely You
There are qualities, that have been unique to you since early in your life. They are the things that other people say you were born to do or you have always done. Many coaches have always been the person that everyone goes to talk to about their challenges or problems. Some people are natural nurturers or information resources. We each have qualities that are ours alone. Make a list of the unique qualities you see in yourself.
What do Others See as Unique to You
We seldom see ourselves as others see us so ask other close to you how they would describe you in five phrases. Talk to your close friends and ask them what you do best, what were the occasions where they have seen you the most joyous, what activities you get completely wrapped up in, and what they cannot see you without. In my course "Coaching Business Blast Off" I include a list of questions to help you to determe what makes you unique in your own definition and in the eyes of others.
Write Your Personal Brand Statement
Your personal brand statement has three parts: whom you help, what you help them do, and why you do what you do. Write one sentence to describe the answer to each of the questions. The who and what questions are easy to answer but they why question will take some time to answer. Think about why you do what you do carefully and search your heart for the answer. Let yourself think big and describe the big, daring, powerful, and inspired you doing what you love.
Be sure to join my FREE teleclass every Wednesday at 9p EST. Go to the top of this page and register so you will get the link and replay link each week.
January 11, 2009
Who does not like to get an invitation? Invitations are great because they are usually an offer to be a part of something; they make you feel welcome, appreciated, and wanted. Most of the time an invitation means you are going to be a part of something that is fun and free. As a coach, you need to have an invitation for people to learn more about you and how they can benefit from your services. I love to get free offers to learn something for free and I usually take the offer.
Date before you make a commitment
Asking someone to have an introductory coaching session when you have just met them is like asking someone to have sex on the first date. It's not appropriate and it will make them very uncomfortable.
You would not walk up to an attractive person at a party and ask them to marry you so why would you begin a conversation with a potential coaching client by
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January 10, 2009
Have you ever had an introductory session and you really felt like you helped the client and they seemed to be grateful for your help but they did not decide to coach with you. Don’t you just hate that and doesn’t it make you crazy wondering what went wrong? It could be because your session was not carefully designed to help them see how coaching with you will help them.
Introductory coaching sessions are not the same as regular coaching sessions.
An introductory session is not a sample coaching session it is an introduction to coaching and what coaching can do for a client. The purpose of an introductory coaching session is very different than a regular coaching session. Most clients are not familiar with coaching and what coaching can do for them. That is the purpose of an introductory coaching session. The session needs to
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January 4, 2009
Why do coaches think that the desire to have a thriving coaching business is enough to make it happen? Sure I agree with the law of attraction and I believe that positive mind set and thoughts are integral parts of achievement but many coaches are missing the most important element to successfully achieving their own goals!
Action is Everything!
Absolutely nothing happens in business until someone takes action. All action begins with thought but the thought is only a thought until you do something. If you sense some frustration in my attitude here you are correct. See, want so much for each coach to succeed and to carry the benefits of coaching to the world but I get frustrated when I can't
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January 2, 2009
