“Who will hire a coach? Will clients pay me for coaching?” – These are the first thoughts every coach deals with when getting started.
You start dreaming about running a coaching business. It looks like a great way to earn money, but is it?
After launching the coaching business, many coaches get depressed when the clients don’t book their coaching sessions. They feel frustrated and frustrated because they don’t get the clients. Instead, being a coach requires deep mindfulness to serve your potential clients, provide them value, and a robust marketing strategy.
Also read: Top 8 Things You Need To Start A Coaching Business
This blog will share some simple tips for getting your first paying coaching client.
Identify Your Ideal Client
The first step is to identify your coaching niche to get your first coaching client. It will be easier for you to formulate an action plan for obtaining your first coaching client when you know what you will provide as a coach.
To have a well-defined niche and find your ideal clients, you need to ask yourself the following questions:
- Who will benefit from my services?
- Whom can I help to get better outcomes?
- Who would be looking for my services?
Once you identify your ideal clients, it’s time to move on to the next step.
What do your Ideal Clients want?
Secondly, it’s crucial to understand what your ideal clients want to start with your coaching business. It is also essential to know the pain points of your ideal clients and the tone they’re using to describe them.
For example, if you are a career coach, it might be an excellent way to attract clients by using the headline “Are you tired of watching others getting promoted that you want?” It will not only attract but also engage with your ideal client emotionally.
In addition, it will be fascinating for your clients to know what you have to offer and how you can help them out.
Ask your ideal client-
- What challenges do they face in solving their pain points?
- Why are you facing that problem?
- How will they feel if the problem gets solved?
Make a note of every answer and question the ideal client asks you, and it will help you know everything about your perfect client.
Social Media & Networking
We cannot deny that Social Media is a powerful platform to reach out to your audiences and show your expertise. As a coach, your presence on social media is crucial to promote your coaching business and connect with other coaches.
You can share valuable content with the correct hashtags, so your content engages with the right people. For example, you can share short videos in your style if you’re more of a camera person and ‘go live’ for a Q & A session with your followers.
Support from fellow coaches can help you grow your coaching business. It’s an excellent opportunity to share tips and learn about different perspectives. In addition, there are many coaches with years of experience, and they can help you out with the mistakes you can make when first starting.
You can ask yourself-
- How can different platforms help you grow your business?
- Which platform do your ideal audiences use?
- Which platform would be best?
Schedule your posts using different automated tools to save time and consistently engage with the audience. However, consistency in sharing relevant content on your social pages is critical to reaching the right audience.
On the other hand, you can attend workshops, seminars, and networking events. Engaging and networking with the right colleagues can help you get your first client.
Blog Posts, Podcast & Video Marketing
Creating informative and engaging content is a smart way to win the trust of your audience.
When you post content, you don’t get results over a night- it’s a long-term game. Writing blog posts, recording videos, and podcasting are ways to reach your potential clients. For example, your first client might reach out after listening to your podcast, viewing your short video, or reading your blog posts.
Many platforms help coaches sell their coaching services and reach out to potential clients. For example, you can write blogs on a free platform like Medium, record YouTube videos, podcasts, etc.
Create content to solve your audience’s problem instead of creating it randomly.
Create a Blog- Creating a valuable piece of information for your audience is a proven strategy to help people know more about your coaching services and convert them into paid subscribers.
Video Marketing- You can create videos on YouTube, IGTV, Facebook videos, etc., to reach the right audience. Try to make videos personalized and relevant to your targeted audience.
Podcasting – People love to listen to expert talks. To attract your clients, you only need to be consistent with your podcasts and share an expert interview with other coaches. You can either create a podcast or participate in the initiatives of influencers in your niche. If you choose to create your own podcast, consider exploring professional equipment and the right podcast hosting platforms to start, grow, track, and monetize a podcast
Related: 10 Ultimate Marketing Tools For Coaches, Consultants & Course Creators
Free Coaching Session
Your most effective chance to gain clients is to offer a free coaching session and show them what results from the session they can expect. You should only demonstrate that you can solve their pain points in the free session, and they will be pleasantly surprised when they hire you.
Free sessions don’t need to last very long; they should be no more than 20 to 30 minutes long. At the beginning of the session, you’ll let them know what you’ll do in the next 20 to 30 minutes and their results.
You can ask them if they liked this free session and need more help to get better results. Then, you can pitch them and ask them to subscribe to your paid coaching session.
Seek Referrals
One of the most powerful marketing techniques is word-of-mouth referrals. One of the critical parts is that you already have a reputation for referrals because of networking with other coaches, friends, and family members.
Ask your fellow coaches, friends, and family if they can help you. For example, you can encourage them to share your social media content with their network, write testimonials, and spread the word about your coaching from their perspective.
It might be unclear when the appropriate time is to ask for referrals from your network. However, once you have provided free sessions or engaged with your fellow coaches, you can ask them ‘if there is anyone looking for your services or could you benefit from coaching?’
You can also ask your network to share the free coaching invitations that you send out to your connections.
Also read: 5 Challenges Online Business Coaches And Consultants Face
Are You Ready to Find Your First Client?
Are you ready to get started?
You can implement these tactics in your coaching business and find the first client. Build your credibility, enhance your awareness, and soon you will have your first client. After finding out what works best for you, make changes in your marketing plan and tactics to reach more clients and book your slots on calender.
