The coaching market is changing.
Gone are the days when you could book clients from a few social media posts or blogging.
Just do a quick Google search to see how saturated virtually every coaching niche has become:
- -Life coach: 23.5 million results
- -Business coach: 22.7 million results
- -Health coach: 22.4 million results
- -Mindset coach: 20.5 million results
- -Wellness coach: 14.1 million results
When you look at these search results, it’s little wonder that so many coaches are struggling to sign clients and grow their business beyond a side-venture or expensive hobby.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I do subscribe to the abundant mindset philosophy that there’s always more than enough for everyone. And I think it’s amazing that coaching is such a fast-growing sector.
But, the numbers don’t lie. You can no longer ignore just how many coaches are out there and the raw truth that if you don’t figure out how to stand out, you’re going to get lost in the sea of sameness.
So, what’s a coach to do?
#1. Position Yourself as an Expert Specialist
Per the Google results above, it’s not enough anymore to just pick a niche. You’ve got to establish a specialty within that niche. That means understanding exactly who you are serving. If you think you can help everyone you’re in trouble, because when you try to do that you end up writing generic copy and creating generic packages that appeal to no one.
Instead, get very specific about who you want to serve. Walk a mile in their shoes. What’s their big problem? How are you going to help them solve that problem so they can achieve the results they want? When you can answer these questions with precision, you can position yourself as an expert specialist whose message and offerings will resonate with your audience.
#2. Create a Signature Program with a Premium Price.
I talk to a lot of coaches and consultants, and nearly always when they’re not signing clients, they immediately think they’ve got to lower their prices or start creating more programs. Hey, I get it – it’s that annoying voice of doubt that creeps in when things aren’t going so well.
Stop listening to that voice because when you decide to charge $397 for your latest program, you are undervaluing yourself, you have to work even harder to sell enough spots to make any real money…and your clients probably won’t get the results because they’re not that invested.
Instead, simplify. Get laser-focused on providing a signature program at a premium price so you can work with fewer clients, make more money, and get your clients better results.
#3. Get a REAL Strategy in Place & Create Automated Systems
Here’s what most coaches are doing to find clients—and no judgment here, because I started out doing all of this, too: Blogging, posting on social media, going to networking events, trying to figure out SEO on their website…and the list goes on and on.
Sure, you can find clients using these strategies. But, here’s the problem. Each of them takes time and requires your presence and effort. Sooner or later, you realize that your freedom-based business is anything but that because your calendar is jam-packed with content creation, social media visibility, and running out to attend yet another coffee klatch.
Instead, you need some automated systems so that clients are coming to you, rather than you having to constantly chase them down. What I’m talking about here is automating at least some of your traffic and implementing an effective sales funnel so you’re consistently growing your list and qualified prospects are booking onto your calendar. Yes, it can take a little effort to set this system up on the front-end. But once it’s in place, you’ll be liberated from the daily grind of more and more “stuff” you need to do to sign clients.
#4. Focus on What Matters & Do Your Homework
When you’re first starting out, it can be tempting to want that perfect website, beautiful business cards, and professional headshots all in place before you launch. Yup, I did this and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t worry about any of it. Why? Because no one is hiring you based on any of these things.
Your clients will hire you because they believe you’re the right fit and you can help them achieve their desired results. Of course, ultimately you need a website, but stop worrying about it right now. Instead, get focused on what will make you money, which is honing your message and bringing what you have to offer to your market.
Do your market research. Take the time to look at what your competitors are doing and understand what your ideal clients are looking for in terms of results and outcomes.
So many coaches skip over this step, then wonder why their calendar is empty. Inevitably, they end up having to go back to the drawing board to figure out their market. Just get real about this step up-front and save yourself a lot of time and frustration in the long-run.
#5. Get Help
How are you spending your time each day? Are you stuck working on the back-end of your business? Or are you spending your time on activities that bring in revenue: building your list, making offers, booking and performing calls with prospective clients?
Yes, it’s tempting to do it all yourself to save some money. But, you’re the CEO of your business, so think and act like one. What is your time worth? If you could focus it on bringing in more clients that would make you more money, right? Right. So maybe it’s time to hire a VA (Virtual Assistant) for a few hours each week to help you out with all those tasks that are just dragging you down and sucking your time.
Finally, all these steps are for nothing if you don’t have your mind right. To build a successful business, you’ve got to be clear about what it takes: real mental strength and resilience.
To make mistakes…and move forward anyway because you know you can do this.
To be afraid to make that big investment…but to move forward anyway because you know you need to set yourself up for success.
To feel uncomfortable a lot of the time…and to move forward anyway because this is the life you have chosen…
…and this is what it takes to build your dream business.
