Theres a lot of coaches out there not making any money, looking for opportunities, trying to model what others are doing, networking like crazy, researching, visualizing, affirming and hoping yes, hoping that the clients show up before the bailiffs. Ive been involved in Marketing and PR and worked with and met the good, the bad and the ugly of the coaching world and can honestly say if you are not making any money there is probably a reason why that I can help you with. There is usually a very fundamental point missed. Youve probably pitched into your the business cards, the letter heads, the brochures and all the online stuff and youve probably even read a few good books on marketing And it still aint happening. Maybe you get a client or three, but before you can build your coaching practice to client number four, the client pack of cards falls down and you pace the office exclaiming why oh why? Well, the answer is easy. All the networking, all the marketing, researching, modeling and hoping, visualizing and affirming isnt going to make a blind bit of difference unless you back up a couple of steps. What most coaches have failed to do is define themselves. They do this because they fear if they say, Im a relationship coach that theyll miss out on all the health and fitness, money and career business. What career business? What health and fitness, what money Its not exactly been pouring in has it? You have to define yourself. If you dont, you wont ever get more than a trickle of business. When you define yourself you clearly say to your target market, Heads up, Im your baby. You have problem X. Wow, I fix problem X. This is how it works. And I dont just mean defining your self as simply a Relationship Coach I mean what kind of relationship coach. Are you the relationship coach for busy executives who wants to find their soul-mate? Are you the relationship coach for people who have suffered abuse? Are you the relationship coach for newly wedsMums with children or dad thinking of running away. Define yourself for goodness sake. Tell your market you are the God or Goddess of coaching on that particular problem. Send them a clear message, not the diluted I cover all ailments tosh that most of the market bewilders prospects with. Ive worked with a top UK coach. Shes an absolute master at defining. When you think youre clear on something she makes it clearer. As a result of the defining shes done on her coaching practice, the whole thing exploded. Shes a great example. You have to find your message. Until you do, dont waste money on stationery, marketing and websites. Find your message! Educate your audience and success will be yours. Best
Neil Millar |
