Attracting new clients to your coaching business: Plan for Growth

Not every beginning must be hard. Attracting new clients to your coaching business can make you lose your sleep if you don’t know how to start. We, at PeopleKeys, have witnesses and supported the beginning efforts of thousands of successful coaches and want to share this expertise with you. PeopleKeys has created a Business Partner Training Program just for coaches like you that takes you step-by-step through the details of your business to help you create a winning strategy for success. So plan for growth! Set a visionary goal that stretches five years ahead and work patiently towards its achieving. After building your brand and identifying your target which we discussed in the first part of this topic, proceed to the next steps:

Establish yourself as an expert.

Take on as many speaking engagements, live in-person or online, as you can. Put your name, face and expertise in front of as many people as you can; as often as you can. Connect with your local library, Chamber of Commerce, small businesses or other viable venue for speaking opportunities, or to set up your own event on a topic of your choice. Be willing to serve others first, and your hard work will pay off.

Start your own blog. Create relevant content to keep your audience engaged. You can share this content in a variety of ways, such as through social media or an email newsletter.

Use social media as a tool to share your expertise: utilize Facebook Live or create a Group to host relevant online discussions; share short video clip “stories” on Instagram or Snapchat; create infographics to share via Pinterest; create solution-based articles that solve common client problems and share on LinkedIn. Maybe offer an incentive to your social participants, such as a drawing for a free 1-on-1 coaching session or a discount on a session to help build your client-base. There are a multitude of ways to utilize these tools for free, and you might find one way works better than another for engaging your unique client base.

Create case studies and ask for client testimonials. Having good rapport and sharing your successes in solving client problems will help attract good future business opportunities. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your happy clients for a referral. In a recent small business survey, 85% said the best way to gain new business is by word-of-mouth.

Network

Attend networking events with local organizations, such as with your local Chamber of Commerce, or small business association. Get out there and meet new people. Don’t forget to take your business cards and any other leave-behind, such as a branded pen, to help people find you long after the event has ended. Try to pick organizations that will host your ideal coaching clients. People love helping people, so if one person can’t use your service, maybe they will introduce you to someone else who can.

Introduce yourself and talk to everyone you meet…in the grocery store, at the doctor’s office…anywhere you come in contact with people. You never know who you could meet right there next to you!

Most importantly, as you are putting yourself out there, remember to listen more and talk less.

These things altogether seem daunting, but by setting aside some planning time to focus on your business will benefit you in the long run.