If you’re a purpose-driven, heart-centered woman, what could be better than being a coach?
For many entrepreneurs, opening a coaching practice is a dream come true. Not only do you get to help people, you get to follow your passion and share your expertise to make people’s lives better.
And there are so many different types of coaching to choose from: health coaches, career coaches, business coaches, life coaches, parenting coaches – the sky is the limit!
No matter what type of coaching professional you are, one of your top priorities is to attract clients to your practice.
To help you, check out these five marketing tips – just for coaches:
#1: Know who your ideal client is
You can have the most compelling, knowledgeable and helpful marketing in the world, but if you are not sharing it with the right audience, your efforts will be for naught. Think about who your ideal client is. You will want to know the demographics (such as sex, age, location) and psychographics (such as interests, struggles, concerns) of your ideal client. Take this information and then put it into an ideal client profile or persona, which you can place on your website so your ideal clients can find you.
#2: Fish where the fish are
Now that you know who your ideal client is, it’s time to research where your ideal client “hangs out.” You want to only market in places where your ideal client is. This is what “fish where the fish are” means. For example, look at the demographics for social media sites, blogs and publications. Check out who attends networking groups and conferences. When you fish where the fish are, you are sharing your marketing with the people who need to hear it the most.
#3: Create a marketing plan
Think of a marketing plan as your road map. Just like you wouldn’t take a road trip without a map or your GPS, you should not take on marketing without a plan. Your marketing plan is where you outline your objectives, messages, tactics, goals and timeframes for every marketing activity. When you document your marketing efforts, it will help you stay accountable. Furthermore, a marketing plan helps you determine what is working (or not working) so you can maximize your marketing efforts in the future.
#4: Show your personality
Your marketing efforts will be much more successful if you infuse your personality. Social media is a great place to market with personality. You can tell a joke, share a funny cartoon, post personal pictures and ask for advice through social media. You can also share your personality through visual marketing, such as photos or videos. People buy from those they trust, so if you show your personality in your marketing, you are building trust with your audience.
#5: Share your expertise
When you are a coach, you have a ton of knowledge in your head. You need to share this knowledge with your audience, though, so they will rest assured that you know what you are talking about. No one will hire you unless she feels confident in your expertise. The best way to share your expertise is through blogging. Blog at least once a week and make sure to stick to your schedule. If blogging sounds too arduous, consider other activities, such as making videos, creating PowerPoint presentations or sharing helpful hints through social media.
As a coach, you need to fill your practice, and the way to do this is through smart marketing. The five marketing tips outlined here will help you attract more clients to your business. Write a marketing plan to help guide your activities, and make sure you are showing your knowledge and personality throughout your marketing efforts. Finally, identify your ideal customers and understand how to reach them through your marketing. When you implement these tips, your marketing will be more effective for growing your coaching practice.
