I’ve heard from many RCI members panicked about the impact of the current Coronavirus Pandemic on their coaching practice. While it might be disruptive and scary, the good news about social distancing, self-quarantining, working from home, having time off from work, is that we all had more time on our hands and spent more of it ONLINE.
In crisis is opportunity, remember that saying? So what’s the opportunity here for a coach to leverage this unique situation to build or expand your coaching practice?
Here’s some inspiration and strategies for expanding your coaching business after the Coronavirus Pandemic:
- Our profession thrives in times of trouble and recovery.
When people are anxious about what’s happening in their world they are especially good candidates for our services -if- they are convinced we can help them, which requires effective marketing and enrollment skills and strategies. - Challenging times separate the Go-Getters from the Dabblers
I’ve weathered many economic downturns. If times are uncertain and you’re committed to your profession, you can find a way to serve the folks that need you now more than ever, and your practice can thrive more than ever (see #1 above). - If you’re anxious it’s hard to help those around you.
This is the Law of Attraction in action. People need you to motivate, inspire, reassure, and help them find solutions for moving forward. If you mirror their anxiety they’ll run for the exits. - Good times are easy, challenging times tests our mettle
Especially our business and marketing strategies. When times are good it’s easy to be mediocre and get by. When the going gets tough is when the weaknesses are revealed. - If you’re struggling in your practice, go back to basics.
As a refresher, here are my six basic essentials of a successful practice:
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- Clearly identified niche
- Market research to identify what your niche wants, needs
- Packaging your services for your niche
- Effective marketing strategies to reach your niche and create prospects
- Leveraging your network, building your referral systems
- Effective enrollment skills to convert prospects to clients
- Remember, the most effective ways to market and get clients don’t cost anything!
Don’t spend money unless you’re confident your strategy will return the investment. Focus on the basics first (see #5 above). - Enroll, enroll, enroll.
You need to survive before you can thrive. In a coaching practice, survival depends upon your ability to get clients. The shortest distance between where you are now and money in your pocket is getting a new client, not building a fancy website, etc. What can you do NOW to get a new client? Start reaching out to people in your network to connect, support, ask for referrals, and see if you can be of service. - Strive to own your niche.
You want to be the go-to person for the folks in your niche that need support. Here are my top five things you can do to own your niche –
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- Presentations and seminars (get in front of as many people as possible as the expert who can help them)
- Groups (expand from 1:1, leverage your time, affordable, easier to market)
- Media (reach out to print, TV, radio, and online with information helpful to the folks in your niche)
- Host a niche community (birds of a feather flock together, especially when anxious)
- Packaging/branding your expertise to target the folks in your niche
- Get the support you need
No-one is successful alone. Your clients need you, and you need support as well. Who is your coach/mentor? Who is your support community? Who has the track record and expertise to help you achieve your goal? Just as your prospective clients will flounder going it alone when they are challenged, so will you. -
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Now is a great time to get the training, certification, marketing support, and practice-building support needed to help singles and couples have successful relationships. When times are tough, our closest relationships are more important than ever.
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