Life Coaching Articles
|
| Spring is here and coaching
is blooming. As the coaching profession grows, so does the opportunity
for life coaches. When life coaching was developed, the standard
coaching model utilized telephone sessions. A potential client would realize how much a coach can help him or her. They would search the web, find a coach to their liking, call them up and hire a coach. The sessions would last one hour and the coach would schedule one session per week with follow up as needed. As time went on, this style of coaching is fast becoming outdated. Today there are over 6,000 coaches in the United States. Clients are faced with many options, including the fact that many mental health professionals are starting to call themselves coaches. Clients are becoming more sophisticated consumers. Today, clients are looking for a coach who appears to be a expert or "guru" in their chosen profession. Although it is not necessary for a coach to limit their practice and only offer coaching in one area, most clients are looking for a coach that has a grasp or handle on their particular problem. Most clients find me through word of mouth and reading my weekly column and monthly articles. Writing is one of the best ways to build your coaching practice. Search the web and you will find no less than 100 client building programs for coaches. In my opinion, they are not necessary. If you are smart enough to become a coach, you are smart enough to build your business. There are two types of coaches. One type sits at his or her desk, plans, organizes their desk, has fancy business cards and stationery. They are waiting for the business to come to them. The other type of coach is so busy working to build a full practice, they don't have time to sit around and have fancy stationery. Most coaches know the steps to building a business: Build a e mail list of potential clients. Offer to give free speeches at clubs and events, like Rotary, Kiwanis, church, public high schools, your company meetings, local clubs and events. Newspaper ads. Postcards. Weekly E Newsletter. Blog Just find a way to get the word out that you are there to help people, without sounding like a commercial. Remember, it is not what you know, or who you know, the important ingredient is what people know about you. If you are thinking of becoming a coach, understand that building a practice is no different than starting out as a dentist or doctor. You will need to build your practice, one client at a time. Find a paying client, offer outstanding service and follow up and you will have a marketing engine. Happy clients tell their friends. If you are a life coach and in need of clients, please contact me for some helpful marking tools. Call me at 1-800-841-8776 or e mail Jeff@LifeCoachCollege.org. |