Three Secrets to Getting Coaching Clients

You are unique.

Always remember you are absolutely unique, just like everybody else. Margaret Mead

So, you may be a skilled and talented certified life coach, but you can’t seem to generate any clients. What can you do to drive people to your coaching practice? There are three secrets all successful coaches know:

1. Know who you are and what you do.

Many coaches don’t realize that potential clients still don’t know what coaching is, and the tremendous positive impact a coach can have on their lives.

Why is this? It’s primarily because people don’t have a common reference for, or definition of a ‘coach.’ They know what a sports coach is and they know what a counselor does, but there is no universal understanding of coaching, because the career is still very new.

Think about it this way. If I said to you, “I have a pizza restaurant.” You know that I am talking about food. Now, I may be selling only deep dish pepperoni pizza and you may be visualizing Mediterranean thin crust pizza. So, while we aren’t exactly on the same page…you still understand what I do.

Everyone can visualize their own version of pizza; but most people still can’t tell you what coaching looks like or accomplishes because it is intangible, it is a service. This is why successful coaches have a tag, or an elevator speech which describes what they do or gets people curious enough to ask more about coaching. For example, “I bring hope and healing to a hurting world through life coaching.”

2. Show potential clients the value coaching.

We’ve talked about coaching as an intangible service, something that many people have not personally experienced. Due to consumers not having had any experience with coaching, potential clients not only don’t know what coaching is, they don’t fully appreciate the value coaching brings to their lives.

All successful coaches know that they grow their coaching practice by offering a short, free coaching session. Remember the commercial that said, “Try it; you’ll like it!” The same is true with coaching. Let your clients audition you and coaching by finding out for themselves what it’s all about…and they will be hooked!

3. Show potential clients your uniqueness.

Margaret Mead knew what she was talking about. There are a lot of coaches out there, but everyone of them is unique. Maybe, you coach in a niche area. For example, I am one of a few certified grief coaches in the world. I enjoy coaching people who are stuck at a crossroads in their life after the death of a loved one. This niche area makes me unique.

Think about the coaching you want to do. Is it for business leaders or entrepreneurs; or do you want to coach new moms, or people transitioning into the marketplace after an absence? Consider highlighting the aspects of your coaching which makes you unique from the rest.

Implement these successful coaching strategies and watch your practice grow!