When you're starting your coaching business, the toughest thing could be getting new leads. It's where most coaches struggle. However, if you're resourceful, you can come up with leads in your very own neighborhood. One way is to start a networking group. This isn't just any old networking group, however. It's a coach networking group. By working with a small group of dedicated coaches from every discipline (love, life, weight, business, etc.) you can create a "forum" of sorts that not only helps you grow, gives you credibility in your community and exposure, but also gives you a constant source of leads to share with others. By setting up a group like this you can mandate that all members bring and share leads, offer resources for learning and even help share in any costs associated with running the group. You can advertise on local sites like craigslist.org or even set up a Meet Up group dedicated to this.

What's a fake life coach? You've seen them. They are more interested in selling their products and training than actually coaching. They often will say something like "I'm too booked to coach anyone new." These are the people who are not actually doing much in the way of coaching, but more selling and promoting products. Don't get me wrong; it's hard to find clients to coach unless you're very seasoned, have a well-known reputation or a large pool of referrals. It's a great way to make money if you can package some training and sell it (I do it, too). However, my training products all include REAL coaching. I do coach. I like coaching and it's my primary focus. If you squint (not too hard) you can find the faux coaches out there easily. They have far more going on in the way of selling packges than they do in the way of booking sessions. Again, I get it. It's tough to make a living coaching unless you have some of the prior m...

Coaches who are interested in building their email lists are open to joint venture opportunities. These type of opportunities are helpful for expanding your network, getting your products and services more exposure and even building your own email list. However, finding the right joint venture partners can be tricky. It's not a great idea to partner with internet marketers who are hawking everything from Facebook ads to acne medication. You need to find the right fit. This can take a long time of searching, contacting people, waiting for response and then putting together a good fitting offer to then offer to each others' lists. However, if you work within a network that you trust, this can be a huge asset to your business, and to those who are also involved. To consider a JV partner, here are a few tips to explore first before joining up: 1. Research this person online. Do they offer professional services, have a good presence? 2. What is their list size? How often to...

Getting leads is easy. You can buy them, swap them, even sweat a little and give away a good offer to subscribe them. But getting good leads is harder. Good leads are those who are interested--truly interested--in what you've got. For example, if you sell hot dogs and someone comes and asks for ice cream, no matter how great your hot dogs are, if they are really looking for chocolate, no sale. In other words, unless someone wants what you've got, it's a pretty losing proposition. Yet, I find so many going after who they think is a great prospect and losing out on the actual prospect. If you have to talk someone into something, they don't really want it. However, if you just have to gently lead them to the decision, they probably do. Leading them is just a matter of asking the right questions and picking up on cues from their answers, hesitations and voice modulations. If you ask someone how business is going and they hesitate or skirt the issue, you can b...

Part Two: GET COACHING CLIENTS THE BASICS -- How to start marketing for your clients The bottom line is you need clients to make money. For some this is akin to stabbing themselves in the eye. For others, it's not big trick. They market, network and basically act like a Town Crier for themselves. They are their own best media. I totally get the first one; the second is a mystery to me. However, for the last several years I've been a pretty successful marketing coach and consultant. No, I'm not a zillionaire, but I've bought several homes, had top-level cars, yada, yada, yada. It's not the material stuff that makes me swoon, though. It's the rewarding connections with customers who use my advice and guides to help them. It's the great testimonials and happy people I work with. That's what jazzes me. But, I do like to eat, so I have to continue to market and "sell" myself. And I can tell you I've learned a thing or 90 about...

OK, so you're a coach. No, make that "COACH." Capital letters. Lots of positivity. You've studied. You're credentialed. Heck, you can do this! This is your dream career. Now what? If you stroll the internet you'll find no shortage of coaches. You'll find great site, horrific sites and everything in-between. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Before you create the site and system that will draw people to you, you have to do one thing: Decide what you really want. "I know what I want. I want clients," you say rolling your eyes. "I already know what kind of coach I am. (Choose one or insert your own title) I'm a life coach. I'm a business coach. I'm a love coach." Seriously? Life coach? What exactly does that mean? It means I help people get their life on track. I help them get unstuck. I help them decide who they really are and what they want. OK, cool. But you already know telling someone you're a ...