One of the most popular income streams is coaching. A coach assists and guides individuals or groups of people through the process of solving one specific problem at a time. A coach might offer more than one program, but usually, it’s revolving around the same perfect-fit clients and what they need to achieve their goals.
There are numerous ways to structure a coaching program. Delivering your coaching material will be done differently based on: the group or 1:1 coaching model, your boundary statements, and the content itself.
Group coaching requires a different skillset and the ability to manage multiple people. Where as, private coaching is more intimate and you're able to dive much deeper into the content with just one person.
Group requires less of your time and effort than one-on-one coaching, however, setting up a one-on-one coaching practice is faster because you enroll one client and then begin working with them. Then you enroll your second client, then your third. You're able to do this more organically and test your capacity of clients. You might think that you only want 3 clients, but could very quickly realize you're able to hold space for 5.
It takes more time to build up interest and fill a group coaching container IF you want them to go through the coaching program together as a group.
Again, this will depend on the structure of your program. You could always add people individually as your enrollment skills get better so that in a few months you have a full group program.
The harder Part
Finding clients is the hard part. My suggestion is, if you're just starting to coach, pick only one option: group or one-on-one coaching. Once your client attraction and enrollment system is consistently bringing in paying clients, then think about adding the other (only if you want to offer both).
We won't be covering the client attraction and enrollment system in this event series, but ... it's essentially a funnel that takes a potential client from your free offer to a consultation / discovery call with you, to purchasing your coaching offer. It relies heavily on automation and workflows. I have set up numerous attraction and enrollment funnels, it can be quite complicated, but once it's done it is so worth it! - Talk about a (nearly) hands-off system!
Solve a Problem
To get started with coaching fast, you need to figure out the problem you want to solve or the "A-ha" you're helping your clients achieve. You can then create the program yourself, or you can use content that might be supplied by the organization where you received your coaching certification.
Using the content from your certification program is an excellent way to get started because you have eliminated a huge part of the process . . . creating the content and coaching points of your coaching program.
This is a huge time saver AND you're able to start getting coaching hours under your belt right away.
YOUR PROGRAM Content
Once you have decided on what content you'll use, get very familiar with it. If it's a program you've created or one that you've purchased, be sure you know it inside and out. This ensures that you can guide your clients skillfully through the program.
If you decide you're going to offer pre-recorded video lessons, audio recordings or PDF homework, it's a good idea to look into the tech platform you'll use to deliver the materials.
Likewise, if you're going to host live workshops, trainings, meditation retreats, or anything else live, decide if you want to make the recordings available to your clients. This will also require a place to house the recordings.
If you'd like a few recommendations on tech options that will fit any need you have, check out this article 3 Income Streams Designed Perfectly to Support Your Lifestyle Dreams. It in no way is an exhaustive list, but I have worked in most online platforms over the years, and the ones I mention are hands-down, the top in their industry.
Set Up Automation
Ideally, you can set up your autoresponders, scheduled posts, and any information you want to drip to the group ahead of time. That way, all you need to think about is being present and holding the space for your clients during your calls or group Zooms.
The more automation you set up, the less work you’ll have to do each day.
However, I want to add here -- you don't have to have this all set up with automations ahead of time to run your program. You can build it as you go. Then once it's built, you can continue to enroll people into your program and at that time it will run automatically.
I am a firm believer that it's best to get your offer out there, sooner than later. You don't want the tech and your perfectionistic gremlin to hold you up from moving forward. You learn a ton more when you jump in and start working with people, than you ever will staying stuck in the planning and building phase.
Get Personal
Depending on your boundary statements, personal needs, and financial goals, you'll want to think about how much face to face time your one-to-one or group clients get in your program.
If you don't know your money and time numbers yet, I suggest you do that now by going to this article Let’s Talk Numbers – How Much Do You ACTUALLY Need for Your Lifestyle? You can't really move on to building your offer till you know how much money you need to earn and how many hours a week you want to work.
The reason being, these numbers will dictate how many calls your clients get with you and how long the calls will be. You’ll definitely want to offer some face to face time via video or webinar at least a few times each month. You'll need to plan out what that looks like based on the length of your program, how much content you'll go through, and your money & time numbers (and of course your boundary statements).
Please share in the Facebook group what you've learned about yourself and your business. I will be in the Facebook group every day to answer your questions and support your growth.
Till tomorrow,
Be brilliant.
Be imperfect.
And always, be you.
Melissa