Avoid making the same mistakes we did when we started our Coaching Business and get the right coaching clients
We were the Newly Certified Coach, the one eager to start and have an impact on the world, helping people and making money in the process.
But then we started to struggle to find clients, and naturally, being at the beginning of our coaching journey, we gave in and accepted any client we could. We didn’t really have a clear idea of our ideal client, and we were willing to work with anyone who was willing to pay us. You clearly need to start somewhere, but…
IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE.
We quickly realized that not all coaching clients are created equally. We found ourselves with clients that:
- Required extra support for anything
- Didn’t want to follow the starting process we created, but demanded personalization
- Were entitled and overly demanding
- Didn’t want to do the work
- Expected us to do the work for them
- Complained about each and every step of the journey
- Created the wrong atmosphere in the group-coaching
- Made us doubt our ability to coach
Fun, right?
We learned the hard way that it is important to get the right coaching clients from the start. When you work with the right clients, you are more likely to enjoy your work, be successful, and get paid on time.
Our tips to get the right coaching clients
- Define your ideal client. Who do you enjoy working with? What are their needs and pain points? What are their values? Once you know your ideal client, you can tailor your message to them. That way you will attract the right people.
- Set clear boundaries. What are your non-negotiables? What can you personalize or adapt for them? It is important to set clear boundaries so that you don’t waste your time on clients who are not a good fit for your coaching business. Don’t settle for less than you deserve.
- Qualify your leads. Before you start coaching them, take some time to evaluate if they are the right fit. Ask to fill in a questionnaire, do a discovery call, etc. Make sure that they are a good fit for your coaching style, that they want to do the work, and are able and willing to pay for your services.
- Have a coaching agreement in place. Before you start coaching a new client, make sure to have a coaching agreement in place. This will protect you and your business in case something goes wrong.
We learned our lesson the hard way. But we hope that by sharing our story, we can help other coaches avoid the same mistakes.
If you are looking to attract the right coaching clients for your business, start by defining your ideal client and setting clear boundaries. Then, qualify your leads and have a coaching agreement in place before you start coaching.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success, you will avoid feeling like a failure because you’re not able to help them and build a profitable coaching business.
Extra TIP – Are you ready??
Be patient. That’s it.
It takes time to build a successful coaching business and attract the right coaching clients. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a lot of clients right away. Just keep creating valuable content, building relationships with potential clients, and providing excellent services to your existing clients. Eventually, you will start to attract the right coaching clients for your business.
And if you want guidance, training and a supportive community, we are here to help. Find out more about our CoachUp for Coaches Programme, or see more of our content on our Linkedin page.
