5 Ways to Help You Get Coaching Clients

Congratulations! You’ve decided to become a coach and are ready to get started. Now all you need is your first client. Trying to get coaching clients will be an ongoing process as you build your business, but there are steps you can take to attract new clientele. These five tips offer practical advice to help you find new clients and get your coaching practice off the ground.

1) Create an Online Presence

The first thing a potential client will do when they hear your name is Google you, and you’ll want them to find a professional coaching website that outlines your qualifications, experience, and services. Include any recommendations that you have from existing clients, along with a blog that you update regularly with coaching-related posts. Also, create Facebook and Twitter accounts and add posts several times a week to encourage followers to visit your site.

2) Recruit Friends and Family to Spread the Word

If you were looking for a new job, you’d tell everyone from your mom to your chiropractor to watch for new opportunities. When you’re looking for new clients, be just as vocal about asking for help! Tell everyone about your new venture. Print business cards that include your professional coaching website, and ask your friends, family, and even acquaintances to pass them out to help you grow your business.

3) Get Out There and Network

Finding new clients is a numbers game–and the more people you know, the more people can help. By joining professional organizations like Toastmasters, attending alumni or LinkedIn events, and getting involved with the Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club, you’ll meet new professional contacts that you may not meet in your normal life–like lawyers, psychologists, or business leaders who can help expand your reach. Even if you never get a coaching client directly from networking, these contacts may prove invaluable when it comes to recommending you as a coach.

4) Volunteer as a Guest Speaker or Blogger

Getting new coaching clients is all about exposure, and volunteering is a great way to get in front of a new audience. Think about the kinds of groups that might be receptive to coaching and approach associated businesses with an offer to share a presentation or lecture. Give talks at the gym, at professional conventions, or anywhere you see a potential audience for your coaching expertise. Don’t forget to take your business cards and direct attendees to your website.

If possible, volunteer to write guest blog posts on sites related to your area of coaching as well. Blog posts live on the internet forever, so the post you write for your local career counseling center about how to jumpstart your job hunt with a new resume might pay off for years to come.

5) Start Acting Like a Coach Right Now

Your job as a coach is to nudge your clients to take action to realize their goals. Consider convincing someone to hire you to be your first mission as their coach. The next time that you’re in line for coffee eavesdropping on someone complaining about their job or their life, don’t just stand there – start coaching! Pull out your business card and explain your services as a coach. Offer some quick advice or a useful tip for how to improve their situation, and encourage your potential client to give you a call for more help.

Whether you’re just starting out as a coach or you’re looking to expand your business, finding new coaching clients is easier when you have the right qualifications. If you’re thinking about getting accredited as a coach to attract more clients, download below The 9 Key Considerations For Choosing the Right Coach Training School and learn more about how a certified training program can help increase your business.