3 Must Do's To Get your FIRST Coaching Client Without Stress or Struggle
Just to start off, I want to say how proud I am that you are stepping up and starting your online coaching empire.
⭐ You are doing amazing ⭐
I know how much of your heart and soul has gone into carefully crafting the business of your dreams. I’ve been there and even though it’s an incredible journey, it is certainly not an easy one.
So props to you for getting to the point where you are ready to book that first coaching client.
Signing that contract is a HUGE milestone!
But, you might be asking yourself, “How the heck do I get there?”
Luckily for you, my job is to tell you exactly how to do just that. Today’s post is all about how to get your FIRST coaching client, and how to do it fast.
So if you’re a new online coach ready to get your FIRST coaching client, look no further because you are in the right place. And that place is with me, Molly Ann Luna, life and business success strategist. I am all about walking you through intelligent online marketing strategies to help you start, scale, and skyrocket your online coaching business.
Let’s get down to business!
Without further ado, here is my three-step process to help you get your FIRST coaching client fast.
Step 1: Craft Your Power Promise
The first step to making that initial coaching client relationship is crafting your power promise.
This is one sentence that makes it clear to a prospective client who you are and exactly what kind of transformation you are offering.
The clearer this statement is, the more likely it is that your prospective client will become a paid client.
Booking with a coach is a huge investment, so your potential clients need to feel confident in you and the transformation you deliver before they hand over payment.
Let me walk you through the components of an effective power promise 👇🏻
You are going to start your sentence with “How to…” followed by the desired result. You also want to include how much time the transformation will take followed by “so that you can…” and then describe the benefits they will experience or the challenge they will overcome.
I’ll give you a couple of examples of that formula in action starting with my very own power promise.
“How to help you go from best-kept secret to online legendary leader by starting your online coaching business from scratch, earning $12,000 or more within 5 days by pre-selling your perfectly packaged program.”
This power statement definitely has a LOT of info, but it has all the components that help my prospective clients pivot into paid clients.
Let’s take a look at a few more examples.
Here’s an excellent promise from a health coach:
“How to overcome adrenal fatigue in five days so that you can feel focused and energized, even when you are having those sleepless nights.”
This sentence alone tells overtired and overworked, new parents that if they attend this program they're going to feel more energized and focused within 5 days, even if they can't log any more hours of sleep.
And let me tell you, coming from a once-sleep-deprived new mama, this power promise would get a sale out of me!
Here’s another exciting power statement from a personal trainer:
“How to lose 10 pounds in three weeks so that you can get back into those pre-baby jeans without sacrificing sweet treats.”
Again - simple, clear, impactful.
New mamas looking to get that pre-baby bod back without sacrificing their sweet tooth are going to be lining up to register for this program.
Now that you’ve seen some amazing power promises in action, it’s your turn!
I want you to get out your pen and paper and jot down a simple power statement for your own business.
That way next time someone asks you, “What problem do you solve in your business?”
You will be ready with a powerful statement that authentically represents the transformation you deliver and has the potential to get your FIRST coaching client fast.
Step 2: Spread the Word
After crafting the perfect power promise for your biz, the next step is letting the world know that you are on the scene.
Your prospective clients need to hear that you are ready to help.
A HUGE misconception about the online business world is that you can only leverage online tools.
I’m here to tell you that that is absolutely not the case!
Start with your circle of influence. Don’t worry about not having a huge following on social media or a long list of email subscribers.
Think of the people in your everyday community. Your family, your friends, their families, friends of friends.
Anyone who you cross paths with at this stage in the game has got to hear about your new biz. Word of mouth is the most trusted way to get bookings and this is the perfect place to start!
Get on the phone or send out text messages to the people in your contacts and let them know what you do.
Go ahead and ask them directly if they’d be interested in your services, and if not, do they have someone in their life who would be? Get the number of that person and reach out to them right away!
Remember all those business cards you collected during your corporate days?
Fish those out of the bottom of your drawer, call them up and spread the good word about your new coaching business.
And as always - you can leverage online forums. Get out there and find Reddit threads or Facebook groups for people who are looking for help with the exact problem you are qualified to solve.
Do not be afraid to promote your product or services in those forums. This is how you’ll reach the people out there who are wanting the answers from you. Yes, you!
Whether you’re on a phone call, sending a text message, commenting in a forum or just bumping into someone at the grocery store this is your time to present your power promise.
This is the easiest way to spread the word about your biz, using only your existing network.
The fact of the matter is, that it’s people in your closest circle of influence that are going to be most keen to buy from you in the early days of launching your offer.
Their glowing testimonials will keep bringing in the new batches of clients for years and years to come.
So don’t be shy! Get out there and shout it from the rooftops about how exciting and powerful your offer is, and you will get your FIRST coaching client in no time.
Step 3: Ask for the Sale
Step number three can be really tough, I’m not going to lie.
You need to directly ask for the sale.
It’s funny how you can feel confident enough to start your own business, but when it comes to finally being upfront and asking for a sale, all that confidence can go right out the window!
I want you to remember that you are worth it, you are qualified, and that the worst thing anyone would do would be to decline your offer.
At which point you’re ready to move on to the next potential client - no hard feelings!
Once you’ve spent enough time serving, serving, serving this potential client, it’s time to come out and ask for the investment.
Remember to frame it not as an investment in you, but as an investment in the client themselves. Invite them to invest in their health, happiness, or prosperity by taking part in your coaching program.
The simple sales tactic that helps me is the QUIET Method👇🏻
Questions
Start by asking open-ended questions to your potential clients about their needs. Ask them about what they're struggling with, what their goals are, and let them lead the conversation.
Understand
Now you need to take their answers to your questions and try to understand where they’re coming from. This step is all about listening. You want to make sure that your potential client’s needs align with the solution you are able to provide.
Identify Objections
When someone is hesitant to invest in themselves there are two classic objections. These objections are usually that they don’t have enough time or don’t have enough money. Your prospective clients may have additional objections, but you need to be prepared to overcome the two most common ones before entering into the conversation. Most importantly, be a listening ear for what their hesitations might be when committing to an online coaching program that way you can problem-solve with them.
Empathize
You want to ask your clients all these questions and listen to their potential hesitations so that they feel heard. You need to show them that you empathize with their situation. Make sure they know that, yeah, you’ve been there and it feels horrible, but you have the solution to get them out!
Test the Offer
This is the step where you go ahead and ask the prospective client if they are ready to invest. You’ve asked the questions, understood their situation, identified their objections, empathized with their problems, and only THEN can you ask for the sale.
And friends, when you do this be ready to collect payment. Nothing’s worse than having a client with their card out ready to pay while you scramble to figure out how to collect their investment!
Bonus Tip: Start a Partnership
I know I said that this was a three-step process, but I couldn’t help but share this final bonus tip.
My last word of advice to help you get your FIRST coaching client is to seek out a partnership. Think about another professional or business that serves a similar clientele, but is not in competition with you.
Once you’ve decided what business you want to reach out to, draw up a clear brochure and introduce yourself and how your services could benefit their existing clients.
Forming partnerships with an established practice with similar clientele is an excellent way to build a community of your own without poaching clients from anyone in competition with your business.
And with that, we’ve covered my three-step process designed to help you get your FIRST coaching client!
(Plus one bonus tip ‘cause I can’t help myself!)
If you are ready to take an even deeper dive into starting, scaling, and skyrocketing your coaching business, I want you to save your seat in my upcoming FREE masterclass, Pivot Into Online Profits.
We’ll talk all things business building and help you get your FIRST coaching client right away.
Claim your seat to Molly Ann Luna’s (ALL-NEW) Masterclass “Register Now”