SelfGrowth.com
Several of my clients have gotten emails inviting them to become a member at SelfGrowth.com
SelfGrowth.com is the most complete guide to information about Self Improvement, Personal Growth and Self Help on the Internet. It is designed to be an organized directory, with articles and references to thousands of other Web Sites on the World Wide Web.
SelfGrowth.com is well worth the investment of time and energy to sign up. One way that the search engines determine whether or not your website is “worthy” is by the number of links coming into your site. If Self Growth provides nothing else, this is yet another breadcrumb trail to lead to your coaching blog or coaching website.
However, Selfgrowth.com also offers you the ability to showcase your expertise through publishing articles there. That means it’s a good place to begin leaving breadcrumb trails to allow prospective clients to find your blog or website.
Coaching, Relationships and Blogs
Building your coaching practice is all about building relationships. One of the biggest advantages of Web 2.0 is how easy it is to build those essential business building relationships.
One of the reasons blogs are better than “traditional” static websites for coaches is the ability to build a relationship with your blog’s readers. RELATIONSHIPS are the result of TWO WAY COMMUNICATION!
Blogs provide coaches an opportunity to establish that two way communication with prospective clients. That’s what makes blogs an ideal marketing tool for a coaching professional.
See, when you blog, you are planting the seeds for communication. When visitors come to your website, they can respond to the seeds of communication you’ve started.
I have two clients whose blogs have grown at an AMAZING rate over the past 6 months. Even though neither of these coaching professionals have been especially good about “blogging” regularly, their infrequent posts have found their way through the internet and have reached out an touched hurting people who are in need of their services.
Despite relatively little content being posted on their blogs, both of these coaches have blog websites which attract hundreds of visitors monthly. Visitors read the posts and are signing up at an amazing rate for each coach’s newsletter. I’ve got to admit, even I am amazed at how much “action” they’re getting from so little content.
Blogs continue to grow in popularity because of success stories like the ones featured at Easy Coaching Websites.
How to Find Paying Clients for Your Coaching Practice
Have you ever wondered how to find paying clients for your coaching practice?
You know that your website could have people racing to buy the products and services you provide, but it’s not and you don’t know why.
Most coaching websites are ineffective. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Your website has the potential to be one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use to connect with people are actively seeking a coach. That’s right… right now there are people searching the internet right now. They’re using very specific keywords like:
- cary nc business coaching
- raleigh business coaching
- leadership coaching uk
- professional life business coaching
- personal mastery and coaching
If you didn’t know what words people are using to find your products and service… then you can’t know what words to target on your coaching website.
That’s why the best investment you can make in marketing your coaching practice is:
- Sign up for an Easy Coaching Website.
With an easy coaching website, you can create search engine friendly content quickly and easily. - Sign up for Wordze
Unlike the free keyword research tools, Wordze gives you more accurate results… and shows you the keywords that are WORTH optimizing your web content around.
An Easy Coaching Website + a Wordze account deliver a 1-2 punch when it comes to potential clients finding your website.
With your Easy Coaching Website, once you’ve found the keywords that people are using to find YOUR coaching practice… you can easily create content on your page around those keywords. The thing is, these keywords change MONTHLY! Most of the free tools are reporting from old figures. But the time the figures hits one of the free tools, it’s old news. Subscribers to Wordze have already beaten you to the punch.
Your coaching website should be the best way to find paying clients for your coaching practice. If your current website isn’t delivering clients… it may be time to upgrade your website to one that works hard at attracting clients to your practice.
Fresh Content is a Key to Your Coaching Website Success
Fresh content is the key to your coaching website’s success.
The problem with “traditional” HTML websites is they are FAR from easy to update. So your faced with contacting your web master and having him or her make the updates for you. Usually it becomes such a hassle that you just don’t update your site as often as you should.
Since fresh content is the key to website success, your website is almost doomed from the start if you can’t update it regularly with fresh content.
If you are able to use a word processing program, then you can make posts to a blog.
Even if you don’t know how to code in HTML or transfer the files to the web, posting to a blog is MUCH easier than updating the content on a traditional HTML web site.
Your website can act as a way to introduce potential clients to what you can do for them. Imagine if you could post an article each week to reach out to potential clients. They could “sample” your services without picking up the phone to call.
This is a wonderful marketing tool…and you may already be posting your articles to article sites. But wouldn’t it be great if those articles appeared on YOUR website as well?
With a blog, they can feature those articles and more.
Fresh content is key… and providing readers of your articles a place to come to get MORE information also makes sense. If you have a traditional website, be sure to include your articles on it. If that’s a hassle… check out Easy Coaching Websites.
Blogs are the ultimate in “sticky websites”
While your 3 year old’s sticky fingers aren’t necessarily a good thing, a stick web site is. A sticky web site is one that visitors spend time exploring. The more time a visitor spends at your web site, the more likely he or she is to return or make contact with you. Isn’t that why you published a web site in the first place?
Marketing specialists all agree that it takes approximately 6 to 8 contacts from you (whether it be via email, snail mail or phone call) before your prospect will turn into a client.
There are lots of “tools” you can install on your web site to make it more “sticky”… but the positively most effective stickiness tool for any coaching practice is a blog.
The “beautiful” thing about blog stickiness is it’s YOUR insights… YOUR vision…. YOUR blog posts that keep visitors coming back for more.
Many blog “gurus” will tell you that RSS is the reason for a blog. Unfortunately, RSS (which stands for Really Simply Syndication” is not a widely adopted practice… YET! For that reason, it’s not reason in and of itself to launch a blog. (Don’t worry… there are lots of GREAT reasons to launch a blog for your coaching practice. It’s just the ability to deliver RSS is NOT one of them!)
In an effort to raise awareness of what RSS and how you can use it in your daily life, the Daily Blog Tips has announced it’s sponsoring RSS Awareness Day.
Believe me, I’m ALL for 100% adoption of RSS feeds. However, when someone like Chris Garret says he’s adding an email newsletter subscription to supplement his RSS feeds, I think we all should sit up a listen.
Chris is very “tech savvy” and as a tech savvy user, he has chosen Aweber to deliver his email newsletter. However, if you’re not tech savvy, you may find the learning curve at Aweber to be steep.
That’s why I recommend Marketer’s Choice for my “less than tech savvy” clients.
- First, the live support with Marketer’s Choice is TOP NOTCH.
- Second, they provide TONS of online videos which make calls to live support very rare indeed. If you use the link in this post, well… it’s an affiliate link but it also gives you a first month free bonus that you won’t get if you visit the site directly.
The secret to “sticky”…. lots of good quality content… and then remind them that your blog is still there with an email newsletter.
If you’re still fuzzy on the difference between the two… your blog lives “online”. The content you post there is indexed by the search engines just like a “traditional” static HTML web site. The big difference between a blog and a web site is how EASY it is to add fresh content to your blog. This ability to easily add and edit content is the BASIS of the “magic of blogs”.
Your blog will serve as a “sign up point” for your coaching newsletter. It’s where the sign up form will live so people can sign up to get your email newsletter. When you SEND your email newsletter, unless you also post that content on your blog, that content will not be available to the search engines for search.
RSS is a way for people to sign up for your blog’s content without sharing their email address. Less than 10% of web users even KNOW what RSS is. Some day, RSS will be a great reason to launch a blog. Until then, a blog is a great “sticky” website. One that allows you to communicate with potential clients BEFORE they pick up the phone and call. For that reason alone, you should have a coaching blog.
Blogs as essential elements in the art of persuasion a.k.a. marketing your services
John Hoff has a great post on his blog entitled: The Art of Persuasion
In the post, John outlines 5 Keys to Persuasion:
- storytelling
- being observant
- being knowledgeable
- timing
- listening
I encourage you to read the post to get the full benefit of his wisdom (the link above goes to part 1 of the series). It’s really good stuff!!!
From a marketing point of view, John’s list could also read, “5 reasons blogs are better than traditional static web sites at selling your services”.
Don’t like to use the “S” word… then how about “5 reasons blogs are better than traditional static web sites at PERSUADING your web visitors to become your clients”.
- Blogs are great for story telling…..
Often the best stories come from personal experience. Your coaching blog can be easily updated to include the latest and greatest “stories” from your life and times. - Blogs allow you to record your observations
While a blog won’t “magically” enhance your powers of observation, you are able to be “spontaneous” in sharing your observations. Instead of “composing” and article and then sending it to your web master for “publication”, you can just log on and share. There is no “recommended word count”… and your blog allows you to comment on topics of current events as well. - Blogs allow you to demonstrate your knowledge
Keeping content current on your blog will be a habit you’ll want to develop. Regular blogging is a great way to “showcase” your knowledge. When a reader starts clicking on other posts… it’s a good sign that they’re interesting in learning what you know. When a reader clicks to subscribe via RSS, you’ve hit paydirt!
Daily Blog post writes:
“Visitors will subscribe to a blog when they are 90% convinced that it would be a loss indeed to miss that content. I say 90% and not 100% because they can always unsubscribe later, and for 10% people would be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.“ - Blogging allows you to take advantage of the here and now.
A static web site whose most recent feature is an article about the 2004 US presidential election is going to look pretty outdated these days. However, a blog allows you to make commentary and time stamp it with a date. That means you can write a post about a topical event (for example, a candidate for the upcoming 2008 US presidential election). Your blog post will be topical and current AND may actually land a great SERP (Search Engine Results Page) in the process! - Blogging allows your readers the opportunity to comment.
Listening to users is an ESSENTIAL skill when it comes to communication. Allowing readers to comment on blog posts allows you to see inside your visitor’s thinking process… and allows you to change course if necessary.
If you’re a coach and you hate the idea of the “S” word (selling) then perhaps you should consider a blog as a marketing tool. That way you can “soft sell” your services by sharing your expertise!
Creating Blog Content is not as hard as you might think….
Content Paralysis… what happens when you think you don’t have enough time to create content for your coaching blog.
It’s a common concern, but like any “problem” there are easy and effective solutions.
Over at Duct Tape Marketing, John gives helpful tips on how to Reduce, reuse, recycle and repurpose as a way to generate content. While Shonnie Lavender encourages you to create exceptional blog content by thinking of your reader. Vandalay Web Design offers their advice with a great post on13 Ways to Create Unique, Original Blog Content.
Of course, if you find you’re totally blocked, a great way to get inspired is to begin reading what OTHER bloggers are writing about. Dosh Dosh offers his take on this tactic in his post on using Social News Aggregators to create content.
Of course, when you find you’re on a roll… go with it, but don’t post all those great posts on the same day. Try to build up a post “savings account” for those days when you don’t have “time” to create compelling content.
Choosing a Theme for your Coaching Blog
You’ve done it. You’ve decided to launch a blog to promote your coaching practice. Congratulations! Blogs are GREAT marketing tools for coaching professionals.
You’ve also made another great decision by deciding to take the “high road” and launching a self hosted Word Press blog. Again, another great move. (Some Typepad coaching blogs are having trouble accepting Trackbacks, which are essential to building a successful blog.)
Now, it’s time to determine how you want your Word Press blog to appear. This process should be positively PAINLESS when using Word Press. Word Press Themes can be activated and deactivated with ease, unlike a traditional HTML style web site. Applying a Word Press Theme is like “buying a dress” while choosing a look for a traditional HTML web site is like getting a tattoo.
Despite the ease with which a Word Press Theme is activated/deactivated… many coaches are paralyzed at this phase of the blog launch process. Sometimes, it’s merely a fear of “poor branding” execution. However, there are other times when I suspect that the obsession over the theme choice (and the never ending “tweaking” of the blog’s theme that follows) are merely an excuse to avoid getting down to the real task of blogging.
Make no mistake… the theme (which controls the appearance) of your blog is important. However, it merely sets the stage for the real production… your content. Whether it’s video, audio or merely the written word… your Word Press blog is a powerful communication tool. Don’t get stuck in the endless loop of moving the blog title to the left 10 pixels and then to the right 10 pixels while your “welcome to word press” post is still hanging out there for all to see!
Blogs are great marketing tools for coaches
The topic of blogging is HOT, but the reasons why coaches should be blogging MAY surprise you.
As a coach, your most important asset is YOU! Communication is KEY to attracting new clients to your practice and blogging is a great way to achieve that communication!
Natalie Gray does this on her blog Radically Joyful Living. Want to learn more about Natalie’s view and what kind of coach she might be for you? Well, you could read her “bio” or you could check out her post ” A River of Friends” Like what you’re reading? Wondering if this is the “real” Natalie… then you can read another post… and another!
Natalie has done a GREAT job of sharing herself through her blog posts. By reading her blog, I can get a real sense of who Natalie is… which is essential to her breaking through the “barrier” with potential clients.
Yes, there’s a HUGE barrier between you and your potential coaching clients. In a word, it’s summed up with the phrase, “Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet!” Right now, you’re a STRANGER to your best potential coaching clients. Blogging is a GREAT way to overcome that barrier!
How important is a web site for coaching professionals?
According to Carol Solomon, developing an effective, professional web presence should be your #1 priority.
In her post, Attracting Your Perfect Clients Online she writes:
Your potential clients are looking to find someone with your skills online. They EXPECT to find you online. They expect you to answer certain questions on your website, such as “Can you help me?” before they contact you. It’s a bit of a screening process. They can search for and evaluate several practitioners in minutes. It’s easier, more efficient and less risky for your potential client to search the web than to call you right away. If they resonate with what’s on your website, and they are ready to take an action step, then they contact you.
Your website is the front door of your business. It has a big job to do. It needs to reach off the page and speak clearly to the needs of your potential clients. You need to communicate a professional image through your site, and you need to do it quickly. Why? Consumers make decisions in a matter of seconds. If you don’t have a compelling web presence, your potential clients will be gone in 1 click.
However, just having a web site may not be enough.
Kathleen Gage writes:
Making money on the Internet can be like baking a cake. If you don’t have all the right ingredients in the correct order you could have a total flop on your hands. On the other hand, when your systems are in place you can be extremely successful and have a very tasty outcome.
Patsi Krakoff over at writing on the web has added her 2 cents to the subject:
The process of article writing and distribution is a tool for credibility and positioning. So is blog posting. And newsletter publishing. But if you don’t have these 8 critical elements in place, well, you are writing to the wind. And you probably won’t make money.
Yes, a well designed professional web site (or blog) is essential to your coaching business. As a coaching professional, your web site’s goal MUST be to establish trust with potential clients. Trust is established on many different levels and through many different avenues. Two of the most common are:
- The design of the web site…. the colors and images used and how they are presented, will make a HUGE impact on first time visitors. Your business web site is NOT a job to be entrusted to Uncle Harry’s neighbor’s son who plays in a garage band, wears and multicolored mohawk and dabbles in web development using his pirated copy of Dreamweaver.
- The content of the web site is also crucial to building trust. Because you can’t build trust with a single web page or article, many coaching professionals are turning to blogs for their web presence. Shonnie Lavender shares some essential tips on building trust with your business blog.
In the end, like it or not, your coaching web site is literally the FACE of your business. In many cases, it’s the first (and sometimes last) thing your potential clients see. It’s the most important investment you’ll make in your business.
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