Many people are getting into being a coach. Coaching is a great career. Having decided to be a coach, you will help people navigate their lives, set and reach their goals, and overall feel better about themselves. As a helping person, coaching will be a great lifestyle for you. You will build a flexible work schedule around your time. Now it is time to find clients who you can help. 

Here are six steps for you to get coaching clients. 

Step 1. Find your niche

A niche is a comfortable and suitable place. A your niche client is someone who you want to work with. Trying to coach everyone will spread you too thin, and you will likely be unhappy. Coaching someone who you enjoy working with, will make not only their coaching sessions more enjoyable, but will also make you happier, and thus a better coach. Think about what type of person you want to coach. If you enjoy coaching people who are starting new businesses, then don’t coach people thinking about retiring. The more you concentrate on your niche, the more you will be an expert in your niche, which in turn makes you better able to help your clients. 

People hire a life coach to help them with specific issues or problems. They need an expert in those issues or problems that they are looking to solve. Don’t know your niche? Think about the people you like to hang around with, and start with that as your niche. 

Step 2. Find out where your potential clients hang out

Once you have found your particular niche, you need to figure out how to identify people occupying that niche — that is, find your clients. First, ask family and friends. Be specific about what problem you will help solve. Your family and friends probably know one or two people you can introduce yourself to. Even if those people are not squarely in your niche, they may each know one or two others who might be in your niche. This is basic networking, and it works.

Next, where do your clients hang out? If they are social, they may be on social media such as facebook or Instagram. Facebook has a lot of groups you can join which specialize in your niche. You can join those groups, and participate in the discussions. Become a respected expert in the group.

If they are business professionals, perhaps they are on LinkedIn. 

You may even join in-person groups, or have in-person workshops to identify clients. Which brings us to Step 3.

Step 3. Become an expert in your niche (or act like one)

Here are a few tips to become, or at least act like you are an expert.

You should have a website. A website is not only a place for your clients to know more about you and your coaching service, but it is also a place to house all your writings (your blogs). Writing blogs is an excellent way to tell your potential clients you are an expert in your field. Writing blogs is an excellent way to become an actual expert because doing so requires that you learn how to solve the client problems you expect to encounter. And, until you become an expert, you are one step ahead of your client as long as you keep learning and writing. You can also repurpose blogs into podcasts, Pinterest pins, and/or social media posts. You can also send out your blog to your email list. 

An easy place to start with a website is with bluehost.  Click here for my affiliate link for bluehost.

When you write your blogs, you spend time researching the subject matter. Potential clients and critics may contact you with comments and information about your writing that increases your expertise. This helps you find out more and more about your niche, and what your clients are looking for. 

Step 4. Get noticed, get visible

As mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to get visible is to get noticed on the internet. When you blog, and post on your website, Google will see those updates to your website and rank you higher in Google Search. Ranking highly on Google is a great way for your potential clients to find you. 

You can also take that same blog and send it out to your email list. Your email list will be potential clients and current clients. Even if your list does not need your services right now, staying current with your email list helps them know you are active. Your email list may also serve as a referral.

Another way to get visible is to network with fellow coaches, whether through professional network associations such as your local chamber of commerce, BNI or a Rotary Club. Most networking organizations let you visit for free to see if it is a good fit for your coaching. 

Step 5. Wow potential clients in the call

A potential client has made contact with you — now is the time to knock that potential client off their feet. You probably learned how to handle a complimentary coaching call in a coaching class. You are probably a great, active listener, and know how to help your potential client. Now is the time to close your sale. 

As soon as your potential client is comfortable with your approach, be sure you schedule a follow-up call for as soon as possible. Strike while the potential client is ready. 

Step 6: Take coaching business seriously

Starting a business takes time, patience and a lot of self-talk. Fortunately, you chose a business in which you set your own hours, a niche you enjoy full of potential clients you will enjoy, and a workplace you enjoy. Here are some hints on how to take your business seriously, especially if you are just starting out. 

• Write down your marketing schedule each week — even if you are just working 4 – 8 hours a week. Keep those hours sacred. Work the marketing hours you schedule; you will see your business grow .
• Schedule free coaching sessions. Have specific days each week for free coaching sessions. This way it won’t interrupt your other wok time. You can use easy tools like Acuity Scheduler to have your free sessions hosted on your website. 
• Start changing your self-talk. Instead of saying, “I want to be a life coach” or “I am starting my life coach business,” say “I am a life coach. I am offering so much to my clients.”
• Invest in yourself. Farm out the parts of running your business that you have trouble doing. You can find people to help you with technical issues; that is what we, here at Female Online Biz, do. Or, hire someone you know. You can hire a coach to help you get over the first few hurdles. You can take more courses in coaching.