Marketing messages are flooding our email, TV, radio, mail, magazines, and just about everywhere, we go. People are so inundated with different messages and information that we have turned out brain filters on full blast. So, how do you get your coach marketing message out to potential clients in a way that they hear you? How can you make your message cut through the clutter?
Planning
You need to have a marketing plan that uses several strategies on a consistent basis to reach the top of mind awareness level that a potential client must have in order to make a purchase decision. That means that you must think long term and realize that marketing and sales are a process and so is a buying decision. The first step is to establish a long-term goal for your marketing. What result would you like to have from your marketing in one year?
Your goal can be as simple as the number of clients you would like to be coaching or you can have broader goals that include selling products, publishing books, speaking tours or whatever you desire. Start with your long-term goal then work backwards outlining the major efforts that will be required to accomplish those goals and place those activities on a timeline. Once you have established the timetable for accomplishing the major steps in reaching your goal you can go back and fill in the monthly, weekly, and daily actions that will be required.
Consistency
Frequency is a term used in advertising to refer to the number of times a person is exposed to your message. Convention says that a person must hear your message a minimum of three times before they begin to internalize the information. This means that your marketing efforts must be consistent or you will not establish enough frequency for your message to be heard and understood. I suggest that coaches plan at least three marketing activities into their daily schedule.
Variety
You can use a variety of delivery systems to reach potential coaching clients with a consistent message. I suggest several methods including article marketing, blogging, speaking, workshops, newsletters, ezines, social marketing, networking, referrals and auto responders. I realize that list sounds overwhelming and knowing where to start can be a challenge.
I suggest that coaches begin with networking and speaking because these activities will bring client to your coaching business rapidly. Blogging, newletters, ezines, and social marketing are all very essential and effective coach marketing tools but they take longer to be effective.
Action
The most important thing about implementing a marketing plan is to take action and begin marketing on a daily basis. Perfection is not required to begin. Your marketing efforts do not have to be perfect when you begin so do not expect them to be. Accept the fact that you will have success and some less successful efforts.
Use the less successful efforts as a learning tool that helps you make adjustments so you can achieve success on a future effort. One thing is certain you must begin marketing and implement your marketing plan on a consistent basis before it will work so get started today.
Suzan Schmitt is a Coach that has over 20 years experience in advertising, marketing and sales. She helps coaches market their coaching businesses and get more coaching clients. Suzan Schmitt: The Coach Marketer
http://www.thecoachmarketer.com
http://www.zeecochmarketer.com
suzanschitt@gmail.com