Are You Spraying and Praying?

Over the past couple of weeks I've come across a number of alarming 'hit and miss' methods being used by some coaches in an attempt to attract clients. Here are just two recent examples. If you are using similar 'tactics' you have my utmost sympathy and I do hope that you get better and have a speedy recovery :-)

Coach 1 - has purchased some magnetic signs for her car with her telephone number on for people to contact her. She's hoping that she can use the car as an advertising vehicle (literally) and attract some business.

Presumably, if she drives fast enough (but not too fast so they can't read the telephone number), for long enough, she'll eventually fill her practice. Yeah right.

Unfortunately, using this approach the coach has more chance of having a rear end collision than attracting new clients into her practice :-P

Coach 2 - has purchased some advertising space in the local newspaper. But hey, not just one ad - multiple ads - they've really gone to town. They're in the job vacancies section, the cars for sale section (I kid you not) and the holidays section to name but a few.

So if there's a job-hunting, car-seeking, sun-worshiping newspaper reader, they may have a potential client. However, the smell of sun tan cream may be a long way away. It may just be time to smell the coffee.

> Are you spraying and praying?

What do these two approaches have in common? I call it the 'spray and pray' approach to m@rketing coaching services. That is to say you spray your message around like confetti and then hope and pray for the best. In case you don't know, hope is not a strategy. There is a better way.

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Can I have your feedback please ?

For the month of January the focus of the Authentic Practice newsletter was on the area of niching your coaching practice. However, I don't know if focusing on a topic each month works well for you as a reader. Therefore could you let me know your views please?

Just let me know if would prefer to have random (but relevant) topics for each newsletter or if you'd like me to continue with a focused topic each month. Either way, please suggest some topics that are of most interest to you at this point in time.

If you respond before Monday, 7th February, you can also ask me the most burning question you have about your coaching practice and I'll respond to you personally and in detail.

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> Stop spraying and praying...

Here are some questions to help you to identify more effective ways to promote your coaching services.

1. Who do you want to attract? - Be crystal clear on who you want to attract into your coaching practice in the first place. Can you describe them in detail?

2. What do they want? - What exactly are they looking and asking for? How can you position your coaching services as a way for them to get what they want?

3. How can you best contact them? - Once you know who you're targeting and what they want you can then consider how you're going to reach them. Where do they go? What do they read?

4. What specifically are you going to offer them? - Think back to what they want and then how you can make them a specific offer that moves them one step closer to you. It could be a f'ree report or a complimentary consultation for example.

So, are you spraying and praying?

By the way, I apologise if you received the newsletter a little late last week - especially for the 8pm teleclass ;-) I did send it out at around 11am but the list server I use (1Shoppingcart) had a backlog so it didn't get sent out until after 9pm. Technology is great... when it works.

With very best wishes,

Authentic Practice
helping coaches to get more clients
45 Capitol Court
Old Coach Road
Wollaton
Nottingham
NG8 1GX

Website: http://www.authenticpractice.com

Tel.: (0845) 123 5105
Mobile: (07811) 262 111

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I work with coaches who have a strong desire to help others but are currently struggling to get clients. I help them to attract more clients and create a stable coaching practice to make a difference in the world.

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