by Kathleen LeGrys | Aug 9, 2020
As a health coach, I’m sure you’re bombarded with a long list of things you have to figure out to get your business up and running – and make it profitable.
I hear from health coaches all the time who aren’t sure where to begin. I can relate to this because I remember feeling the exact same way when I graduated.
Since this is such a common question I hear, I wanted to share a few tips and strategies for creating your 1-on-1 health coaching program.
1-on-1 coaching is a great place to start as a new coach because you’ll get to have a deep understanding of your ideal client’s struggles and goals and it will help you build your confidence. If you decide to move on to online group coaching later, you’ll have a lot of market research under your belt which will help you market your program as effectively as possible.
One of the first hurdles to overcome is deciding how to structure your 1-on-1 coaching program. I struggled with this when I was first starting out, and I know there are many other coaches that feel the same way, and they get stuck in paralysis mode.
The good news is that I dove in head first to figure it out — and now I get to help other coaches fill in the blanks when it comes to creating top-notch health coaching programs.
Smart systems are a huge part of any successful business, so I created a step-by-step system that made all the difference in the world — to me and my clients. Having a structure to your coaching programs will save you time, energy, and frustration, AND allow you to earn more money.
Taking the time to map out the kind of journey you want to take your clients on will make coaching so much more enjoyable for you, and will allow you to help more people.
When I started out as a health coach, it took me a good three hours total for each client session. I would have to prepare session content ahead of time, scramble to find resources, and then send a recap email to each client. Oh, my!
I quickly realized that this was not a model I could continue with if I wanted to have a profitable business (and not lose my mind!).
Get ready to get unstuck, my friend. I’m going to break it down for you so you can get started mapping out your own program. My hope is that the simple steps I’m sharing today will get you on the road to coaching with more confidence.
I’m also going to share the EXACT topics I used with my own coaching program (including the order of the topics).
Let’s get started!
1. Get clear
Think about who your ideal client is and what their top struggles are. What problem do they want to have solved? If they could wave a magic wand, what would they want to change?
If you aren’t sure about this right now, don’t let it hold you back from getting started. If this isn’t clear to you right now, it will become more clear the more clients you see.
When you can get clear on your niche, you’ll be able to resonate so much more with that group of people, and it will be easier to become the ‘go-to’ person in that market. If you try to be a coach to everyone for everything, you end up being too general, and this usually leads to frustration and not enough clients on your schedule.
2. Map it out
Decide what journey you plan to take your clients on. If you want to take them from point A to point C, what does that look like? Write down the ideas that come to you.
How long will your coaching program be? I recommend offering more than one way for people to work with you. Having a short-term introductory program is a great gateway to your other offerings.
Will your 1-on-1 program consist of three months? Six months? I recommend offering a 90-day program (three months) and then the option to continue month to month or for another 90 days. People tend to commit to shorter programs more easily than a longer term program, so you are likely to get a higher enrollment rate.
How many sessions will you offer per month? Many coaches offer two sessions per month. This allows clients some time to implement what you covered in the previous session. If you plan to include more sessions per month be sure to charge accordingly.
3. Prepare ahead of time
I can’t tell you how many hours this will save you each month! Not to mention how much more professional you will come across to your clients.
Do you have pre-prepared sessions ready to go? These sessions can be an assortment of the most common topics that come up for your clients.
Program topic examples include: Goal Setting, Meal Planning, Mindset, Primary Food, Stress Management, Implementing Healthy Whole Foods, etc.
Find out what area your client is struggling with the most, and then tackle that topic. If one of the challenges are that your client eats out too much, addressing the topic of menu planning would probably be ideal. Talk about the roadblocks around that issue then figure out what would work best for the client. They receive a recap of that session (topic info, handouts, action items) to review, and then at the next session see what has worked well for them and what needs more focus.
It’s helpful for you and for the client to have a complete session of content all laid out and ready to go. Your clients are not going to remember everything that was covered, so when they can get the information in writing, they can refer back to it.
Of course there will be topics where you have nothing prepared in writing, but when you can have 80-90% of it done, it’s so much easier.
Stay open to changes though. I always let my clients know: “This is about YOU. I have a great plan to help you, but none of it is set in stone. I have plans to cover a certain topic, but if you need help in another area, we will tackle that first.” This way, the client knows you do have a plan, but it is flexible based on their unique needs.
When I finished my health coach training program, I knew I needed more to offer my clients. I felt like there were a lot of different topics I wanted to cover. I had in mind the journey I wanted to take my clients through: It would be simple, not restrictive, and very step-by-step where one success built on the previous one.
I went to work to create 12 comprehensive sessions. This way, I would never run out of topics to cover, and I could break them up and use them for a 3-month program or a 6-month program. (I could also use the content online, for lunch and learns or as posts for blogs or social media).
What topics would be the most helpful to your particular audience? What do they struggle with the most?
Here are the session topics I put together for my clients (this is the order that my sessions were typically delivered, but it was always flexible):
1. Goal Setting
2. Why Diets Don’t Work
3. Fueling Your Body
4. Exercise Strategies
5. Menu Planning
6. Mindful Eating and Portion Control
7. Boosting Your Energy
8. Understanding and Conquering Cravings
9. Why It’s Not Just About Food and Exercise
10. Deciphering Food Labels
11. Stress Reduction and Self-Care
12. Mindset
These are topics that anyone and everyone can benefit from. You can just cater them to each client since everyone is unique. Each person will have some similar issues, but they will also struggle with different things at different times.
Brainstorm and figure out what makes the most sense to you and to your clients.
The sessions need to be easy to understand and very simple to implement. The worst thing you can do is overwhelm your clients with too much information. Think “baby steps.” Once you have your client go through the session content, you can see what habits they have pretty much dialed in, and which habits can be focused on at that time.
Remember to have your client focus on no more than two new habits at a time. Sometimes focusing on one at a time is best depending on the client. This is the best way to set them up for success.
Small wins will help build your client’s confidence and keep them motivated to keep going.
A great book that I found extremely helpful when I was a new coach is: “Coaching Questions: A Coach’s Guide to Powerful Asking Skills,” by Tony Stoltzfus. This book is full of fantastic high-mileage questions that you can add to your coaching toolbox.
Another great book is “Motivational Interviewing in Health and Fitness” by Dawn Clifford, PhD This book is an amazing resource for health and fitness professionals. It includes great examples and sample scripts to help you coach more effectively.
4. Options for delivering your 1-on-1 coaching
There are two popular options for delivering your 1-on-1 coaching programs. Think about what appeals to you the most. The decision will be based on your goals, needs, and lifestyle at the moment. You may also decide to offer a combination of the two.
Virtual
I did all of my 1-on-1 coaching via phone and Skype (hello 2013!), and I loved it. This gave me the most flexibility, and I didn’t need to rent space or have strangers come to my house. My clients loved it because they didn’t have to travel to an appointment.
A huge benefit of virtual coaching is that you can have clients from anywhere in the world. Zoom is amazing for this type of coaching, and if you clients would like, you can record the session and send it to them, so they can review it again when they want.
You can either email your coaching content to your client before you meet of send it after your session as review. I liked to send it ahead of time so they can look it over and then we can dive into the areas that they need help with the most. But you can do what works best for you. Using a platform like Practice Better makes this really easy because your clients can login to their portal and access any PDFs videos or other resources you have for them, and it’s kept in one convenient place.
You would charge the same fee for this type of coaching as you would in-person coaching.
In-Person
You’ll have to decide where you would like to meet. Is there somewhere that is private that meets your needs and the needs of your client? Will you have to pay rent? Can you join forces with another health professional to provide services at their facility? This will have to be figured into the price of your coaching program. I did all of my coaching virtually, so this was never an issue.
As you think about your coaching program and the level of support you want to provide for your clients, get really clear on what that looks like. Write it down and map it all out. Do a brain dump if you aren’t quite sure.
If you have time to put your own program together, that’s fantastic. Not everyone has the time, patience, or the desire to create an entire program from scratch. Believe me, I know how many hours go into putting something like this together (and it always takes more time than you think it will).
If you want to have a comprehensive coaching program that’s already done for you (pre-made) you can find out about the Coach with Confidence program here. It’s a completely customizable health coaching program that includes all of the topics I listed above.
Okay, you’re ready to rock this!
You can also grab your free Discovery Session Guide HERE, where you’ll get a comprehensive template and scripting for your initial consultation. You’ll know EXACTLY what to say so you’ll feel more confident about turning prospects into paying clients.
If you plan to launch an online coaching program, be sure to check out this post where I break it down for you, step by step.
Have questions? Not sure where to begin?
JOIN our FREE mastermind group on Facebook where we share ideas, troubleshoot and brainstorm. If you are a certified health coach, fitness professional or nutritionist, be sure to join us.
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by Kathleen LeGrys | Apr 6, 2020
Takeaways from Social Media Marketing World 2020
One of my favorite annual conferences to attend is Social Media Marketing World, which is held in beautiful San Diego. One of the goals of attending the event is to bring back a few nuggets of awesome takeaways for you.
We want to learn things we can take back and implement, and we like to learn about updates and strategies that we can share with you too.
In this episode, we’re sharing a few of our top takeaways from the event, including:
- Why live video is no longer optional if you want to connect with your ideal clients and build trust (since most people are still not doing live video, this is your chance to stand out)
- Tips on where to start with live video to get practice and build your confidence
- The #1 thing you have to do for your audience to connect with you and feel compelled to take the next step
- The top reasons why you aren’t getting engagement on social media (this was an awesome dose of tough love that we appreciated)
- How to grab the attention of your followers, so they stop scrolling to check out what you have to say or share
- What to do BEFORE you post anything on social media (ask yourself this one question)
There are so many ways to leverage social media to grow your wellness business, so if you’re wanting to learn more about the best social media strategies to implement in your business right now, you’re going to love this episode.
Resources and Links mentioned on the show:
Subscribe and listen to The Wellness Business Podcast on your favorite platform!
by Kathleen LeGrys | Mar 9, 2020
What it REALLY Takes to Succeed as a Health Coach
As a health coach, you are passionate about helping people change their lives for the better. What you might not have really considered is that you are now also a business owner. I see many health coaches that feel completely overwhelmed about what to do to build their practice. It’s a mindset shift to realize if you want to have a successful health coaching practice; you have to treat it as a business – not just a hobby.
When I started out as a health coach, I wasn’t sure where to begin, so I totally get it. We all start out as beginners right? I made it a goal to learn as much as I possibly could so I could implement the strategies that would have the biggest impact on my business.
Today I’m sharing my top tips about what it really takes to succeed as a health coach. I’d love to hear any of your tips as well, so be sure to leave me a comment,
Let’s dig in, shall we?
1. Determine Your Goals and Your Vision
What is your vision for your business? What do you want to achieve? Why did you become a health coach?
Take some time to set some goals for your business. When you know what your goals are, it makes it easier to make a plan to achieve them. Without a goal, it’s easy to get distracted, lose focus and get frustrated. Yes, I’ve been there too.
For a detailed post about goal setting, click here.
Let’s look at one example. If your short-term income goal is $2,000 a month from health coaching, your plan may look different than if your income goal is $5,000 or more per month. Let’s say your initial goal is $2,000. How many clients do you need to achieve that income level? Could you achieve half of that amount with 1-on-1 coaching and half with online coaching perhaps? Brainstorm, and see what you come up with. A successful business starts with planning.
Other than your income goals, think about how you want to work. I did all of my coaching either via phone or online, and this allowed me the most flexibility with my schedule. Consider what would work best for you so you can fit your business into your life.
Take some time to write down your income goals for the next 6-12 months, and what actions you will take to get there. If you need ideas, keep reading.
2. Know who it is that you want to help
The more specific you can get on who you want to help, the better. I know it may sound counter intuitive, but If you’re too vague, people won’t realize that you have the solution to their problem. There are thousands of health coaches out there, so think about what makes you different and unique. What makes you stand out? You probably won’t know the answer when you first start out, and that’s okay. Work on defining who is your dream client, so you can market to them much more easily.
Let me give you an example so you can get an idea that may spark some brain storming. If you tell people that you’re a health coach, and you help people have more energy, lose weight and eat healthy, that’s way too general (and not overly exciting). But, if you tell people you help moms lose their baby weight and teach them how to prepare simple meals their family will love, people will understand exactly what you do. They’ll think about what moms they know, and maybe they’ll even be able to connect you with some of them.
What are you most passionate about as a health coach? What struggles have you been through? These are some ideas to get you started on figuring out a niche that you can help.
3. Have a Comprehensive Coaching Program in Place
Let me ask you this – If you had a new client sign up with you today, would you feel ready to coach them, or would you be freaking out a little after you did your happy dance? You will feel more confident and ready when you know your coaching program is exactly what you and your clients need.
If you have a fantastic program all laid out and ready to go (that you can also use for online coaching), then fantastic! If you don’t have a transformative coaching program in place yet, and you’re not sure how to put one together (or you’re wondering how you are ever going to find the time to create one), you can check out this done-for-you health coaching program HERE.
4. Get the Word Out (Market Your business)
As a business owner, you have to let people know about you, and how you can help them.
If the idea of ‘marketing’ makes you want to go hide under a rock somewhere, reframe it to ‘sharing your message with the people you want to help’. People can’t find you if they don’t know about you, which is exactly why you need to market your business.
If you don’t let people know what you do, and you don’t invite them to work with you, you won’t have a business – it’s as simple as that.
The wellness professionals that have successful businesses are consistently marketing their business to the right people.
Here are a few ideas to get you started (don’t let this list overwhelm you – just pick one or two things at a time):
- A free offer on your website to grow your email list and stay in touch with your subscribers. Promote your free offer on a regular basis (several times a week on your different social media platforms, and explore the option of using Facebook ads for promoting your free offer).
- Send high-value content to your email subscribers on a regular basis to build the “know, like, trust” factor. Sharing helpful hacks and information that your target audience would love (maybe yummy recipes from time to time too) is perfect. Think weekly emails rather than a lengthy weekly ‘newsletter.’
- Post on social media platforms where your target market is hanging out – helpful tips, blog posts, videos, and motivational quotes are some ideas.You also want to promote your free offer a few times a month, and then promote your paid programs or services at least once per quarter. Your goal with social media is to build the know, like, trust factor and then invite them to sign up for one of your free resources to get on your email list so they can hear from you each week.
- Get in front of the people you want to help – live workshops, networking, webinars, finding referral partners, joint ventures, etc. Getting your articles in online publications (like MindBodyGreen) can be great too.
- Start a Youtube channel and create short videos (3-5 minutes) that your audience will find valuable. Post your awesome videos on social media and occasionally share your videos with your email subscribers. People will feel like they know you when they see you on video. Be sue to include a call to action (for a free offer you have, or other action you want them to take).
- Start your own online community. Create your own Facebook group. This is one way to add credibility and attract people to your tribe so they can get to know you. I started my first Facebook group back in 2010, and that was how I gained my first few clients (for both 1-on-1 coaching and online coaching). For a great post on this topic, CLICK HERE
Don’t let this list overwhelm you. Just pick one or two strategies to focus on at a time, and then add more as you have others put into place. Each strategy can build on the next.
5. Be Consistent
Building your business takes time, focus and consistency. It will probably take at least a year to see growth in your business; it doesn’t happen overnight. Here are a few ways you can be consistent in your business.
- Make email list-building a top priority. This way, when you have programs and promotions to share, you’ll have a warm market that are more likely to invest in what you have to offer.
- Post regularly on social media. Posting once a day on at least one platform is a great way to maintain consistency. Share your own original content and be sure to share other valuable wellness information.
- Decide on the frequency of your content. If you have a blog, decide on the frequency of your posts. Once a week, once a month or somewhere in between. Providing valuable information on your blog is a great way to maintain consistency and showcase your expertise. You can turn one blog post into several social media posts, so you can get a lot of mileage out of one piece of content. You can also use your blog posts as inspiration for your weekly emails to your subscribers.
6. Stay Focused
Distractions will kill your focus AND your business. We are all being bombarded with ‘sparkly objects’ every day. It’s a challenge to stay the course when you are being pulled in a million different directions.
When you know what your goals are and you have a good plan in place, you’ll have an easier time putting your blinders on. One question to ask yourself is “Will this help me reach my goals right now?” If the answer is “No”, then move along. That sparkly object will probably be there later if you decide to come back to it.
Have a million ideas? What I have found to work best for me is when I have an idea, I write it down, and then ask myself if this idea fits into my plan right now. I can’t tell you how many times this has kept me on track (rather than getting me side tracked). If your idea doesn’t fit into your plans right now, that’s okay – write it down and revisit it next time. I keep a folder in Evernote labeled “Future Projects” so I won’t forget about it.
7. Set a Budget
Yes, you are going to have to spend some money if you want to build a business. Free resources are fine to start out with, but decide where you need to invest in your business. Here are some areas to consider making an investment.
- Email marketing provider (MailerLite, GetResponse, etc).
- Website and landing page design (opt-in pages)
- Graphic design
- Facebook ads
- Sales copy for your sales pages and opt-in pages
- Done-for-you coaching programs and resources
BONUS TIP: Delegate
If you want to have a successful business (and not lose your mind in the process), you can’t do it all. If you are spending most of your time ‘in the trenches’ of your business, you are missing out on the things that can have the biggest impact on your bottom line.
Here are a few things you can delegate:
- Scheduling social media posts
- Finding great stock images for your website
- Managing your bookkeeping
- Creating an editorial calendar
- Posting your content to your blog
- Creating graphics
For a more detailed list, and great ideas for outsourcing, check out this post HERE
Pulling it All Together
When you go from asking the question “Can I build a successful business?” to “What can I do to build a successful business?” your outlook and mindset are likely to change. Who can you look to as a role model to get inspiration, and actionable steps to implement in your own practice?
Remember, success leaves clues, so commit to learning from the best in the industry, surround yourself with like-minded people, and put your plans in motion. Success also takes time – it doesn’t happen over night.
To be a successful health coach (or to succeed in ANY business) you’ll need to get help and support where you need it, learn the right systems to put into place to build your practice, and invest in your business where applicable. Yes, it can be done. It takes time, action and a good plan.
Goals and intentions are great, but ultimately, taking action is what gets it done.
BONUS TIP: Be sure to connect with other like-minded people that share similar goals so you can get ideas, inspiration and support.
Join our awesome private Facebook group for certified health and fitness professionals.
I provide awesome free trainings in the group, as well as great resources and an amazing community of support.
Hope to see you there!
Oh, and did you know I have a podcast for health coaches? Check out The Wellness Business Podcast for a weekly dose of business-building tips and strategies to take your practice to the next level. My co-host, Karen Pattock, and I give you practical, bite-sized information you can implement in your business to see real results. Be sure to subscribe!
by Kathleen LeGrys | Feb 28, 2020
How to Create and Deliver Your Online Health Coaching Program
If you’re wondering how to take your health coaching program online, this post is for YOU!
I know there are many health coaches that want to add a virtual element to their practice, but they don’t know where to start.
When you add online coaching to your practice, you are opening up a world of possibilities and the opportunity to dramatically increase your reach and earning potential. Not to mention streamlining your business, and leveraging your time.
It takes a bit of time and planning to launch an online coaching program, but once you have everything in place you can run it over and over again. Rinse and repeat.
Awesome, right?
No need to take notes – Just grab the COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE with even more helpful tips here.
NOTE: Be sure to delegate the tasks that you don’t have to time do, or don’t know how to do. Do not let technology bog you down and stand in the way of launching your program.
For the tasks that you decide to delegate, you can find great help on Upwork.com or ask colleagues for a good recommendation.
As you plan out your program launch and promotion, be sure to have a strong focus on building your email list. The more people you have in your ‘warm market’ the better since they are more likely to purchase from you. Growing your email list should be an ongoing effort, but it’s particularly important before (and even during) your launch.
Also, be sure to know what outcome or result your ideal clients want, so you can design your program around something that will resonate with them.
Alright, let’s go.
Here are 8 tips for launching your online program.
1. Create your coaching program.
What do you want your program to do for people? What transformation do you want your program to provide? What does your ideal client want as an outcome?
If your goal is to help women get off the diet roller coaster and lose the last 10-20 pounds for good, what topics are important to cover? Who exactly do you want to help and why?
Map out your program outline. List out 6-12 topics that you know are KEY to your clients’ transformation. Once you have your topics, place them in the order you think will make the most sense. Imagine holding your clients by the hand, and guiding them, step-by-step, through their transformation journey. What does that look like?
Need ideas? Check out the 12 topics that are included in my Coach with Confidence Program for inspiration. (Although you can’t copy these exact topics unless you purchase the program, it will give you an idea of what you might want to include in your program.)
Once you have your topics written down, you’ll be ready to create an outline for each of the topics. The next step will be to create the content for each session and then finalize the order in which you want to present them. You can use narrated slide decks for your ‘content’ or do face-to-camera videos (or a mix of the two). The Coach with Confidence Program comes with slide decks you can narrate to make this super easy.
I know some people say it’s great to fill your program first and then create it. I disagree. How will you know what you are selling if you haven’t started working on the content yet
I do think it’s highly beneficial to survey your audience and find out what their top struggles are so you are sure to highlight those areas in your program and in your marketing message (your sales page and promotional copy). The more you can ‘speak the language’ that your target audience uses, the more they will be drawn to your solution, and be happy to pay for it.
A little research before you begin can go a long way!
It’s also fine (and recommended) to adjust your content as you get feedback from the people going through your program. For example, if you find that people really want more examples of healthy recipes, you can provide that by adding it in as soon as you can (or at least for the next time you run your program). I just think it’s a really bad idea to create an entire program while you fly by the seat of your pants (that’s wayyyyy too stressful, and I don’t think we do our best work when we are under a ton of stress). I think creating 50% of your program in advance will give you more leeway (and a lot less panic!).
As you create your program, you also want to decide how long it will be. Do you want to start out with a 3-month program perhaps? Or does a 30-Day program appeal to you more as a starting point, and a lead-in to your longer-term programs? >>CLICK HERE<< to take a peek at the Fit and Healthy 30-Day Jump Start for ideas for a phenomenal short-term program.
If you decide on a short-term program, be clear about the action you want people to take once the program is over. What is the next step that people can take to continue to work with you for more support? Will this next program be a 3,4,5 or 6-month program? You want to know your desired outcome (and next offering) before you begin, so you’ll know how to direct people once they have finished your program.
Options for topic frequency include one each week or one topic every other week (and then host a group call or do a live stream in your Facebook group on the alternating weeks). You can even do one main topic each month, and break it down into weekly chunks. People get easily overwhelmed with information, so I prefer one topic every other week if you are doing a longer program (more than 8 weeks long).
Note: It’s a good idea to test your coaching program on a few 1-on-1 clients first before launching it online, especially if you are brand new to coaching.
2. Decide on your program name, and what you will include as part of your program
What will you offer as part of your program? Group coaching calls, live streams, recipes, a Facebook group, pre-recorded slide decks, videos, workouts?
When I did my online coaching program, I offered bi-weekly group calls, client handouts, worksheets, and a private Facebook group. Factor in any time off/vacations you will be taking and plan accordingly if you will include group calls.
For the name of your program, think about what your target market wants help with, and how your program will solve their problem. What type of transformation does your target audience want? Brainstorm ideas, and see what you come up with. You want to pick a name other than your “3-month program” or your “6-month program.” You want a name that describes what the program is about or what benefits it offers. Make it compelling, exciting, and something that will make people want to take join!
3. Set your pricing.
Online programs range in price, so there is no one set answer for what to charge. Your pricing will depend on what you include in your program (a DIY program would be priced much lower than a program where people get your support via a Facebook group and live group calls, or even recorded group calls). Test your pricing, and see what works. As you gain more experience, exposure, and momentum, you will probably increase your fees. Your first group will be your beta group, so don’t get too hung up on the exact right pricing at this point. For your first go-around, set your price low enough to get more people, so you’ll have a great test group (and awesome testimonials and case studies for your next launch).
A typical range for your online program price would be 1/2 – 2/3 of your one-on-one coaching fees, but do what makes the most sense for you, knowing you can make changes next time. It’s easier to start out at a lower price, and raise rates next time than it is to start higher and reduce prices later.
Note: You want to offer a limited-time pricing offer (early bird special) when you promote your program. When you offer a limited-time incentive, it creates urgency, and it will increase your enrollment. Your incentive would end 3-7 days before your program begins. Another option is to offer both the pricing incentive that ends 7 days before your program start date AND a bonus offer that ends 3 days before your start date (so you would offer 2 incentives – one would be a discount, and the other would be a bonus of some sort, like a recipe guide, for example).
For your first online launch, you may even decide to limit enrollment to a certain number of people. This will make it more exclusive, which adds another level of scarcity and urgency.
4. Figure out the start date and sequence of your coaching program.
Decide if you want to release one session every two weeks or if you want a different schedule. Some coaches like providing one topic each week, and some prefer one topic every other week (and then host a group call on the alternating weeks).
5. Determine the format you want to use
There are options for delivering your content to your clients. For the best visual appeal, a narrated slide deck is fantastic. People will be able to hear your voice as you guide them through each session. (These presentations are included in the Coach with Confidence Program).
Options for recording your sessions (or modules) include Screenflow (for Mac), Camtasia (for PC) or a platform like Zoom (http://www.zoom.us).
In addition to the slide presentation, it’s great to provide your clients with a PDF file of each session so that they have a hard copy option to read through if they want. To do this, you would convert the slide decks to PDF files.
6. Select an online platform and email provider.
You can run your online program with something as simple as email and a Facebook group to keep it low-tech and low-cost, or you can use an online platform. You’ll want to send out weekly emails (at a minimum), and then direct clients to join the fun in the Facebook group or login to their account to access the information.
Options for online platforms include Practice Better and Kajabi just to name a couple. Practice Better is great because it’s designed specifically for health coaches and nutritionists, so you’ll have everything you need in one place to make it easy for you and your members.
If you just plan to use email to deliver the content for your online program, MailerLite is a great option. I’m a big fan of MailerLite because it’s easy to use, their free version is good for up to 1,000 subscribers, and it comes with landing page templates.
BONUS IDEA (Especially if you have little to no email list):
Handpick a few people to help you promote your program in exchange for free or discounted access to your online program. Decide on the requirements first so they know upfront what is expected. For example, they will provide a detailed testimonial you can use to promote the program the next time you launch it.
7. Start promoting your program approximately two weeks before the start date.
Invite your email subscribers, post on social media, and contact any connections you may have to help you promote your program (especially if you have an affiliate program). Hosting a webinar or live workshop or running a 5-day challenge can be a fantastic way to invite people to your online program, and help you build your email list at the same time. Your webinar/workshop/challenge topic should relate to some of what your online coaching program is about, so attendees will get a sample of how they will benefit.
Create at least one high-value, detailed blog post about a topic that relates to your program. Be sure to include a link in your post that goes to a freebie you have (that also relates to a topic that is part of your program – or a more detailed version of your blog post. This can be a checklist, cheat sheet or a short guide). Promote this blog post several times each week on your different social media platforms (at different times of the day). This will help you build your email list as you share great, relevant content that is likely to be shared on social.
Use live streams to share helpful tips, and then your call to action at the end will be to join your program.
If you currently have an email list, you will want to send out a series of emails letting people know about the program, as well as any bonuses you will be offering and/or early bird discounts to encourage early enrollment. Your email subscribers are already familiar with you, and likely trust you (if you’ve been staying in touch on a consistent basis), so they are the people that are most likely to enroll in your program or course.
Have graphics created that represent your program as well as graphics for promoting on social media and email. You can find someone on Fiverr.com or Upwork for this if you aren’t already working with a graphic designer.
8. Check, and double-check.
Before you launch your program, go through, and make sure you have everything set up the way you want. Example: Check to make sure all the links work and check to see that your content is scheduled to go out on the right dates.
Try, Test and Tweak.
Your online coaching program will evolve over time. Each time you run your program, you will discover ways to fine-tune and make it even better.
Okay, so there you have it. The tools, resources, and logistics you need for launching your online health coaching program.
So, what’s the next step?
Take action!
Download your complete step-by-step guide with MORE helpful tips and strategies >>HERE<< so you have ALL the information you need in one handy place to refer to as you launch your program.
Have questions?
If you are a certified health/wellness/fitness professional, join us over in our AWESOME private Facebook community group HERE.
Hope to see you there,
Kathleen
by Kathleen LeGrys | Jul 17, 2018
If you want an influx of new clients in 10 days or less, running a free challenge is one of the best ways to do it! A free challenge can open the gates for people to learn more about you in a no-risk way and see how you may have the solution to their problem.
Social media is great, but it’s a long-term strategy that takes time to build awareness and trust. When you run a free challenge, you are dramatically expediting the know-like-trust process because people get to spend more time with you over a few days, so they experience what it could be like to be a client.
In this post, I’m going to break things down so you can see how a free challenge can lead to getting new clients in a very short period of time.
Benefits of Launching a Challenge
If you struggle with figuring out a way to get in front of your ideal clients, a free challenge can be the perfect solution. A free offering like this introduces people to you without having to overcome the barrier of skepticism and price. Once people are in your challenge, they can experience what it will be like to work with you in your coaching programs.
Build Your Authority
A free challenge is a fantastic way to establish yourself as an authority and a trusted resource.
An easy way to facilitate your free challenge is to create a Facebook group for the participants. (You want people to sign up via an opt-in page so you get their email address so they can get your daily challenge content too). Once they join, they will have access to not only your support and knowledge but also the support of fellow participants. Some of the most successful Facebook groups are structured so that they function as a community. You are the leader, but you also want members to interact with, and support each other, not just you.
Since Facebook groups don’t face the same organic reach challenges as Facebook fan pages, the people that really want to see the daily posts, won’t miss a thing. Hosting your own Facebook group elevates your status as a leader since you are bringing people together for the challenge.
Once the challenge ends, you will have a group full of people, and some of them will be ready to take the next step with you to become a client or join your group program.
Build Your Sales Funnel
The end goal of any free offer should be to convert some of the members to paying clients. In this manner, your free program acts as the first step in your sales funnel. The top of the funnel is where people enter with a free offer like a challenge. The middle is where you offer a low-cost, short-term program (30 days is a great option). The bottom of your funnel is your premium coaching program or higher-priced, longer-term program. By providing consistent value over time, and gaining their trust, you keep moving people down the funnel. People that know, like, and trust you are going to want to continue to do business with you, and they will also refer their friends. No need to complicate this. If you only offer 1-on-1 coaching, you can offer a 30-Day program for that as the first step.
At the end of your challenge (5-7 days is the perfect length of time), you can offer the next step in your sales funnel. This is where you offer a way people can continue their progress and accelerate their results. Once the challenge is over, one option is to lead people into a lower-cost group program for 30-days. At the end of the 30-day program, you can lead them to join your intermediate program. Each program you offer should go up in both price and level of support.
Over time, your programs can build upon one another, so that each program acts as a lead-in for the next one. When you think of your programs as a process or a journey, you’ll be able to find ways to offer more than one program to clients and potential clients.
Topics for Your Challenge
There is a wide range of themes and topics for any type of challenge, so think about what your audience would be drawn to and appreciate the most. One option is to do a 5-day challenge that addresses a common struggle you know your ideal clients face such as menu planning.
You want your daily topics to be easy to implement, and easy to have small wins along the way. This will keep people motivated and ready to take the next step.
Keeping Your Participants Engaged
Who doesn’t love incentives? Even though this is a free challenge, you can still offer PRIZES for participation. Prizes are optional, but it makes it more fun for participants and it keeps them coming back to your group which is where they get to know you. One easy way to do this is to let everyone know you’ll be drawing a name each day for a prize. The more they comment and post, the more chances they have to win. If you’re using a Facebook group for the hub of your challenge, you can either just pick a name at random, or you can use a tool like randompicker.com to select a winner for you.
Prize ideas include: A journal, exercise bands, cookbook, motivational book, gift cards (an eGift card from Amazon is easy). You want to pick prizes that are light-weight and easy to mail. If your winner lives out of the country, an eGift card is a good option. Look for items that are on sale when you’re out shopping, and you can build a nice assortment of prizes to make it fun for people to stay engaged in your Facebook group.
Build Your Business with a Free Challenge
A free challenge is a great way to kick off and fill a new Facebook group with your ideal audience, and it’s also a great way to re-energize an existing group that may have fizzled out. Think of the free challenge as an amazing way to introduce yourself to your target audience in a fun way, and have them get to know, like, and trust you in a short period of time.
The great news is that you can run your challenge 3-4 times a year to continue to build awareness and get new clients – rinse and repeat!
How to Get Started
Map uout
If you want to run a challenge, but you don’t have the time or aren’t sure how to put one together, I have something that may interest you.
I created the 5-Day Menu Planning Challenge, so you would have an irresistible free offer to build awareness, grow your email list, and get clients QUICKLY.
You get EVERYTHING you need to PROMOTE, FILL, and RUN an incredibly successful challenge in a matter of days.
Check out the 5-Day Menu Planning Challenge HERE.
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