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 r 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
Great info, as always, Kathleen. Thank you. It is so helpful to have it clearly put, how to go about launching your programs.
Hi Lynne! Great to see you here 🙂 I’m so glad you found it helpful. Can’t wait to see what you do! xo
I’m slowly working through your content and learning so much along the way. Thank you.
Awesome! Thanks so much for letting me know 🙂
I’ve just recently discovered this blog and your resources are off the charts in terms of value. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Mikayla,
Thank you so much for your kind words! That means a lot 🙂
Thank you for being such a great support! You have helped me grow as a coach and evolve as a business owner and for that I am truly grateful! 🙂
Hi Jen,
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that 🙂 It’s my absolute pleasure. I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a sweet commment! xo