4 Simple Steps to Taking Your Health Coaching Programs Online
If you’ve been wondering how to take your health coaching practice online, this post is for you!
The good news is that it’s probably easier than you think to add an online coaching element to your practice. Part of the problem is that there are so many options on how to do it that it can seem confusing and overwhelming. I’m breaking it down for you a bit in this post, so you can get started much sooner than later.
If you know me, you know that I’m all about keeping things as SIMPLE as possible, and I encourage you to do the same, and look at each step you take as an experiment that will give you feedback along the way.
The first time you launch your program online, it will be a test to see what works best, what you want to change next time, and get feedback and testimonials for your next launch. Don’t get hung up on thinking everything has to be perfect. When you consider your first (and maybe even second) round a beta group, it takes some of the pressure off, so you can deliver an amazing program without worrying about adding any bells and whistles.
There are just 4 things you want to have in place to take your coaching online:
1. Your program – This can be in the form of recorded PowerPoint presentations and/or face-to-camera video (you can also do a combination of both if you want). Decide how long your program will be. You may want to offer a short-term program (30 days) that leads to a longer-term program (90 days). If you don’t already have a program all set and ready to go, check out the Coach with Confidence program which has 12 comprehensive health coaching sessions all done for you (this includes the PowerPoints you would narrate for your sessions). This program can be configured to be used as any length program you’d like (up to 6 months).
NOTE: You can record your PowerPoints using Camtasia (for PC) or ScreenFlow (for Mac) or use a program like Zoom (Zoom has a free version that would be perfect for this type of project, and I use it all the time). You also want to have the proper disclaimers, and agreement in place to protect yourself from liability. If you don’t already have the documents you need, Lisa Fraley is a great resource for this.
2. A platform to host your content – When you first start out, using email and a Facebook group is just fine as you test things out. If you decide you want to use an online platform to host your program, I recommend I like that Practice Better is specific to health coaches and nutritionists, and it can be used for 1-on-1 clients or as a group online program. The free version is good for up to 3 clients, but you’ll need the paid version if you want to do online coaching (their rates are great). If you go with the paid version, when you use my link above and code: KATHLEEN, you’ll get 30% off your first 4 months for a new account.
3. Email – You’ll need an email service provider that includes automation. Automation is important to have, so that a welcome email can go out as soon as someone registers. It can also automate your emails if you’d like to set it up as an evergreen program (people can join at any time). I recommend MailerLite for this, but most email service providers will do. I have become a huge fan on Mailerlite because their free version is good for up to 1,000 subscribers, and they include landing pages for your opt-in pages and sales pages.
4. Facebook group for support & community – One of the most appealing aspects of an online coaching program is the community of support the members get inside of a private Facebook group. Great program content is important, but people really want to be a part of the journey with others who are in the same boat with similar goals. As the group’s leader, you can provide support and have members get to know you. Doing livestreams in the group is also a wonderful way to build rapport and trust, and get interaction going.
With online coaching, the sky is the limit. You can deliver one new topic each week, or you can alternate weeks and use the off week to host a group call to answer questions and review the content from the previous week.
If you plan to do group calls, I recommend using Zoom if you aren’t doing livestreams in your group.
For more information on online coaching, including pricing and promotion, check out this step-by-step post right HERE.
Okay, so there you have it! Four steps to taking your coaching program online with ease. Remember, it’s always a test to see what works best, and it will continue to evolve over time.
Need more ideas? Be sure to join our FREE Facebook Mastermind Group for Health Coaches and Nutritionists HERE
You’ve got this!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I may receive compensation. I only recommend products and services that I either use myself or highly recommend, but do your own research to find out what’s best for you.
