Quick LinksInviteCHANGECo-Active Summit The Coaches Console My Life Compass Market Your Coaching Business Portable Associate choice Magazine Subscribe to choice More from choice! choice expert series archives 
 Be a client, become a coach! Change your life, check it out Now! BE A FANVISIT THE CHOICE FAN PAGE ON FACEBOOK!
Subscribe to choice
US SUBSCRIPTION ORDER CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTION ORDER INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION ORDER choice Magazine Customer Service
Hours: |
Part 4 of a four part series by Kim Ades, MBA
Sales, Pricing, Delivery and Sustainabilty -
The Answer for Coaches
Part 4: Sustainability - Getting Them to Come Back for More Some people think that if a coaching client comes back, it's an indicator that their coaching experience with you wasn't all that successful the first time. Here's what I say: Hogwash! From my perspective, if a coaching client comes back, it means that they love you and clearly see the value you add to their lives. It means that it was so great the last time that your name is what popped into their heads the minute they had another need. It means that somehow you are managing to stay front and centre in their minds so that you are easily accessible, and you are selected as their brand of choice. And, if they are recommending you to others, then you are REALLY in their good books! You have managed to convert them into raving fans who are ready and willing to spread the news. The old adage is that it's easier to keep an existing client than it is to acquire a new one. This concept is challenging in an industry like coaching, where coaches regularly grapple with boredom and burnout from extensive periods of time spent with the same client, and feel extreme discomfort with the idea of selling anyone into anything, let alone another round of coaching. The solution is to find a way to keep in touch with clients in a manner that is not intrusive or pushy, yet engages them in ongoing dialogue that is meaningful and relevant to their own personal development. Consider establishing an online, insulated social networking community on your website where they can journal or blog about whatever is important to them and interact with others on the site. There are all kinds of platforms available that you can use for this purpose. You can provide them with themes to write about on a regular basis as a way to prompt them to engage on the site and also serve as a valuable give-away while keeping them up to date with whatever new programs you are offering. You can provide your personal feedback on their journal as a way to offer your support and suggest another round of coaching services, if appropriate. The rules of social media suggest that if you blog regularly, people who are reading will get to know, like, and trust you and eventually that will lead to a sale. I suggest that instead of blogging into cyber-space where someone may or may not read your content, you can journal in your own social networking community and invite your own members to get to know you intimately. There is no better way for them to gain some insight into your personality, your character, and learn about your perspective on things that are important to you. A community of like-minded people who are supportive, caring, and interested in personal development is self-sustaining. Each time someone journals or blogs publicly, the rest of the community responds with their comment(s) and dramatically increases the stickiness of the site. By creating your own, personally branded social network, you have effectively designed a place where individuals receive support and attention and continuously experience personal growth - this provides every reason to keep coming back for more. Community is the key to long-term sustainability. One might think that Facebook is a great place to build a community because of the sheer numbers of people on the site. The truth is that Facebook is a great place to invite people to join your private and intimate social network where there is less noise, less unnecessary traffic, and a far greater opportunity for deep self-discovery to take place. That's an invitation that is hard to pass up. About our expert: Kim Ades, MBA, President of Frame of Mind Coaching and JournalEngine™ Software is one of North America's foremost experts on performance through thought management. By using her unique process of coaching through journaling, she works with hundreds of clients yearly to unveil and switch their thought patterns to ignite significant change and life transformation. She is now teaching this process to coaches all over the world for use with their clients. Visit www.journalengine.com to sign up for your own free, secure, online journal and explore how you can use a journaling platform with your clients. Sign up for your free online journal: www.frameofmindcoaching.com www.journalengine.com For updated information on our choice Multi Media Expert Series visit www.morefromchoice.com For archived MP3 audio library visit www.morefromchoice.com For the choice expert series archives visit www.choice-online.com/expertseries.html choice, the magazine of professional coaching  become a fan  tweet us  link up with us Feedback is welcome at ExpertSeries@choice-online.com Visit our choice Websitechoice, the magazine of professional coaching
For our Multi Media Teleclasses visit
www.morefromchoice.com
customer
service phone: 310-941-7249 (PST 9-4)
|
