The first habit to set when you’re starting out as an online coach
In the early days of my coaching business, working online felt overwhelming, complex and unexpectedly tricky to navigate.
I started my business with a surge of energy enthusiasm and determination.
I knew that I wanted to support other mums with the very real juggle of work life and time for themselves, and I wholeheartedly believed in the role my coaching practice had to play in this.
It seemed like an obvious move to start online, given that the world was still largely in lockdown and had been for some time.
What I didn’t realise is that delving into the world of online business as a new solopreneur can very quickly and easily feel like diving head first into a very tangled web of information, which in many ways is exactly what it is!
I looked to see what other more established coaches and prominent online businesses were doing and decided to take a leaf out of their book.
I launched a podcast, set up a mailing list, nabbed social media handles on every platform and made myself visible in all the places.
In addition, I signed up for workshops, read books, listened to other podcasts and took part on challenges designed to get my business moving.
Safe to say, I threw myself in 110%.
Which is why I couldn’t quite understand why I wasn’t getting any clients.
As the weeks went by, I could feel my new found confidence draining, self doubt creeping in and my willingness to ‘put myself out there’ shrinking.
And of course, when you feel this way, looking through the filter of social media, at the successes other business owners are experiencing is the last place you should look.
I was pretty sure I was failing miserably.
As it turns out, I wasn’t.
In fact, what I experienced is a pretty common stage many new online business owners go through.
The hard truth is that even with an amazing website, a fantastic service and a real sense of wanting to do good in the world, building a business online takes time.
And it takes even longer if you’re not getting out there and having real conversations with real people who need the thing that you offer.
There is a power to taking things slowly. Taking time to build meaningful relationships that will last. To find out what your clients really need and how you can best offer that.
All of which starts with conversations.
So if you are just starting out online and either you’re stuck in analysis paralysis, wondering where to start, or you’re already doing all the things but it’s not working, then my one piece of advice is to take it back to having conversations.
Reach out to people you already know who might be the sort of person you’d like to work with, find online or in-person meet ups, connect with other people doing the things you want to do. Or if you are stuck for ideas, get in touch and I’ll happily help you brainstorm.