A budding entrepreneur recently asked me for a 6-month marketing plan to grow her business. Her intention is to make a business income that will allow her to leave her day job, so I listed out several steps that will help her grow her health coaching company, find clients, and build an online audience. Every step I shared with her can also be used to grow a more established service-based business.
QUESTION:
“Hello, Ava. Thank you for your inspiration and guidance. Transitioning to a health coach business while continuing on with a current full time career takes planning. Any advice for a 6-month plan would be appreciated.”
AVA:
“If I had to restart a totally new service-based business right now, from the beginning, here’s what I would do:
1. Book 3-5 classes each month that you can teach at. Teaching live introductory classes can be a great way to meet new clients, very quickly. On the day that you teach, give your guests an opportunity to book a consultation with you, so that you can talk about working together in the week following the class. Also ask every guest at your class to sign up for your newsletter, so that you can continue to stay in touch with them via email. (If you’d like a 30-day free trial of the newsletter service I use, you’ll see the link on https://avawaits.com/ava-recommends/)
2. Go to any and every networking group with health conscious people in it. Once you discover whether a group is a fit or not, you can get more particular about which ones you go to.
3. Have conversations with all of the great people that you meet. Sit down with them for tea, or take a walk together during a break in your day. Ask how you can support them and their business. The person you’re talking with may become a supportive colleague, a potential client, a friend, or they may lead you to another speaking opportunity.
4. Get plenty of training on how to conduct sales conversations. Aim to have sales conversations with potential clients that feel more like fun conversations, and less like a “sale.” In one of my programs, Build A Richer Business, there is a section about learning to LOVE the money conversation. If you’re interested in purchasing Build A Richer Business, email us at [email protected], and we’ll get you access to the training.
5. Connect via social media with everyone you meet in person, because they will become the basis of your social media marketing networks.
6. Offer to write testimonials for mentors that you’ve worked with, and include your name and website along with your success story. Your mentors will proudly share these testimonials, which means that your business details will be shared at the same time. (Free publicity!)
7. I also highly, highly, highly recommend that you bring your business income to the level of your job income before leaving your job. In these foundational stages of your business, it will be about squeezing your client work in around your employment. (Don’t worry – juggling your time like this won’t last forever.)
This is a great start!
Enjoy!
© 2015 Ava Waits
Ava Waits is an inspirational speaker, business mentor, and forthcoming author. She believes that making money should feel like bliss, and through her work, she helps innovative women build service-based businesses that richly fund their lives.
Clients worldwide have used Ava’s processes to release financial constriction and bring more business opportunities and income into their lives. For more information, to view article archives, and to schedule a Strategy Session to discuss your business visions, please visit www.AvaWaits.com.
