But… maybe you’ve tried strategies in the past that just didn’t work. 

Or maybe you’re a brand new business owner and you want to learn proven methods that will help you scale as quickly as possible.

Sound like you? 

Keep reading… That’s what we’re going to talk about in this article.

If you’re having a hard time…

• Appealing to your target audience
• Hitting revenue goals
• Automating lead generation

…those are ALL things you can change.

Specifically, here are the steps we’re going to cover:

Get referrals

Build your search engine optimization 

Create a Google Business profile

Use content marketing

Find affiliates 

Build an email list

Show off your testimonials

Create better posts on social media

Tap into paid ads

Use engaging video

1. Get referrals

Listen: Referrals are a goldmine for getting new customers. 

Why? 

Because people who’ve worked with you or bought from you in the past might know people who also need what you offer. 

And according to research, 93% of customers trust personal recommendations more than ads. 

Okay, so how can you get referrals? 

If you’re starting from scratch and don’t have an audience yet, tap into your network first. 

Without being sales-y, let people who might be interested know that you’re starting a business to help [blank] with [blank]. 

The 4-Step Automatic Attraction System

for attracting more clients daily... without paid ads, social media, or "hustle"!

GET THE PDF NOW

At this point, don’t try to sell anything. 

What you want to do instead is offer so much value that people will WANT to buy from you later. 

For example, if you’re starting a service-based business, you could offer a free coaching or consulting call to give people a taste of what they can expect. 

And here’s the thing…

You can automate your referral process to make it really easy. Just send a follow-up email when someone buys from you to ask for referrals (and don’t forget to offer some incentive, like a 10% commission).

2. Build your search engine optimization

Wondering what THE most scalable and profitable way to have clients come to you is? 

Search engine optimization (SEO). 

Basically, SEO helps drive traffic to your site – without you having to pay for ads or reach out to people yourself. As you can imagine, this is incredibly valuable. 

And the thing is, over 80% of traffic comes from Google alone. Which means? 

Building an SEO-optimized site is the key to having more people find you through major search engines. 

So, how do you do that?

There are a few steps to take, like:

• Using the right keywords 
• Posting optimized content
• Building high-quality links

Not sure how to do that? Don’t worry, I wrote an article covering organic traffic in more detail right here.

Note, though, that SEO is an advanced strategy and the best time to invest in SEO is when you already have a few clients.

In the meantime, you can build your local SEO (an easier route to get clients through Google). How? That’s what we’ll look at next.

3. Create a Google Business profile

If you have a business with a local audience, setting up a Google Business profile is a smart move. Why? Because it can help people discover you when they’re looking for businesses like yours. 

So, for example…

Let’s say you run a copywriting business. In that case, people who are searching for local copywriters online will be able to find you thanks to your profile on Google. (However, you don’t need to limit yourself to a local audience – but this strategy can bring in extra clients in your vicinity.)

(Find out how to create a Google Business profile here.)

4. Use content marketing

Effective content marketing goes hand-in-hand with the SEO I talked about earlier. And it’s a POWERFUL way to attract more customers quickly. 

Why? 

Because by appearing on relevant podcasts or being featured in publications, you can tap into people’s established audiences. 

That’s exactly what I’ve done in the past, and it directly resulted in more leads and sales.

But here’s the thing…

You don’t have to pitch to huge publications or podcasts to get traction. Even small audiences can help you grow, especially niche audiences. 

So, do a Google search for relevant platforms you could pitch to. 

And once you’ve found ones you like, reach out to the editor or podcaster and offer to share your expertise with their audience.

For example, here’s a script you can tweak to fit your needs:

“Hi [Name],

I’m [Your Name], and I [mention your relevant background/experience that would make you an ideal guest]. I’d be happy to come on as a guest and share [relevant topic] with your audience. Here are a few topic ideas that might resonate with your [listeners/readers]:

• [Topic suggestion 1]
• [Topic suggestion 2]
• [Topic suggestion 3]

If you’re interested, let me know and we can discuss the details.

Warmly,

[Your Name]”

As you can see, the process is simple. 

Just keep this in mind…

When you’re pitching, always put yourself in the other person’s shoes.

So, ask yourself, “If I were them, what kind of guest would I want to invite? What kind of topics would I want to cover?” 

And then use that information to write compelling pitches that will make it easy for them to say yes.

5. Find affiliates

In a nutshell, affiliate marketing is when people who have established audiences promote your products or services to their fans on your behalf. 

And remember…

The 4-Step Automatic Attraction System

for attracting more clients daily... without paid ads, social media, or "hustle"!

GET THE PDF NOW

Like with content marketing, you don’t have to collaborate with people who have huge audiences. 

What’s more important than size is relevance. 

Here’s what I mean by that: 

It’s better to find affiliates who have a small audience of really interested potential customers versus a huge audience of people who aren’t particularly interested in what you offer. 

Okay, but what’s the downside to going this route? 

You do have to pay an affiliate commission. And the amount you pay can vary a lot, depending on what your product or service is. 

So, for example, high end services are usually 10%, but products (like online courses) are usually around 50%-75%. 

The good news? Affiliates can help you attract customers without any work on your part, so even if the affiliate commission you pay is high, you’ll still be making money relatively passively. 

6. Build an email list

Look: There are plenty of ways you can attract customers these days, but building an email list remains an ideal way to build long-term relationships with your audience. 

And that’s because you OWN your email list. 

With social media platforms, for example, you don’t have that kind of control. 

Sure, you can use social media effectively (and I’ll talk about that in a minute). But if a platform suddenly decides to change its algorithm or shuts down, you’ll have to start over. 

Okay, but… how can you get people to sign up for your email list? 

There are a bunch of different ways. You could include a call-to-action in a guest post, a podcast appearance, ads, etc. 

The key here is to offer VALUE.

Remember: People want things that benefit them. If you can show that you can help them with their problems, they’ll WANT to give you their email and keep learning from you.

I talk more about how to do email marketing the right way in this video:

7. Show off your testimonials

According to research, over 90% of consumers look up testimonials when they’re considering a purchase. 

And that makes sense: People want to know that if they invest in your product or service, they’ll get results.

As a business owner, use this to your advantage. 

You can include testimonials wherever it makes sense, including:

• Your website 
• Sales pages
• Promotional emails 

You want to build trust with prospective customers and show that YOU can help them.

Alright, but… what if you don’t have any testimonials yet? 

Don’t worry, everyone starts somewhere. 

Even if you’ve never been paid for your product or service (so far!), you can still get testimonials. 

For example, if you have a service-based business, you can offer some small result in exchange for a review. 

And if you’re selling a physical product, it’s the same deal: You can offer a small product or sample for free to get your first reviews.

(If you need more guidance on this, I go into a lot more detail on how to get testimonials here.)

8. Create better posts on social media

Social media CAN be an effective way to get clients. But you have to use it the right way. If you just post content without having a method in place, it’ll be tough to get traction. 

So, what IS the right way? 

I like to use the formula H.O.T. to create effective content. 

Here’s what that means:

H stands for Headlight: In other words, create an attention-grabbing caption or opener. How? You can do this in a few different ways, like with a question or thought. Just keep it short so it’s easy to read.

O stands for Organization: To keep your posts organized, they need to have structure. So, no matter what your post is about, have a headlight, your point, and finish with a call-to-action. Having this structure will help you know what to include in every post you make. 

T stands for Tasty: What do I mean by that? Think about this: No one likes reading boring posts… EVEN if they’re really valuable. So, find a balance between sharing content that’s useful and sharing content that’s also funny or unique. 

Want to learn more? I talk more about social media marketing here: 

9. Tap into paid ads

Here’s a disclaimer: If you’re a new business owner, I don’t recommend using paid ads right away (and I’ll explain why in a second). 

With that said, they CAN help you scale eventually. In fact, ads helped me grow my business to seven figures, so I know firsthand how effective they can be.

Alright, here’s what you should have in place to create ads that’ll work:

• A clear idea of who your audience is (and what they need/want that you offer)
• Attention-grabbing copy and visuals

Okay, so why do I recommend waiting until you have some experience before trying paid ads?

Because if you’re just getting started and you don’t really know who you’re trying to attract yet, it’ll be really tough to create targeted ads that speak to the right people. 

So, first, get some business experience under your belt. If you’re a coach, work with a few clients and do market research to pinpoint who you’re going to help. 

And once you’ve nailed down who your audience is and what their pain points are, ads will be a lot easier to create.

10. Use engaging video

People love watching videos, so take advantage of that to attract customers. 

In fact, that’s what I do: I put out a lot of valuable content on my YouTube channel to build trust with my audience, which is the first step to driving leads (and ultimately making more sales). 

So, what kind of content should you create?

Here’s what I recommend: 

Instead of just copying what other content creators are doing, do some research to find out what questions your target audience has that you can answer. 

If you’re not sure, join Facebook groups in your niche and ask people directly. 

This is a great way to go because it’s a win-win: By asking questions, you get valuable insight into your target audience, and they get the answers they need.

I talk more about YouTube videos here: 

Next steps 

So, there you have it! Now you know what steps you can take to attract customers to your business the right way… 

WITHOUT having to work all the time or play games that don’t get results (like buying social media followers).

The 4-Step Automatic Attraction System

for attracting more clients daily... without paid ads, social media, or "hustle"!

GET THE PDF NOW

Okay, so you’re ready to finally hit your business goals. But… what if you need more guidance as you scale? 

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. My free masterclass that will help you tap into a proven system for attracting clients consistently.

Read more:

How to Build an Evergreen Sales Funnel

How to Learn to Sell Anything Online

How to Deal with Difficult Clients

The post 10 Simple Ways to Attract Customers to Your Small Business appeared first on Luisa Zhou.

You’re in the right place!

In this guide, you’ll learn how to start your own personal coaching business to create more flexibility and freedom in your life. 

Ready to dive in? Let’s go.

What is a personal development coach?

Not entirely sure what personal development coaching means?

Let’s go over it together.

The definition of personal development coaching

A personal development coach supports and guides others toward personal growth and self-improvement.

They help clients:

• Cultivate self-awareness
• Identify and overcome challenges
• Build confidence and resilience
• Set goals
• Develop strategies for positive change

Personal development coaches use their coaching process to guide clients to unlock their potential with a personal development plan. 

Is there a demand for personal development coaches?

Personal development coaching is in high demand and it’s a huge industry that includes many, many businesses. Among these different personal development coach jobs are online courses, workshops, personal coaching, books, and more.

In fact: 

• 37% of people turn to personal development when they feel stuck in life. (SkyQuest)
• In 2022, the global personal development market size was valued at nearly USD 44 billion. By 2030, it’s expected to reach USD 67.02 billion. (Grand View Research)
• The demand for personal development coaching services has increased by 35% since 2017. (SkyQuest)

So, the demand is definitely there.

But what will you be doing as a personal development coach?

Keep reading.

What does a personal development coach do?

As a personal development coach, you play an important role in helping your clients on their self-development journey.

You’re their go-to person for support and understanding. And you’ll encourage them to explore their feelings, thoughts, and dreams.

At the same time, you also work with them to create action plans, set achievable goals, and overcome challenges or setbacks.

What is the difference between a life coach and a personal development coach?

The terms ‘personal development coach’ and ‘life coach’ are often used interchangeably, but they’re not 100% the same.

So, what’s the whole personal development coach vs life coach thing?

Let me explain.

A life coach works with clients to help them reach their goals.

If that sounds a little vague, it’s because it is.

You see, life coaching isn’t a real niche. And to stand out, every life coach has to pick their specialization.

This could be:

• Mindset and accountability coaching
• Health and fitness coaching
• Small business coaching
• Relationship coaching
• Career coaching
• Parenting and family coaching
• Personal development coaching
• And so on

Personal development coaching is essentially a niched-down form of life coaching. It focuses on personal growth and self-improvement.

So, while all personal development coaches are life coaches, not every life coach is a personal development coach. But, they COULD become one if they decided to get into the personal development niche.

What is the difference between a personal development coach and a professional development coach?

OK, one last term to clear up: Personal vs professional development coaching.

What does a professional development coach do? They help clients in reaching their professional goals be it at work or academically.

​​Personal development, on the other hand, delves into the broader aspects of a client’s life. 

As you can see, a clear distinction can be made. But there is also a lot of overlap.

And that’s a good thing!

Neglecting the personal to focusing solely on professional growth can be very limiting.

That’s why great professional development coaches also use personal development techniques.

Or to put it in the words of a Harvard article: PD also means personal development.

What are the benefits of personal development coaching?

As mentioned above, personal development coaching explores various parts of a client’s development.

This means that the possible benefits are present in many life areas.

As a personal development coach, you improve your client’s mindset. In that sense, you could also be called a mindset coach.

With the right coaching, you help clients:

• Boost their self-confidence
• Develop better communication skills
• Overcome limiting beliefs
• Increase their resilience and adaptability
• Enhance their overall well-being

And the results are clear: 

• 80% of coaching clients say that coaching improved their self-esteem or self-confidence. (2009 ICF Global Coaching Study)
• Life coaching can improve health outcomes for certain patients. (BMC Health Services Research)

Next, let’s take a closer look at how you can become a personal development coach.

How do you become a personal development coach?

Personal development coaching is a fantastic way to help others lead happier lives.

But how do you become one?

We’ll cover that below.

How much do personal development coaches make?

Is coaching a profitable business?

Definitely! Especially if you have niched down, as is the case with PD coaching.

According to the latest study by the International Coach Federation (ICF), the average income for coaches is around $67,800. Keep in mind that this figure is based on part-time coaching work.

With the right tools, your personal development coach salary could be much higher!

As you build your expertise and attract more clients, your earning potential rises too. I’ve seen many of my clients go on to earn six figures and beyond.

Who can become a personal development coach?

You can become a personal development coach if you have the right experience and results. 

Most importantly, you need to be able to help your clients 

So, if you’ve ever successfully transformed your own life or helped someone else achieve their goals, you’re already qualified!

That said, to be an amazing coach, you DO need to develop great coaching skills.

We’ll cover how below.

What skills do you need as a personal development coach?

How do you become an effective success coach?

Through experience and feedback.

While there are specific skills every coach should have, coaching itself can be learned.

So, don’t worry if you don’t have all the expertise yet. Because just like top personal development coaches, you’ll learn as you go.

To kickstart your coaching business, you can set lower rates for your first few packages.

Note: Lower, not low.

We don’t want you to undervalue yourself.

Starting out with a reduced rate has two big benefits:

• More people have the chance to work with you
• You gain valuable experience

I recommend starting out by offering 3-month coaching packages for $1,500. Once you’ve gathered some experience and testimonials, you can then raise your rates.

However, even with these first few clients, you already want them to get real results. Reaching these goals is the key to successful coaching (and to getting those glowing testimonials!)

What are three strengths of a coach to help clients get results?

• Communication
• Structure
• Motivation

Let’s go over them in more detail.

Communicating well

To communicate well as a coach, you need to:

• Listen actively
• Ask the right questions
• Be candid

You have to know what’s going on in your clients’ minds to guide them toward the results they crave.

This sometimes involves having those tougher conversations.

It may seem scary at first, but learning how to call clients out is so important. When done with love, it’s a great way to help them grow.

Imagine your client is struggling to make progress despite their best efforts. You might say, “I can see how hard you’ve been working on your goals, but let’s also take a look at your mindset and self-belief. Right now, you’re choosing not to feel like you are worth achieving your goal.” 

Structuring your coaching

Anyone can become a coach, but what sets you apart is helping your clients get results.

For this, you need a methodology that lets you structure coaching sessions effectively.

This involves three important steps:

• Getting to know your client beforehand
• Creating a clear call structure
• Working with specific goals and subgoals

Get to know your client beforehand

Coaching begins before the first call.

Before the first session, you should already have an idea of what they want to achieve.

You can figure this out by sending them an intake form.

Not sure what to include in the form? Then check out my list of useful intake form questions.

Identify a main goal and work with subgoals

Every single coaching call should serve a purpose.

If this is not the case, you’re wasting your client’s time as well as your own.

How do you create purpose-driven coaching calls?

By having a goal.

This way, you can set up each coaching session so that it contributes to this overall goal.

For instance, if a client wants to build stronger relationships and improve their communication skills, every call should be a step toward that goal.

You achieve this by using subgoals. These are smaller objectives that build toward the primary goal.

So, if your client wants to improve their personal relationships and communication skills, you could do the following:

In one session, you might explore their communication patterns and identify areas for improvement.

During the next call, you can work on active listening techniques and empathetic responses.

Following that, you may practice effective communication in different scenarios, such as at work or in their personal life.

And so on.

Create a call structure

Creating a call structure can make your coaching super effective.

You’ll generally be meeting your clients once or twice a month, depending on what you offer.

The trick is to know exactly what to cover during each call. You don’t want to be making it up as you go – that can get messy and leave your clients feeling confused.

While you don’t need a full-blown script, you do need a roadmap that outlines what you’ll be talking about.

Having clear subgoals for each call also comes in handy here.

By having a structure, you’ll cover all the important stuff and keep the coaching session on track.

That’s how you provide incredible value and help your clients progress.

If you want some guidance on how to do this, I put together a short video on how to script your call:

Being motivating

Being motivating as a coach goes far beyond merely being a cheerleader.

You’re there to hold your client’s vision.

You help them see what they really desire and are capable of doing.

When they face an obstacle, you don’t just offer sympathy or platitudes. Instead, you get to problem-solving and find solutions.

Let’s say you’re working with a client to boost their self-confidence. Instead of saying, “Don’t worry; you’ll gain more confidence eventually,” you’ll provide a step-by-step plan to help the client build their self-esteem and tackle self-doubt with practical strategies.

When your client loses track of the reason why they hired you in the first place, you gently remind them of their end goal.

This combination of unwavering support AND proactive steps keeps clients focused and motivated.

Do you need a personal development coaching certification?

So, how easy is it to start a coaching business?

Do you need certifications?

The short answer: No.

Why?

While some health and mental health niches require certifications, most personal development coaches do not.

In fact, coaching is a largely unregulated industry. Whether or not you decide to get certified comes down to your personal preference and niche.

From experience, I know that practical know-how and a solid methodology are often more valuable than simply attending personal development coaching programs.

For example, I built a six-figure coaching business in less than six months without having a certification.

At the time, I was working with digital advertising in my 9-5. I noticed I could answer people’s questions about this topic. And things grew from there.

Not once did my clients ask for certifications to prove my expertise. That’s because they noticed the impact of what I was providing them first-hand.

At the end of the day, that’s what matters most: Your ability to help clients achieve results and make positive changes in their lives.

However, if you do decide to go for a self-improvement coach certification, make sure to choose a reputable program like those offered by authoritative organizations. The ICF is a good example.

To save you time, I’ve gathered some useful personal development courses for you:

• Coach Training Alliance
• Certified Life Coach Institute Coaching 101
• Coach U Professional Coach Training Program

How do you get personal development coaching clients?

If you’re just starting your personal development coaching business, you’ll need to find your first few clients.

There are several things you can do to make that happen. The key is to choose one strategy that resonates with you and focus on mastering it.

Once you have a few clients, you can take the next step: growing your business.

Let’s take a closer look at the three options.

Tap into your own network

Your friends, family, or acquaintances already know and trust you. This makes them possible clients.

Reach out to people you’ve previously given advice to and see if they’re interested in deepening the work.

When I was building my career coaching business, I approached people I had given career advice to, and some of them became my first clients.

Plus, if someone isn’t interested in coaching right now, perhaps they could give you a review?

Get on podcasts

Another great method is to get on relevant podcasts. It lets you share your expertise and gain credibility as a personal development coach.

An extra plus is that people will trust you faster because they already have confidence in the podcast they follow.

Build relationships online

Ever considered engaging with online communities, such as Reddit subreddits and Facebook groups?

Potential clients might be looking for guidance there. So, why not help them out by providing valuable information?

Building online relationships isn’t only useful if you want to do personal development coaching online. 

It can also get you in-person clients.

That’s because once people recognize the value you bring, they’re much more open to discussing coaching with you.

In this short video, I talk more about the strategies to get your first client.

Next steps

Great! Now you know exactly what makes a great personal coach.

Through personal development coaching, you can have a massive impact.

Each step your clients take with your guidance brings them closer to reaching their goals and living a more fulfilling life.

Ready to put what you’ve just learned into action?

Then get my blueprint on building a six-figure coaching business today.

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Read more:

Life Coaching Marketing: The Best Strategies to Get Paying Clients

How to Get Clients Online: Use These Great Strategies

Life Coach Salary: How Much Do Life Coaches Make?

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