How I Skyrocketed my Coaching Business in 3 Months
March 24th, 2008
By: Shama Hyder
As some of you know, I had my own coaching practice before I started After The Launch. One of the driving factors behind starting After The Launch was my success with the coaching business. I saw (still see) really good coaches struggling to make ends meet. Here is how I built a thriving coaching practice and later sold it:
1) I didn’t "jump in." I am a fairly methodical person and I like to do my research. I suggest all serious business owners do the same. Before I ever opened shop, I talked to other coaches, I created a marketing plan, and most importantly-I found a mentor. Jeannette Maw is a very successful coach. She was doing something very close to what I wanted to do, so I hired her to help me. It was the smartest decision I made. Very few people realize how tough it is to start a business from scratch-even if you are a seasoned entrepreneur. There is no alternative for human support. Having her support enabled me to reach further and feel safe doing so at the same time.
2) I had a model and methodology- A structure is one of the most underrated yet useful components of a successful coaching or consulting business. It provides a flexible framework for getting a client from point A to point B. I created the WOW coaching method. It was a three step process that I honed over time to deliver results. It allowed me to explain how I worked in very simple terms .
3) I participated in forums- Marketing your services through forums is online guerilla marketing at it’s best. I participated mainly in forums where my target market was hanging out. And I didn’t post any ads. I just answered people’s questions with my web address in the signature. This was a GREAT list building tool. On an average week, I was adding 50 to 60 new people to my list.
4) Positive intentions- Our intentions are powerful. Once you make up your mind, you can (pardon the cliche) truly move mountains. I was intent on building a successful practice and I didn’t let up until I had one. I also realized that I didn’t need a million clients. I just needed a few that truly loved what I had to offer.
5) Created a funnel- Not everybody is ready for full fledge coaching. They want a taste of what you have to offer. Keeping this principle in mind, I created a funnel. It started with a free report, then a $9.99 personalized prescription for success, and then went on to coaching. The $9.99 made no difference to me, but it allowed me to show them how I could help. Paying a small amount helped them show trust in my services (even if it was a small start).
Later this week I will share the lessons I learned while creating and building my coaching practice.
Recently there was a brilliant article by Kevin Kelly called 
“Shama really helped pump me up about my website and all the possibilities. She not only offered loads of great advice on how to help grow and monetize my Online Guitar Community in the long run, she also offered a lot of practical short-term advice that was easy to implement right away. Definitely recommend her!”
“When I first met Shama I called her a fireball of enthusiasm and energy! She has so much passion for what she does and always gives her heart and soul to every project. She is gifted in her abilities to tune into what you need and get the job done fast. There is great excitement when she gets on a creative roll and the ideas start pouring out. Shama is master of action and results when it comes to business, she knows just what area is out of balance and where to target the attention. She is focused, driven, and dedicated. If you are looking for sure-fire ways to boost the success of your business, Shama can take you there. She’s got what it takes to bring a company to the top of its game.”