Here at the Coaching Business Builder, during the mid part of 2019 I did a series of marketing posts around the nine promotional vehicles I touch on in Section 3 of Coaching Business Builder. They include: Speaking, Blogging, Podcasting, Networking, Article Writing, Product Development, Lunch and Learns, Associations, Trade Shows and Conferences

Given that marketing is usually an ongoing effort for businesses of all ages (yes, even if you’ve been around for a while, marketing is still important – there’s always a next inflection point), it can be useful to build in time on a regular basis to be putting attention around marketing campaigns.

Just like the tagline of Daily Steps + Consistent Action = Momentum asserts, in marketing it often about the consistency which is important. A one-off email or one-off tweet may not capture the attention of who you want to connect with.

Some of the marketing approaches I’ve been experimenting with this year include my focus on podcasting, as well as my continued focus on Instagram, articles and also blogging.

What are the approaches you are experimenting with at the moment?

What are you noticing you are enjoying?

What’s feeling like it needs a boost?
 
Regardless of marketing vehicle, it can be useful to have a variety of ideas to pull from. Whether you are focusing on Instagram and need a list of post ideas, or you are focusing on podcasting and want to focus in on your exploration.

Enjoy!
​Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized 
Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join us for an upcoming ICF-CCE approved program including Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs), Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs), or the PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training (24 CCEs). 
What's possible if you take daily steps on your business for 60 Days? Join our 60 Day Coaching Business Builder Accelerator program here!
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: [email protected]
​

In my current writing and speaking at Remote Pathways, I often use the phrase “no person is an island”, to remind us that even if we spend most of our time alone – as we do particularly as solopreneur remote coaches – much of our work as business owners and coaches brings us into the realm of partnering and collaboration.

Collaboration comes from the Latin root – Collaborare – which means to LABOUR TOGETHER.

There are many shapes collaboration can take on the part of coaches – from co-coaching when working with teams, to co-designing program offerings, to partnering when you launch a business.

There are many benefits to collaboration from:

• Being able to bring two voices, perspectives, and sets of eyes to our clients
• To being able to magnify our impact and resources
• To offset some of the weaker skill areas we bring. Strengths research continues to show that it’s easier to magnify strengths than to grow weaknesses
• To be able to offer programming at a much greater scale than we could alone

This month over at the Remote Pathways podcast I co-host with Michelle Mullins, we are exploring collaboration. Please take a few minutes to listen in to the latest episode.

Each episode also has a downloadable resource you might be interested in, particularly this episode on Collaboration. Be sure to check it out! 

Enjoy your focus and let us know how you are collaborating – what makes it work, and what gets in the way – over at the Conversation Sparker Zone. 
​
Have a great week,
Jennifer

One of the more challenging parts of being a business owner can be getting marketing off the ground. As a coach, you may be great at coaching, but letting people know what you are offering, may be the stretch or hard space.
 
Four things to keep in mind as you go about letting others know what you have to offer:
#1 – Keep connected with your WHY. Remembering why you are doing something can help you go the extra mile. It is usually the thing that pulls us out of the trough to try that next thing. As I continue to see in my own business, it’s often that one next thing that creates the breakthrough, or the sale!
#2 – Remember that communicating something only once may not be enough. In marketing we often talk about the 7-11 times rule.  That it takes multiple touchpoints (hopefully in different ways – i.e. video, article, blog post, call etc) for someone to become aware of what you have to offer. That’s even before they decide they need it now.
#3 – Not everyone is going to need what you have to offer now. One of the challenges of creating a “pent up demand” where something is only available for the next 5 days is that people may not need it now, but they may need it later, when it’s no longer even available. Thinking in the medium-term so that you might make it an annual offer each winter can help to maximize your own investment, while also planting the seed, and creating awareness by others.
#4 – Track your results. Always be asking where people heard about you when they register or engage you. What are those sources which are netting business. Which aren’t? How much time are you investing?
 
Over the last year I’ve posted quite a few posts on marketing – you may want to take a look at these to go a bit deeper into these ideas:

• Solopreneur Myth – I need social media to be my most important channel – Read it here.
• Solopreneur Myth – Build it they will come – read it here.
• Solopreneur Myth – Once is enough – read it here.

 
In the Spotlight Series I did last summer, I highlighted 9 of the more common marketing vehicles coaches may leverage. Take a look at them in the July 2019 archives and August archives.
​
Already this year I am enjoying the conversations we’re having at the Coaching Biz Growth Lab. It’s an annual group which meets bi-weekly throughout the year on Friday afternoon for learning, coaching and accountability. Consider joining us for a quarter or the year!
 
Best wishes,
Jennifer

 
Jennifer Britton - GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized 
Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join us for an upcoming ICF-CCE approved program including Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs), Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs), or the PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training (24 CCEs). 
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: [email protected]

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020. What are you looking forward to creating this year? This decade?

It’s a super-special day almost like the moments after a snowstorm where the ground is white and untouched. What do you want to create as you move forward this year, over the next 10 years?

If you still haven’t been able to focus on your vision, take a look at this video I did earlier this fall.

If you have a vision – pull it out and look at it. Is there a way you can create a one-pager to anchor your vision for the year? Make it visible?

Today’s the day we get started with the 60 Day Coaching Business Builder Accelerator. Imagine if today was day 1 of taking 60 days of consecutive action on your business.  I hope you will. It’s not too late to join us – Click on over and learn more about the 60 Day Accelerator. Our first live call happens on Monday January 6th at 8 am EST (your choice of two weekly times!). I’ll be logging into my zoom room later today to do a quick welcome message as well. And some intention setting. Can't make this week's call? There may be another group starting in a few weeks as well. 

What is it that you want to create in your work this year? This decade? I hope that you will find a few minutes today to find some time to capture your ideas.
​
With best wishes,
Jennifer

There are a few more days before we wrap up the year and I’m excited to be gearing up to get going with the 60 Day Coaching Business Builder Accelerator program on January 1st. We’ll be taking 60 days of consistent action on your business.  Today’s the day we get started with the 60 Day Coaching Business Builder Accelerator. Imagine if today was day 1 of taking 60 days of consecutive action on your business.  I hope you will.

Here’s what some of the people joining us on the 60 Day Coaching Business Builder Accelerator are choosing to do:

• Focus on growing out a new program
• Focusing on marketing consistently for 60 days
• Blogging and vlogging for 60 days – drafting, shooting, producing
• Creating a podcast
• Focusing in on creating the foundations of their business
• Developing a new group coaching program

​Over the first 9 weeks of the year we’ll be exploring a number of focus areas including:

• Week 1 – Coaching Business Foundations and Measurement
• Week 2 – Your Internal Ecosystem and Strengths
• Week 3 – Who You Serve – Clients and Offer
• Week 4 – Brand and Messaging
• Week 5 – Product and Program Design
• Week 6 – Marketing and Promotion
• Week 7 – Scale it Accelerate and Magnify
• Week 8 – Momentum and Celebration
• Week 9 – Next Steps

In addition to on-demand calls I’ll bring you weekly, there are two live calls each week – Mondays and Fridays where we’ll check in around your goals for the week, and also check back in at the end of the week to see how it’s gone. There’s two call times to choose from: 8:00 am – 8:45 am EST and 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm EST on both Mondays and Fridays.

• What do you want to move forward in your business?
• What’s that one goal you know you want to knock out of the park?
• What else is important to keep a focus on?

Click here to learn more about the program and I hope you’ll join us. One payment options, as well as three monthly payments, and 8 weekly payments are included as options.  Let's make your 2020 your best year yet!!!!!

Wishing you all the best, 
​Jennifer

​Jennifer Britton - GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized
Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: [email protected]

Part of the tagline of the Coaching Business Builder is that
Daily Steps + Consistent Action = Momentum

Are you ready to kick off the new decade taking daily steps around your coaching business? 
​
​The Coaching Biz Growth Accelerator is a 60 day LAB where you will be involved in daily steps and consistent action around your business for 60 days. This is a more immersive dive than my longer Coaching Biz Growth Lab which runs for a year.
​
Since 2017 I’ve been inspired to see the steps, action and RESULTS Coaches have taken as we’ve taken an annual look at developing their coaching businesses.  At the same time, as I’ve seen in my business, there’s also something unique about strategic focus and short windows
​
….Hence - a MUCH Shorter program geared to get you into MOMENTUM, and daily focus, with strategic support for 60 DAYS.

The 60 Day Accelerator includes:

• Two group calls each week for 8 weeks - One on Monday morning 8 – 845 am ET and one Friday (8 -845 am ET). Monday’s call is focused on accountability and what’ you’ll get done, Friday’s check in is also a group coaching call
• Access to a weekly on-demand video module where you will go through that week’s content (Content, Worksheets, videos). 
• Laser coaching 1-1 (15 min) with me each week
• Peer learning with a peer partner each week
• Access to the 60 Day Private Mighty Network held throughout the program
• Access to a weekly template you can use in your business right away

Here are the weekly themes, geared to get you into these daily steps and action:
Week 1 – Coaching Business Foundations and Measurement
Week 2 – Your Internal Ecosystem and Strengths
Week 3 – Who you serve – clients and offer
Week 4 – Brand and Messaging
Week 5 – Product and Program Design
Week 6 – Marketing and Promotion
Week 7 – Scale it Accelerate and Magnify
Week 8 – Momentum and Celebration
​
The 60 Day Program is being introduced for January 2020 at $997 US at an early bird rate available between December 17 - 23rd.
Registration increases to $1497 from December 24 - 30th.
Last minute registration on December 31st will be $1997 US.
This is payable in 1, 2 or 3  installments. 

Lock in your registration now. Space is limited as this is an interactive, high touch program.

We kick off on JANUARY 1st and wrap up 60 days later on March 1st.

Benefits of this 60 day accelerator:

• Daily steps to support you in your business growth
• Peer, Group and 1-1 Coaching support
• Focused attention in bite-sized pieces for your business
• Group and Individual Coaching Support
• Momentum Generated by consistent action
• Learning resources available during the calls and in-between the calls

​As an author and coach I bring road-tested business development resources through the Coaching Business Builder AND decades of experience coaching. I hope that you will join us for this 60 Day Adventure on January 1 2020.  Let's kick off 2020 together and make it your most memorable year of business!

Can't wait to have you join us at the 60 Day CBB Accelerator!

Jennifer Britton
Author of Coaching Business Builder (CBB)
Prism-Award winning coach and program designer
Has helped thousands of coaches develop, and launch their own group programs, products and businesses since 2004.
(416)996-8326

Systems are the heart of any coaching business. One of the more popular articles I wrote this year for the Coaching Tools Company is entitled “Five Systems at the Heart of Your Coaching Business”. It can be found here.

In the article, I explore five of the areas I’ve consistently seen coaches benefit from putting attention around:

1. Financial systems
2. Client Systems
3. Marketing
4. Content
5. Sales

Let’s look at each one of these right now, and consider which of these could use more attention:

1. Financial systems – How are you doing with things including invoicing, accounts payable, receivable? What makes it easy for people to do business with you? What do you find challenging? Is it time to get some advice in this area, or renegotiate your terms?
2. Client systems – What are the things clients receive as they become a client of yours? What message does it send? Is there anything you’ve been wanting to create for your clients which doesn’t yet exist? Consider welcome letters, questionnaires, agreements etc.
3. Marketing – Marketing is at the heart of a coaching business. Whether we are marketing via relationship building, content marketing, in-person or via social media, what are you doing to let people know about what you have to offer, what coaching is and how you provide support? What could use an update? A refresh? Look at your metrics? What’s working? What’s not?
4. Content – Content marketing may be a tangential part of a coaching business, however, over time, it’s likely that you may find yourself blogging, podcasting or creating content for reading lists and TED talks you recommend around the topics you coach around. For those that are going offer more than coaching services, this may be a significant part of your work. If you have a copy of the Coaching Business Builder, check out the Content Development Tools, including the Content Daily Trackers. Note what content you have created this year, OR spend time thinking about the top 3 areas you would like to develop content around for the new year.
5. Sales – What do you have in place around sales? Is it time for a web update? How clear is your call to action? What do you want people to do on each of your webpages?

Reach out and set up a one-off coaching conversation with Jennifer to review your coaching systems or where you want to take your business in 2020. Check out upcoming 45-minute call options here.

If you are looking for more extended support, consider joining us at the Coaching Biz Growth Lab during 2020 for ongoing conversations. Join now and benefit from being part of the group through to the end of 2020!

Have a great week!
​Jennifer

It’s almost the end of 2019 and an opportunity to reach out to your clients to say thank you. Solid relationships are at the heart of a solid coaching business. Whether your clients come back for more support OR refer you on, maintaining solid relationships with clients is key.

Given that we are moving towards year end, have you considered some of these outreach opportunities?

• Sending a holiday or new year card
• Hosting a call (planning, visioning) for your network
• Letting them know about upcoming 2020 programming
• Providing a gift card towards services (yours or others) for the new year

As you consider what you want to do, ask yourself the following:

• What will people find meaningful?
• What would your clients value?
• What is the message you would like to share? What is important to communicate at this time of year?

For more on this topic check out this Forbes article from YEC: 14 Ways Business Owners Can Make Outreach More Personable.

Enjoy your conversations,
Jennifer

​Jennifer Britton
Coaching Business Builder | Group Coaching Essentials
Supporting coaches to grow their business and skills in the areas of group coaching
Recipient of the Prism Award for Excellence in Coaching (2016), and i4pL Award of Excellence - Curriculum Design (2017)
Contact Jennifer to set up a call to see how her 1-1 coaching or group coaching support can help you move towards your Q 4 and 2020 goals.
Phone: (416)996-8326

In this month’s Group Coaching Essentials newsletter I focused on Keeping the Conversation Going with clients as you are running a group or team coaching conversation. You can read the October 2019 Group and Team Coaching Ins and Outs newsletter here.

Coaching is a process of change. Changes take time and involve a series of ups and downs. Likewise, people are probably having lots of insights and AHAs in between our conversational touch points. What can we do to harness this? Community building for your groups. 

Earlier this year I focused on starting to launch the Conversation Sparker Zone on Mighty Networks. It’s a venue where coaches can come together to focus on and discuss what’s important to them around group coaching, team coaching, virtual conversations and business development. I hope you’ll join us! Be sure to check it out here.

In keeping the conversation going it can involve some pre-planning on your part. Consider some of these different strategies:

1. Hosting a Mighty Network feed
2. Putting out a poll to different people
3. Peer Coaching Rounds
4. Hosting a Facebook Live call
5. Creating an Instagram Series around your topic

What are the things you want to do to keep the focus alive for the people you are working with?

Best,
​Jennifer

As we continue along our marketing voyage through section 3 of the Coaching Business Builder’s 9 promotional vehicles, this week we are going to explore lunch and learns, and associations.

Lunch and learns have the benefit of bringing an audience to you, without you having to bring them together yourself. Lunch and learns are usually short, 45 -60 minute lunch time (or breakfast) presentations delivered in organizations or associations on a range of topics. They can be a great opportunity to pilot or trial new content.
​
Questions to consider:

• What is the content or program you’d like to bring out to a new audience but haven’t had the opportunity to pilot yet?
• What piece of a larger body of work could you deliver to an organization or association?
• What stand alone content do you have to deliver?

Lunch and learns are a great way to expand your repertoire and connect with new audiences (especially if you are delivering a session for an association). Be aware of the time it takes to develop and deliver. With an engagement in the middle of the day, what else can you schedule if you have to travel?

Associations and Professional Bodies
Associations and professional bodies are another great marketing source. From becoming a speaker at their annual conference, hosting a webinar or attending as a vendor at a trade show, associations are a ready-made community resource of professionals.

Activity:
What are the associations your clients/prospective clients belong to? What events do they offer throughout the year? How might you connect in and add value to their members? Take a look at what associations and organization around you are looking for speakers. What is their deadline for applications?  Pull together a list of possible topics which could be of interest to their audience.

What action steps do you want to take this week around lunch and learns and/or associations? Be sure to check out the relevant exercises in Section 3 of Coaching Business Builder.

Best wishes,
​Jennifer

​Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books including the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010)
Potentials Realized
Phone: 416-996-8326
Check out the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series of daily prompts for your work and business over on  Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder.