Read This Before You Launch A Course For Your Coaching Business

It is almost predictable when certain coaches get to a number of followers on social media that they will feel it is time to start selling a course. I fully understand as I started my business I also felt that a course was the next logical step. I also feel for the idea that I could make money while I slept and I am sure this allure is tempting to you as well.

This desire also comes from the fact that sharing knowledge and expertise is the single reason why we start coaching businesses. In fact that very fact is covered many times over on this blog, however I encourage SEO vs courses. In this blog post we will cover some of the reasons why I believe you should hit the pause button on the course you are dreaming about and instead work on a solid SEO strategy.

Understand the coaching marketplace

Let’s face it, many of the people you are selling to simply may not have the money. It is so easy to look at the million dollar coaches on social media and the 7 figure agencies and think that is easy. But it is not easy at all, and frankly we don’t know that it true. Social media is aspirational and the good social media queens so to speak play into this fact. If they show you a highlight real of their beautiful vacations and life it is so easy to believe the two things are connected, but they are not.

So many people online are simply, not truthful and not forthcoming. Let’s face it, we don’t want to see people online complaining and struggling, we want confirmation that our day to day grind will come to reality. We want to feel safe in our pursuit of dreams.

Understand your coaching niche

In this blog I post frequently about your coaching niche, but does your niche even allow for a course or is your niche better suited for 1 on 1 interaction. How saturated is your coaching niche? These are all questions you should look into before you start conceptualizing a course. Looking at this through from the perspective of your particular coaching speciality allows you to streamline your marketing efforts.

Craft your content to support your coaching business

At the center of your course is the content and learning that is provided in exchange for money. In the digital age we there is so much information that is pushed out and information is abundant. Because the information space is so crowded quality is going to supersede quantity every single time. What can you do to tie the lessons together and have your students walk away wanting to share the course with others which in turn reduces your need to market.

Focus on the curriculum of your coaching course

Ask any teacher and they will tell you a well-structured curriculum is going to be the roadmap that helps students learn. It is more than the topics that you cover in your coaching course. The key here is how you bridge the gap between one concept to another. You want to be systematic in the flow of your course so students are building skills as they progress. If you are able to make your coaching course flow well this can even lead to a few courses.

Timing for launching your coaching course

Are you going to launch your course during the summer and encourage your students to take the course while they are on a break from school? Are you going to launch during the holidays when people are home with their families? The timing of your course is as important as the content and flow and everything else we have covered in the post so far. It is important to realize that the timing of your course really is going to depend on the audience.

Looking at the audience is a common theme of this post as well. Take the time to understand when your students are going to have the most time and attention to put forth for learning. Are there certain times of year when your target audience is more likely to invest? Can you offer sale periods when your target coaching audience is not as likely to spend money on a course.

Launching your course when your students are the most receptive is a factor in your revenue and participation here.

Think about feedback and testimonials as a way to help sell your course

Feedback is important when building a course. In order to do this you can get feedback from your peers or you can offer a discount or a free course. You can also ask for testimonials and success stories after people take the course in order to build trust and credibility regarding the course take-aways and learnings.

The other benefit of getting testimonials is that they act as “social proof”. Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where others see people and make assumptions. In this case the testimonials and your followers are going to serve as this marketing tool to build up desire to become a student and ultimately spend money for a course.

Consider your social media. While social media is great at generating buzz, you can’t simply promote your course. You need to continue to focus on your community and engage with those that may pay you. You can do this by releasing parts of your course.

It is a common misconception that if you give information for free people won’t pay for it. This is extremely false. People pay to have all the information collated into one place and your course adds in the flow.

Consider the technical side of your coaching course

The platform you choose for your course as well as the technology behind it can make or break the student experience. Are you going to use video or text and blog posts or a combination? Are you going to incorporate tests to reinforce the concepts? Are you going to offer any portion of your course in a live format? Another idea is to offer monthly live sessions and some community behind the course so students can chat and work though success and learning in the course.

Final thoughts on creating a coaching business

While by no stretch of the imagination am I discouraging you from creating a course for your coaching business, I am stressing in this post that you consider all the details that go into course creation, course format and the student experience. If you rush and create something because everyone on social media has done so then you are only going to short change your own growth as a coach and from a revenue stand point.

Take time to look at your course from all angles and slow down before jumping into something that simply looks like a way to make easy money.