Three Essential Systems for Your Virtual Coaching Business

One of the most popular posts from the blog last year was about systems for your coaching business. You can read what I had to share about core systems for your coaching business last January (2013) here. With coaches I work with we spend quite a bit of time exploring the systems and foundations they have, or want to create, in order to create a sustainable business. Servicing multiple coaching clients, especially if they are individuals, groups and teams, really dictate the need for some systems that will work for you, and can be replicated, whether you have one group running or six.

Looking to what's supported my work this winter with individual, team and group clients, three areas automatically jump to mind:
1. Bridgelines
2. Registration
3. Marketing


Considering that this has been the winter of snow storm after snow storm, and the polar vortex which continues to bring frigid air to most of the Eastern Seaboard systems have been critical in keeping things hopping here in my world. I've also been very pleased that for the last few years I've made the conscious decision to not book a lot of in person work that required extensive travel between mid-November and March. So for December through to the end of this month, most (but not all) of my work has been virtual.

If you are considering how to move more of your work to the virtual realm so you don't spend days in an airport (something I learned during my former years of being a global leader with staff in 10 countries), here are four areas you will want to consider shoring up in terms of your business:

1. Bridgelines and online platforms - I first started running my virtual classes back in 2005, when the options were not as plentiful as today. Considering whether you are training or coaching you will want to explore the myriad of paid and free services out there. I'll dedicate an upcoming post to some of the more popular options that exist.

Considerations: What works for you? For where your clients are located (note, some bridgelines are inaccessible from certain locations). Which ones can be accessed on a mobile device? From international callers?

2. Registrations - Registrations no longer are done over the phone or by fax. Online registrations are an easy way to systematize your business. Eventbrite and PayPal are two possible options available 24/7 for coaches today at a low cost as are many more. Many coaches will also want to explore setting up a Merchant account with their bank. For those that do more in-person work, Square may be a good option to explore for taking payments in-person.

Things to consider when you choose how you are going to accept registrations:
1. Where are people based? What will be accessible and convenient for them?
2. Do you need mutliple currencies?
3. What is going to be viewed as secure and professional by them

Many of you know that I continue to work with professionals from across the globe. I have found that PayPal has really been the preferred option for online registrations and payments in the last five or so years by many of my clients - especially those located out of North America.

3. Marketing - A reminder of the "seven to eleven times" rule. A lot of coaches think that if they put an announcement out one, that will be enough. As I have written in multiple posts about marketing here at the blog (view past marketing posts here), it often takes many touch points (possibly somewhere between 7-11) before a person may decide if they even want to consider exploring something. It is critical to be building relationships in multiple ways throughout the year - in person and virtually.

Questions to consider:
What is your marketing strategy this year?
What will help to automate it?
What marketing systems will help you grow your business?
How can what you do this year for marketing (i.e. speaking, blogging etc), be rolled into future products or services?
How much time are you going to dedicate to marketing on a regular basis? What will this look like?

For those with either of my books - Effective Group Coaching, or From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, you will want to take a look at the Marketing Sweetspot activity (EGC pg 167-168) and From12Many (Digital Chapter on Marketing).

What other systems are going to enable you to scale up your work so you can serve multiple clients at any time.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

A reminder that the Early Bird Rate is on for the April 5-6 2014 Group and Team Coaching Intensive until February 28th. Take advantage of more than $100 in savings and payment in multiple installments. The program includes two days of hands-on practice in group and team coaching processes, and will be held in the Toronto areas. The program runs Saturday April 5 and Sunday April 6 from 8:30 - 5 on Saturday and 8:30-4:30 on Sunday. Reserve your spot here. Space is limited to 8-10 coaches. The program has been re-approved for 15 hours of Continuing Coach Education by the ICF, including 13 hours of Core Competencies.