Break Through the Marketing Noise
Here at the-Coaching Blog-run by Gerard O’Donovan, our aim is to constantly bring value to those seeking to improve their lives. Therefore we have a policy of publishing articles and materials by guest authors whom we value and appreciate. Today’s guest author is Sarah Wall (Canada).
Did you know that people send 204,000,000 emails, Facebook users share 2,460,000 pieces of content, Twitter users tweet 277,000 times and 72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube EVERY MINUTE! This is mind-boggling.
When I first started out with my coaching business, I felt overwhelmed about where to begin to market my services. Having some experience in marketing, I jotted down a rough strategy then proceeded to create my website, launched a Facebook business page, and updated my LinkedIn profile. I even experimented with Instagram.
However, a few weeks into the execution of my strategy, when the sales were not flooding in, I found myself wondering if I was spending time on the right channels or if my strategy was correct, which led to self-doubt and even questioning the value of my services. The sheer amount of options and data available today and the confusion around the myriad of choices was a reflection of what was going on in my mind — too much noise.
I decided to try a new strategy — to get out of my mind and into my body to look within to see what made sense for me.
So, how did I tune into my inner wisdom? Through meditation, by taking a few minutes each morning to sit quietly with myself, to ask questions and to journal. There are many different approaches to meditation and the good news is that you can’t do it wrong. A simple technique that I found useful is abdominal breathing. By focusing on my breathing I was able to filter out some of the noise in my mind, which often led to the answers to my earlier questions arising shortly after the meditation or later in the day. Sometimes I would begin the practice with a simple question, “what do I need to know today?”
The practice
Sit up tall with a straight spine, bring your awareness to your belly and allow it to soften and relax. Begin with a slow, deep inhalation for a count of three, filling your belly, then ribcage, then upper chest with oxygen. Pause for second, then exhale from your upper chest, rib cage then belly, drawing your belly in towards your spine at the end. Pause again, then repeat. The trick is to have a regular practice, which really helps to reduce stress and anxiety and to better understand the nature of your mind, bringing clarity and focus.
By listening to my inner wisdom I discovered that with my limited marketing experience and a plethora of media channels to choose from, that in order to sell my coaching services I merely needed to be myself, and seek out some professional help. It was important for me to get out there and talk to people at events and networking meetings, to share my personal journey of yoga and meditation and how professional coaching had made a big difference in my life.
Meeting people forges a personal connection and leads to referrals. I decided to focus 80% of my time on these in-person efforts and I have expanded this effort by running my own events and speaking at conferences. Twenty percent of my time is spent on social media, with LinkedIn and Facebook being my preferred channels at the moment. I may even experiment with video in the future.
As a new coach, I decided to barter my coaching services in exchange for social media strategy, content marketing tips, branding advice, and for finding an editor to help polish articles, such as this one. Exchanging professional services this way has been personally rewarding, as I’m able to put my skills into practice to serve others and to receive expert help in areas that are not my strengths. It feels good to know that we are collectively supporting each other and building our businesses together.
I believe the key to becoming a successful coach is to be your authentic self, to be willing to experiment with different marketing tactics and, most importantly, to believe in what you offer. This is when the right people will show up.
About Sarah Wall
Sarah is a Vancouver-based business and life coach, yoga teacher and Reiki master, serving local and international clients. It is her mission to see you thrive and to help you create a life you love using simple tools that can make a difference today. For support in your journey towards living a purposeful and joyful life, or to learn more about her upcoming workshops, please visit Sarah at Body Mind Spirit Coach.
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