6 Strategies for Growing Your Client Base
The key challenge for most of our nutritional facilitators is growing their client base. It takes years and some persistence to build a solid reputation and client base, but once in place, it can provide a rewarding career and lifestyle.
In addition to having a unique selling proposition, a credible brand and some market presence, the day-to-day activity will revolve around attracting new clients. How do you attract the right people? What are the most efficient ways to get the word out there?
6 Strategies to Attract Clients to Your Nutritional Coaching Business
Get in front of groups
When starting out your nutritional coaching business, find ways to get in front of as many people as possible – both at paid and unpaid events. This could be free seminars for the community, work places, mother-and-child groups, school parents etc. By offering to speak in front of groups, you will quickly gain a reputation of being the person to turn to as well as getting key networking opportunities.
2. Be Personable
Speaking in front of groups can be stretching your comfort zone, and is not comfortable for everyone. Another option for getting in front of larger audiences, is to create and share videos introducing your programmes and what you do. These does not need to be professionally edited, but just positive and authentic.
3. Leverage Your Experience
When it comes to coaching, personal experience can resonate strongly with clients, who often prefer a coach who can put themselves in the client’s shoes. Make sure to tell your personal story to your potential clients, and how you managed to overcome your challenges. Do you have other relatable experienced with your potential clients, that are worthwhile sharing?
4. Identify Your Target Audience
A key marketing principle is based on identifying your target audience in detail, and not casting the net too wide. Our facilitators each have their strengths and areas of expertise, and you should aim to use these to identify and relate to your target audience.
For example, if you are a parent of young children with allergies, you could focus on other parents dealing with similar issues, or if you or a family member have suffered from poor health, you could target others struggling with health issues. Once you have identified your target audience in detail, publish articles, make presentations and organise to speak at events about these specific targeted topics.
5. Build a Network of Wellness Services
To combat the challenges of working alone, find some inspiration by connecting with other wellness coaches in your community. By not considering your competitors as your enemies, but as collaborators, you have more to gain than to lose and can end up with shared referrals, inspirational boosts and business tips. Why not set up a coffee-group of people working in similar fields?
6. Keep Your Communication Consistent
As a small business owner, managing multiple social media accounts, a client newsletter and email communication on top of the day-to-day programme delivery and perhaps a part-time job, can be overwhelming.
When it comes to communication, think about your businesses key goals and make a decision on what type of communication and frequency gives you the best outcome. Create a simple schedule that you can stick to, and remember that quality content is many times as valuable as a large quantity of non-relevant content, so keep it simple and real!