The following is taken from David’s interview with Judy Feld in 10 Super Coaches.
What are your coaching niche(s)? How did you discover this?
Niches and specialties are very important in the growth of a coaching practice.
I think you create niches and specialties, not discover them. Here are three of my niches:
- Technology executives: CIOs, IT VPs, etc.
- Executive Women
- Career Changers
How would you suggest coaches find their niche?
Know yourself- use assessments: behavioral styles, values, strengths, etc. Coach people whose work you are interested in, and concentrate on niches that fit your strengths and background.
Be consistent in your messages; craft your own identity.
Invent your own sub-niche; create your unique area of specialty.
Strengthen the reserve in your business so that you can invest in long-term specialization. Be open to change.
Communicate continuously and creatively with your target market.
Provide real value; continue to add value.
Choose your specialty so that it does not depend on fads- fleeting whims of your decision-making population.
Above all, choose niches and specialties that you enjoy.
The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.
Creating Your Speech
You need to decide who you will speak to. Who do you want to help? Women? Teens? Corporations? People in Rehabilitation? Spiritual people? When you know who you will speak to/help, you can start to try and find them.
Ideally, choose people who would pay for your services — who have money. Pick a topic which solves a problem people have. If you speak on ‘enlightenment for underprivileged children’ you’ll likely command a lower fee than if you speak on ‘how to make your customers choose your company over others’. Of course — if money isn’t important to you, this won’t matter.
Speak on something that’s VERY important to you and which you feel makes a difference to the world. If you don’t come from the heart and say what you really feel/mean, you won’t get the gigs, you’ll be unhappy, or both.
The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are:
Deep down you may not want to start a business for fear that people will think you’re greedy or involved in a “get rich quick” scheme. if that’s what you’re worried about, is it really more noble for you to hide your gifts and talents than to make them available to others?
Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re a counselor who’s really good at helping women over 45 move through the process of divorce. a woman comes to your website lost, anxious, depressed and panicked about what life might be like after divorce. even though she knows it’s the right decision, she doesn’t have the courage to divorce because it’s too scary and she can’t see the way forward. as she gets information from your website she begins to feel some comfort, peace and optimism; she begins to create some goals for herself.
Then, she subscribes to your newsletter and after two to three months she has received so much from your free tips that she’s ready to proceed with her divorce. So, she spends $47 on your ebook, downloads it and devours it in about five hours. She’s so excited and happy, she follows your action steps and she starts putting them into place. She’s empowered. a month later, she calls you up and says, “I’d like to hire you. i’ve saved up the money and i’d like to work with you.” So you work with her over the phone and support her through the process of achieving her goal.
Perhaps making money is a normal, healthy byproduct of helping others.
The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.
We asked the question: “What do you do?” and “If you did specialize in a target group, what might that be?” Here we look at the issue in much more depth.
It’s important to get clear on what it is you’re out to make happen for people. You’ll start with the intellectual stuff: “er… I help people set and achieve goals, which inspire…”. Balderdash! You want to get right down to it, in clear English that everyone can understand.
Here are some examples:
“I help people do whatever it is they need to do so they have zero regrets at the age of 80.”
“I ask people ‘What do you want?’ and ‘What are you doing about it?’”
“I help people get off the fence, and start living their life.”
“I help people get clear on what’s really important to them, and then keep them in action!”
“I insist people live the life they were born for.”
“I have my clients stop waiting.”
“I work with women who are not ecstatic in their relationship, to help them get exactly what they want and deserve from the relationship.”
Does that help? You want to get clear on WHY you are a coach and what you want for people.
The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.
Here are ten great reasons to become a coach:
1. Continual personal growth
2. Your personal development is tax deductible!
3. Contribute to people/the world and see concrete results
4. Work from home (no travel!)
5. Flexible hours (you choose them)
6. Earn a good income – good coaches get paid well
7. VERY low overhead
8. Options to expand into many fields including speaking, seminars, and book writing
9. Excitement of running your own business: choosing your own niches and marketing channels (e.g. radio interviews), creating your own web site etc.
10. Can work while overseas, on the ski slopes, or at the beach (seriously, I’ve done it).
Earlier this year when I was feeling depressed and anxious, I looked for a teleclass so I could dial in and get support from home. And guess what? I couldn’t find one.
Wouldn’t it be a gift to the world, to provide such a service?
You’re invited to apply for one or more of the following positions listed on the mindmap:
– Manager
– Teleclass Leader (must be qualified therapist/psych/counselor)
– Web Traffic Manager/SEO
– PR Manager
– Web Master
– Article Writer
– Newsletter Manager
WHAT TO MENTION IN YOUR COMMENT/APPLICATION:
– your email
– your name
– the position(s)
– the skills you bring to the position
– YOUR EMAIL (so we can contact you. e.g. bill AT goat.com (so automatic email harvesters can’t find it)
I also invite you to let your friends know about this project – perhaps you know someone perfect for it?
David
