Have you noticed how many coaches there are around these days? As coaching has become more widely known in recent years, there seems to have been an explosion of Life Coaches, but how many are really earning a good living from what they do? The answer sadly, is not many.
One of the main reasons for this seems to be that there are so many people offering a offering similar packages of a generalist nature, which makes it difficult for prospective clients to really know how to choose one from another.
Yet there are many highly successful Coaches, so what are they doing differently? The true answer to this question is probably complex but the most successful Coaches I know all do the same simple thing; they specialize! They have found their niche, they stick to it, become an expert, and then they become wealthy. In fact it’s been suggested that those who specialize earn on average 2-5 times more than those who do not.
For many practitioners, finding a niche is a natural progression from previous career experience. For example in my own case, as a former Midwife, my particular passion and area of expertise is as a Maternity Coach. For others though, one of the appeals of coaching is the chance to make a fresh start and leave previous work experience in the past.
Whatever your background, it’s likely that you will still be able to translate your passion and enthusiasm into a recognizable niche that will help you attract more respect and income, even if it takes some initial research to get yourself established.
Here are just a few tips to set you on your way if you haven’t yet found your niche.
1. Consider what really motivates and excites you, ask yourself, “if I could chose, who would be my ideal clients” Use your answers to guide you in clarifying your own work values. What is it that you want to give as well as receive by being a Coach?
2. Be selective and focused in your marketing. Trying to get a general message out to everyone can be exhausting and may mean that you end up working very hard for very little.
3. Become an expert in the challenges and solutions of your target market, not because you wish to become a consultant or mentor but so that your clients can recognize you as being someone who understands their needs.
4. Make a commitment to stay focused and then make a business plan. This way you can make every single marketing hour count by targeting a specific market that will already be receptive to your message and looking for solutions.
5. Finally, value yourself for the special service you are providing. After all when you specialize you deserve to be paid more.
Remember, the smaller or more specialized the marketplace, the easier it will be to attract your prospective clients attention. Having a niche also lends itself to developing a distinctive brand for your company, to gaining greater respect from your colleagues and to recognition as an expert within your specialty. Think about the benefits!
