Market Your Coaching and Healing Practice Without Social Media

Marketing without social media is possible

It’s true: social proof is essential for large, small, and micro businesses.

But social media isn’t the only kind of social proof. Press, Interviews, Guest Lectures, Course Development, Testimonials, Referrals, High ratings, Raving Reviews, and Client Success Stories are all ways to build your social proof in business.

Plus, relying on social media for client acquisition isn’t ideal for all businesses —especially transformational service providers like Coaches, Healers, Helpers, or Consultants.

Social media companies earn income based on client attention —and on guiding that attention to the content they want to show. That content is monetized and optimized. The higher your social buzz, audience size, and advertising budget, the higher you rank. That doesn’t bode well for independent, small or micro-businesses—like most Coaches, Healers, Helpers and Consultants.

Social media presence and social media advertising are different.

If your business is looking for new leads, paid social media ads are one way to acquire clients who are searching for the solution you’re selling. Paid social ads don’t require a huge following, but they do require investing in an expert (or spending a good chunk of time and resources to DIY it) plus the actual fees for advertising.

With a large enough following, your consistent and relevant social media presence may be enough to bring potential clients to your digital (or actual) doors…

…but you’ll need to spend resources (your own time, a strategic hire’s time, or advertising dollars) to gain that following.

If you don’t have a large social media presence yet, strategic social media advertising can help you reach more of your ideal clients. Targeted ads that drive those interested clients to your valuable, relevant free (or paid) products or services are the aim —and those ads are often effective but require time, testing, and resources.

What if you don’t have a large social media following, a big advertising budget, or a desire to engage on the socials at all?

While you’re growing your following or building your advertising budget, go back to basics! Build or scale your business the time-tested way: and remember that vanity metrics like social media followers are rarely indicative of actual income.

Here are 25 creative ways to build, grow, or scale your business without social media (plus a few that DO require social, but take a stress-less approach).

I used these exact strategies to build my unknown yoga therapy and wellness coaching studio in a small town back in 2008 when social media was a thing… but not a huge thing for business. Those same strategies allowed me to pivot into location-independent yoga teacher training after I closed my studio to spend more time with my little one. And I used these strategies again when I deleted all my social media back in 2019 (I’m back now, but…you get the picture!). Get the full list here.

Plus, here are 20 more ways to grow your business without relying on a large social media presence or paid social media advertisements:

1. Offer memberships or discounted rates to local firefighters, police officers, or other first responders to show appreciation for their service.

2. Partner with a local sports team, special interest group or league to offer training, massage therapy, mindset coaching, or photography sessions to their members. Think: Yoga for Knitters, Mindfulness Training for Golfers, Tai Chi for Bowlers.

3. Host a "Lunch and Learn" events for community organizations, local businesses, or trade organizations. Network before and afterward with business cards, brochures, or the perfect elevator pitch.

4. Offer mobile services or corporate packages to busy professionals who can't make it to your studio or local business.

5. Attend local trade shows, conferences, or expos related to your niche and network with attendees and other vendors.

6. Host a live webinar, workshop or talk to showcase your expertise and offer a special promotion for attendees. You don’t need fancy equipment and can stream Live on YouTube with nothing more than your smartphone.

7. Offer specialized training, series courses, packages, or classes for specific populations in your niche that deliver a specific, singular solution. Examples: Prenatal Cooking Classes, Meditation for Legal Professionals, Wellness Coaching for WFH Parents.

8. Partner with local non-profit organizations and donate a portion of your profits to their cause! Usually, they’ll offer to feature your business or promote you in their outreach materials. (You’re doing it out of the goodness of your heart, but the extra shout-out is nice).

9. Offer a trial period for new clients to try out your services at a discounted rate, and follow up with them to encourage them to continue working with you once the trial period ends with a special package only available at that time (Pro tip: add value, rather than reduce cost).

10. Create a customer loyalty program that rewards clients for repeat business or for referring new clients. People like to refer people they know and are more eager to do so if you have a system in place.

11. Host a free seminar or workshop on a topic related to your niche and invite your local community to attend. Bonus: invite “sister service providers” and turn it into a Panel where you all build interest and promote one another’s transformational services. More clients book with you, more clients book with them, and everyone benefits. Win-Win-Win.

12. Develop a Talk Show, Podcast or Video Blog, featuring your work and services. Regularly provide valuable content and promote your services at the end of each show or in the show notes. Discuss topics that your ideal clients are interested in, problems they’re already asking about, and showcase how your services or products provide a solution to those problems.

13. Develop a customized corporate package and pitch your local businesses with more than 50 employees. Use this as a way to build your referral network or create a collective to provide services on-location.  

14. Create an online course or e-book and offer it for sale on your website or at trade shows and events.

15. Collaborate with influencers and thought leaders in your niche to promote your business with an event, challenge, or contest.

16. Host a Continuing Education or professional development training for a trade organization in your industry to share your expertise and build your corporate consulting opportunities.

17. Use search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to improve your website's ranking on search engines and attract more traffic. Develop lead magnets for your best SEO ranked content and grow your email list at the same time.

18. Host a contest or giveaway to engage with potential clients and build your brand.

19. Develop a mobile app to make it easy for clients to book appointments and stay connected with your business. Or use one of the integrated apps that comes with course creation membership sites like Passion.io, Thinkific, and AttractWell.

20. Start a Membership site using software (like this or this or this) to grow your community and monetize your creative content at the same time. Substack or Patreon offer email marketing and social sharing options that allow you to market your business and earn income at the same time.

I’d love to know—what are your tried-and-true client attraction strategies that don’t rely on social media?

Join the conversation in the Kula!

And if you missed KULA CONVERSATIONS with Kristina Molnar, Hypnotherapist + Coach yesterday, catch the replay right here.

We talk neurodivergence, WFHmom-life, designing your business around your body-mind-heart needs (instead of sacrificing your core needs for a broken business model). And Kristina shares a mind-shifting tip to support you (and your clients) in making big changes in life. Hint: it’s word magic! Head here to catch the replay (for 2 weeks).

See you in the Kula!

~Kellie Adkins, MS, C-IAYT, Business Coach + Yoga Therapist

Founder | Wisdom Method School of Yoga

P.S. Want to Map our your non-social media marketing strategy together? Start here.

25 Creative Ways to Build Your Coaching and Healing Practice Without Relying on Social Media

Every business needs a way to reach potential customers.

Your marketing strategy needs to get your Coaching, Healing or Service-based Business in front of the people who want what you have—and who want it now.

Nowadays, most people think of social media as a viable way to market and grow their coaching, healing, or transformational service-based business.

But the truth is that relying on social media for clients isn’t tenable for most businesses because social media trends come and go.

Do you remember MySpace? Tumblr? Periscope? Google+? Yeah, me, too. But no one is using them now.

Social media platforms make their money by keeping people on the platform NOT by sending their users elsewhere (like your website services page).

There are creative and effective ways to market your coaching or healing practice that don’t require much social media.

While the market has shifted considerably in the direction of social proof for businesses, maintaining a strategy that works for you is key….but that doesn’t mean you have to jump on every trend bandwagon or go viral to get clients (and remember, there are other forms of social proof for your business. You’re getting testimonials, right?).

Your marketing strategy needs to get your business in front of the people who want what you have: and who want it now.

That doesn’t require a million followers on social media (or even 1,000). It does require some higher-order thinking, market research, and creativity. In other words: YOU GOT THIS, brilliant one!

When I first started a business in 2007, having a website was a novelty, and a social media presence wasn’t required.

But a business card? Absolutely.

Local networking events? You betcha.

Print advertising and PR: even better.

Back then I didn’t have the budget for glossy paid ads in the local style magazine.

I had to get creative!

Below are 25 things I did to market my Yoga Studio and Coaching Practice, that are as relevant now as they were back then. In fact, when I quit social media for a few years, I relied on these exact strategies to fill my calendar with long-term consulting gigs.

25 ways to attract clients without using social media:

1. Print business cards and give some to friends, family members, and colleagues. Ask them to keep a small stack in their car or purse and hand them out to people that might be a good fit for your services.

2. Host pop-up demonstrations or mini-classes in local parks, botanical gardens, downtown areas, or during large events (ask permission).

3. Collaborate with local partners, such as dance teachers or salons, to create joint events or performances.

4. Develop a signature workshop, training or course and deliver a free mini-course to local businesses or offices during lunch breaks.

5. Print glossy postcards or business-card size passes with your class schedule, website, and discount codes, and distribute them at local gyms, fitness centers, and coffee shops.

6. Offer referral fees or commissions to local health professionals or complementary service providers for sending clients your way.

7. Pitch your training, course, or programs to local colleges, vocational centers, or educational institutions to secure contract gigs.

8. Send personalized emails to people in your network and ask for referrals or introductions to potential clients.

9. Host seasonal special events and open houses or sample classes at your studio and offer exclusive membership packages.

10. Add your Training, Workshops, Courses or classes to Google and share them on local networking and events websites or print publications.

11. Advertise at local farmers' markets, craft fairs, or events that attract your ideal clients.

12. Join your local Chamber of Commerce, municipal business association, or business networking groups and share your elevator pitch during their monthly events.

13. Offer complimentary mini-sessions or exclusive discounts to local service providers that also serve your ideal clients (stylists, estheticians, etc.) in exchange for referrals.

14. Collaborate and co-promote with other practitioners or businesses in your niche or local area for special events.

15. Send thank-you postcards or free class cards to clients, friends, and colleagues to express appreciation and encourage repeat business.

16. Print mini-cards or flyers with your business information and a QR code to a complimentary download (valuable content) and distribute them locally.

17. Organize a charitable fundraising event or sponsor a charitable event in your community.

18. Order custom promotional items, such as water bottles, yoga mats, tote bags, or T-shirts, with your business name and website. Give them to friends and clients. Use them as raffle items or gifts during events. Sell them on your website.

19. Offer special packages and customized classes to members of local churches, community organizations, or neighborhood associations.

20. Teach a series class, signature workshop, or specialized training at a local church or community center and offer their members a special rate for private sessions.

21. Print neon flyers or posters with your business information and distribute them strategically in town and at events (ask permission).

22. Wear branded T-shirts or ask family and friends to do the same to raise awareness about your business.

23. Keep business cards handy for networking events or other opportunities to share your contact information or get one of these nifty cards.

24. Book a booth at local health, wellness, or education events in the area to showcase your business.

25. Order or make special swag that showcases your brand and advertises your business. Then hand out around town or at events. Examples: custom herbal tea sachets with handstamped tags, Wildflower seed paper business cards, Hand-stamped leather cards (upcycled leather, of course).

Ok, and because I can’t stop myself, here are 4 more ideas that do require social media, yet allow you to be more strategic in your use since content on these platforms performs well in driving traffic to your website and has a longer shelf life than Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.

*Want even more? Here are 20 more marketing ideas to grow your coaching, healing or helping practice that don’t rely on social media.

For a “stress less” approach to social media marketing:

1. Start a YouTube channel and create content optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to drive traffic to your website.

2. Start a Substack, Vimeo, or Patreon account to monetize your content, then share bits of paid content to your social media channels to increase your subscriber base (pre-schedule the posts for even less stress).

3. Write and publish a book, e-book, audio book or podcast, sell it on Amazon, Etsy or your website. Promote it everywhere you go.

4. Craft a public talk or presentation. Contact local organizations to invite you to speak at their events. Promote your book and / or services when you do!

I’d love to know—what are some non-social media ways you attract clients?

If you liked this post and you want to learn more about scaling your business for more influence and ease, join me every week for LIVE workshops to make growing your business more fun (and less stressful).

With gratitude,

~Kellie Adkins

Business Alignment Coach + Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT)

Founder | Wisdom Method School of Yoga

P.S. If you missed KULA CONVERSATIONS today, join the Kula and catch the replay right here! I share my simple 3-step process for creating irresistible courses your clients want NOW, not later.

P.P.S. Want to Map our your non-social media marketing strategy together? Start here.

Grow your Healing or Coaching Business Beyond one-to-one Sessions

An Epistle on Expansion

Or, making the case for growth even if you’re not maxed out on 1x1 services (yet)

Dear Reader:

As a fellow 1x1 service provider for most of my career (Yoga Therapist, Wellness Coach, and Business Coach), I humbly offer the following case for expanding your work beyond the bounds of 1-to-1 or premium services as early in your career as possible.

Indeed, this applies whether you’re building your private client practice or currently maxed out with private clients.

As you read this letter, consider the wonder of these words reaching through the ether to greet your eyes on the magical fantastical creation you now hold.

Through this device and its connection to the internet, you have access to millions of teachings that provide insight into better health, greater wellbeing, and more purposeful living.

Before the digital age, this type of learning was layered beneath circles of privilege and kept behind ivory towers.

It is a wonder to have access to this once-cloistered information—and all at your fingertips.

Digital courses democratize access (to an extent).

In time, it is my hope, that more healing, helping, and self-development teachings will be shared even more widely for more meaning, engagement, and well-being outside the circles of privilege of higher education, whiteness, able-bodiedness, and neurotypicality.

In my view, sharing the skillset you’ve carefully curated over the duration of your career is an act of social justice: widening and improving access to powerful healing and helping tools the world needs. 

All humans need these tools, not only those who can afford to pay a premium rate for your one-to-one services. Even more so if you serve an underserved community that is hard to reach.

I know you don’t do the Work for fame, money, or bragging rights. 

You do it for the mission 

You do it because it changed your life

You share this Work for a healthier, happier, and kinder world

There are more people who need what you are sharing—and the world needs your insight.

This letter is an invitation, yes, and it’s also a rallying cry of sorts. 

If you’re a healer, helper or change maker and you AREN’T on fire about lighting up (more of) the world with your gifts…maybe there’s a good reason. 

But if that reason is that you don’t know where to begin…

Let’s start together, right now.

In your 1-to-1 services, you provide a safe container for clients to facilitate their own transformation. Your clients come to you with frustrations, pain, suffering, and problems…and your valuable work provides a solution.

There are so many “problems” your work solves.

Think of a few right now. Then:

Pick one and dig deep, and..

Think of the people who need that problem solved …right now.

What do they need to get that problem solved?

How can you provide a solution in the most effective, time-sensitive way—that isn’t 1-to-1?

Lots of people have pain that you know how to reduce, symptoms your support helps them in resolving or mental barriers your techniques breakthrough.

You can only reach so many as a 1x1 service provider because your time and energy are finite.

What if…

You create a resource, a guidebook, a mini-class, a workshop, an on-demand training they can access focused on that specific issue? 

You don’t have to deliver a massive group course, create a clunky membership site, or become internet-famous to expand your work in a mindful way.

What if…

You deliver a single, targeted solution in a way that feels aligned with your goals and your values: that specific people will benefit from again and again.

a mini-book

an on-demand guide

a curated course

a private podcast

a signature talk 

a protocol 

a series class

a Retreatshop

Expanding a small portion of your work to a wider audience allows more people to benefit from your gifts while allowing you to honor your commitment to equity, inclusion, and access.

What, then?

Need more ideas? Join us in the Kula for my full idea brain dump today plus a special invitation to a new way to work with me (hint: DIY is soooo last year. DIT is where it’s at!).

Kula Conversations // WHY IT'S TIME TO CREATE YOUR COURSE ALREADY! The ins and outs of course creation, Kula Conversation-style, today at 1 pm Eastern (10 am Pacific).

You'll learn ...

Where to begin (it isn't where you'd expect)

How to structure for maximum results (and client rave reviews)

Why you want to do it now (and your first action to take!)

See y’all there!

xo,

Kellie Adkins, MS, C-IAYT

Business Alignment Coach + Yoga Therapist

Founder | the Wisdom Method

Offer Real Solutions for More Clients in your Coaching, Healing, or Helping Practice

Offer Real solutions for more clients in your coaching, healing, or helping practice

For more clients in your coaching, healing or helping practice, speak directly to the problems your services solve.

Framing your offers, packages, programs, and services, as solutions to specific problems your ideal clients have allows them to identify your offers as the right fit (or not) for them.

Ethical client attraction strategies such as these allow you as the transformational service provider to remain in your strengths zone—and most importantly, to avoid marketing tactics that make you feel sleazy.

Are you clear on the solutions your valuable coaching ,healing or helping services provide your ideal client?

This clarity starts with understanding the precise solutions each of your offers provide—and the particular problems they address.

Who has these problems?

How do you solve them differently, better than, faster than, or more uniquely than your competitors?

When you know who you’d like to work with, and you know how your services (or products) stand out in the marketplace, you’re ready to develop your solution-based marketing messaging.

How do you frame your services as an ideal solution?

Start by asking how do your skills, services, and products naturally address those needs and wants? How does what you do and how you do it become a solution to a problem that your Ideal Client already has?

Provide a transformation experience

Know where your ideal clients are before they work with you…and where they will be after your work together. Then frame your services in terms of that transformation.

Tell them the story of how your offerings fill an important and specific need in their lives.

Show them who they’ll be after they’ve worked with you. 

Then the act of “selling” simply becomes connecting the dots between what your ideal clients need and what you offer: in an ethical way.

When you focus on value, address a key problem, and demonstrate that you are the person to provide that solution, then it’s merely a matter of figuring out details.

Know What It Takes

Be wary of making unsupported claims or offering specific outcomes when a range of results is possible. Doing so will help you remain in integrity, AND avoid disappointing your customers.

Compose client invitation letters and sales letters ensure you are clear and concise about expected results should they choose to work with you.

A huge part of avoiding the over-promise/under-deliver trap? Understanding what goes into creating a certain outcome.

Don’t create or offer a service that will drain, tax, or overwhelm you … even if you know it’s exactly what certain clients need. Different clients will have other problems that you can solve more easily and elegantly.

Say you’re a yoga instructor who wants to busy professionals who can’t make time for open classes. Offering in-home or in-office one-on-one yoga is one solution BUT be creating that service will mean more intensive scheduling, more commute time, and more intense focus on one client at a time instead of a room full of paying students. If that isn’t your strenght, it isn’t worth it.

Stay in your strengths zone

There are loads of ways to solve your ideal client’s problem.

What’s the best way? The way you do it best!

If you don’t LOVE group coaching / e-courses / live trainings [ insert any “normal” way to provide your transformative work ] then don’t do it.

Break out of the box and provide a solution that suits your strengths.

If group programs drain you, skip it and offer on-demand training instead.

Being an innovator is a strength! Lean in.

If everyone in your industry is offering Retreats but the thought of leading one gives you hives….forget it!

Find a way to do business your way.

That’s the only way it’ll be sustainable long term.

When you find that sweet spot where your gifts and your clients’ unsolved problems overlap, you’ll be amazed by how synchronous your business life will become.

Business as Problem-Solving

How Do You Serve Your Clients?

Have you exchanged your own hard-earned cash for services or products within the past week? Of course you have. Shopping and buying are near-daily activities for many of us, and we consume everything from yoga classes to smoothies, taxi rides to school supplies. Much of the spending we do is moderately mindless, but if we force ourselves to stop and think a moment we can typically divide our purchases into “needs” and “wants”: I need to buy spiral notebooks and number two pencils or my daughter will start the new school year empty-handed. I want a smoothie because it’s 487 degrees outside and I think my brain is slowly liquefying.

But as an entrepreneur, focusing on needs and wants won’t get you nearly as far with potential customers as focusing on problem-solving.

@@As an entrepreneur, focusing on needs and wants won’t get you nearly as far with potential customers as focusing on problem-solving.@@

Every successful business solves a problem for a specific type of person, and consumers are drawn to services they believe will make their lives easier or better. And when you conceptualize business as problem-solving it allows you re-frame the idea of selling your services. If you solve problems for people, telling them about your problem-solving prowess is a service. You’re not selling, you’re helping!

But before you can help, you need to identify the problem YOU solve as a service provider.

What’s YOUR Problem?

Naturally, you don’t want to lean on the idea of your customer or client as a hot mess of problems that need immediate service-based triage. But you do need to determine:

1. Who your Ideal Client IS

2. Which problems they most long to solve

3. And how you can solve them in unique, efficient, or innovative ways

Need help finding your dream customer? Start right here. Not sure how to connect with them?I’ve got loads of tips for you! Wondering about those key problems that need solving? Let’s dig into that together. Ask yourself:

What do your Ideal Clients need and want? All humans want to be happier, healthier, wealthier, and wiser. But what else does your perfect-fit client want? Think of core desired feelings, wishes, and dreams. Muse on lifestyle choices, career goals, and favorite hang-outs.

What general problems plague them? (Fatigue, joint pain, lack of focus.) What specific problems plague them? (Too tired to socialize, too sore to play with their grandchildren, too distracted during important meetings.) Sussing out the general problems will get you in the ballpark, but try to tease out a few specific issues, too.

@@What problems are your clients facing that they’re motivated to solve?@@

That last one’s a doozy, but absolutely key. Because there’s a HUGE rift between problems people are willing to endlessly ignore and problems so important/far-reaching/onerous that they merit investment of resources.

Problems Worth Solving

The only problems your Ideal Clients are gonna throw money at are the ones they feel naturally driven to solve. What’s that you say? Won’t your uber-enlightened, extra-savvy Ideal Clients be keen to solve ALL of their problems, especially if you find creative ways to point them out? Heck no. Let’s rank ‘em:

Problems the customer doesn’t see: We’ve all got a few of these, and I’m not just talking about tartar on your teeth. (Totally invisible, yet takes FOREVER for the hygenist to scrape off. Ick!) Your Ideal Clients may be aware of a surface problem but fail to see the underlying issue. Alternatively, they may not see any problems at all. Nudging customers to solve these problems can backfire.

Here’s an example: Dove came out with a women’s deodorant a few years back that was meant to combat “unsightly underarms.” Most women, myself included, had never given a thought to how repellent our underarms were. This product purported to solve a problem I didn’t know I had. Did I buy it? Nope. Just kinda hated Dove for making me self-conscious about my pits.

Problems the customer is aware of, but ignoring: In these cases you’ll be battling an Ideal Client’s tendency toward inertia or inaction. This type of problem is often one that feels too large or risky to attempt resolving. People feel frozen and unable to change or address the situation so they stick their heads in the sand, avoid taking action, or launch into non-strategic action without intention.

An issue that a customer is actively ignoring is not one that you can help solve.

@@Until the customer is ready, nothing will change.@@

Problems the customer is aware of and is attempting to manage: Keyword: “Attempting.” In these cases, customers think they can take the same action over and over, but achieve different results. They’re unwilling to admit that the way they’ve been doing it isn’t working. Think physical therapy that fails to keep pain at bay. Or turning up the car radio to drown out a busted muffler.

In these cases, too, the customer needs to choose change.

Problems the customer is aware of and is actively seeking to solve: THESE are the issues you want to understand and solve on behalf of your clients. This type of problem has the customer motivated to invest resources (time, energy, money) into lasting solutions. And if you can be part of that solution, it can result in massive traction for your business.

Identifying these higher order problems for the specific clients you serve, and solving them with excellent service and quality products will help you carve out a powerful niche for yourself.

Create the BEST value package - follow these simple steps!

Regardless of how long you’ve worked in the healing and helping arts, at some point, you will hit a wall.

The kind of wall that slams you in the face when you realize you’ve got yourself in a bit of a pickle and can’t earn any more money as you are fully booked doing one-on-one sessions. You have maxed out your work hours and against your better judgment have started booking clients into family time. No more time to trade for dollars!

If this is you then – congratulations!

Why you may ask? Well for one thing it shows me that you are in hot demand because your magic is being recognized by your tribe AND you are absolutely ready to start offering you’re A Grade clients an upgrade.

A chance for these particular clients to have an even better and more valuable experience with you —in a premium, package offering.

It is absolutely EXCITING to create a package that is filled to the brim with value for this perfect-fit client AND that allows you to leverage your time, energy and experience in new ways.

So why wait until you’re choking on the energy of your client’s needs?

Why not begin now by structuring your business to include a natural next step for the client ready to for more growth, healing and transformation?

When you consider the value you are able to deliver to a particular client —one who is ready for big change, big goals, or deep healing — crafting a sure-to-amaze package they can easily say yes to becomes a joy. Because exchanging their investment for a set of values and results (rather than the time you spend with them) is a win-win for both of you.

To begin, ask: what can I bring into my client’s world that will help them on their journey (that doesn’t necessarily equate to hand-holding, time-for-dollars energy exchange)?

From eCourses, Books, Podcasts, Community Access, digital programs, and collaborative offers from sister businesses and more – there are many ways you can build value into your package (and with each additional feature increases their investment) that doesn’t take you any more time or energy to deliver. In fact, more often than not it actually forces you to create a better product that defines you in the market, sets you apart from similar service providers and supports your clients who like to learn in different ways.

What if we take it up a notch?

Think about the actual time you spend with each client one on one that take up a package – it might only be an hour a week, BUT what if you could leverage that time and support 4 clients during the hour in a focused group experience? You could spend that time answering common questions, offering group guidance and delivering valuable wisdom to benefit the group.

The beauty of an offer like this is that it only takes one hour of your own personal time to support 4 (or more) amazing clients. It’s also a smart way of boosting your income and your impact while still staying true to your own values of transforming your client’s lives.

Now before I lose you completely, let me assure you that one-to-one support is always a great idea! In fact, it’s one of the most effective ways to expand your influence and your income when you’re first starting out or when you are in the growth phase —especially if you focus on results-oriented individual packages that provide a high level of support. You and I both know that most people get the most results and traction when they have you guiding them personally. However, that premium one-to-one offer should be your most valuable product with a corresponding investment. It takes the most energy from you so should have the biggest monetary energy exchange.

Regardless of where you are in your journey, are you ready to give more, earn more, working less hours so you can concentrate on creating more magic?

xx

Kellie

5 Tips to Improve Your Content Marketing

Do you want to become a leader in your industry?

Are you ready for a steady stream of perfect-fit clients to knock down your (proverbial) door?

Awesome! You are in the right place.

Becoming a known expert is easier than ever with the power of information —and you have valuable wisdom and insight to share!

The key to content marketing success is creating interesting content that your audience is going to find valuable, useful and shareable!

In our last post on the subject of content marketing, How to Create Engaging Content that Attracts Your Dream Clients, I talked to you briefly about something called VIRAS. VIRAS is an acronym that, when followed throughout the content creation process, improves our content and attracts more of the best-fit clients.

VIRAS stands for = valuable, inspiring, relevant, actionable and specific.

Let’s take a look at each of the five pieces of VIRAS —together they form a five-step process you can apply to improve your own content marketing.

1 // V is for Valuable

When considering content to share, ask yourself — will my potential client receive value from this information? Even better: will my perfect-fit client? If the answer is no, then skip it and focus on what WILL deliver value to a potential or existing client.

For example, is it important for you to know that I cleaned houses for 5 years during high school and college? Only if I can connect it to a specific lessons learned to deliver a valuable insight: such as, doing whatever it takes to reach your goals, time management, early entrepreneurial skills and developing boutique services that advance your income and opportunities.

2 // I is for Inspiring

Keep your content inspiring and positive. Although you definitely want to employ effective psychological triggers (like loss-gain, opportunity cost, and urgency), remain as positive as possible in your messaging. Walking the line between motivating and empowering is a skill in sharing content that your perfect-fit clients and customers will adore. Remain as positive in your language as possible —including reframing negative calls to action in positive terms.

For example: Although I could have written the first sentence of above paragraph as follows: "Don't use a negative tone in your content." Do you notice how that sentence elicits a different feeling? A simple reframe using positive language has a lighter tone and an empowering after-effect.

[Tweet "People won't always remember what you say, but they'll remember how you made them feel"]

3 // R is for Relevant

Is the content you are sharing relevant to your perfect-fit client? Only share content that is of direct relevance to your potential client or customer. If you can connect an experience, story, or insight to a current lesson that interests your Dream Client, then by all means, go ahead.

Here’s a quick example: Although I’m a certified yoga therapist and have a yoga teacher training school, I don’t share content related to yoga anatomy, therapeutic yoga or the Wisdom Method on this blog. Why? Because it’s not relevant to my perfect-fit client — unless I’m sharing exact strategies I used to grow my business.

[Tweet "Your business isn't about you: it's about the problems you solve for your clients. @thekellieadkins"]

4 // A is for Actionable

Your content needs to have a point. Asking yourself a simple question — “What’s the point?” — is a great place to begin to ensure your content is actionable to your client. There needs to be a clear action for the reader / viewer to take after consuming your content.

What do you want to the reader / viewer / listener to do after they read / watch / listen? What action-oriented tips will you leave them with? Is there a next step —either in another piece of Free content (perhaps behind an opt-in gate or application) or in a paid product or service?

5 // S is for Specific

Last but not least, ensure the content you are sharing is specific to a particular person, client or customer. Your mom may read your blog, but chances are you are not trying to attract your mom into your business.

Consider what the client needs that you, or your amazing offers, can provide. In fact, be sure that each piece of content you share has a specific gain for your client. Better still, noodle over the top 5 problems you solve for your Dream Client and create content that provides those solutions!

It helps to envision your specific Dream Client when creating content. Imagine them receiving the content in great detail: how will they feel before reading / watching / listening? How will they feel after? Who will they share it with? The more specific you become with your content, the more it will resonate with your Dream Clients.

[Tweet "Envision a specific Client to create content that converts "]

Pass each of the content pieces you create through this VIRAS litmus test and you’ll see more engagement and interaction on the content you create. This interaction will lead to you gaining more followers / fans who will want even more of what it is you are sharing. Keeping people waiting on the edge of their seat for the next thing you create is a total business sweet spot.

I’d Love to Hear from You

What were your biggest takeaways from today’s article? How will this help you move your business forward and attract more clients? Leave your insights in the comments below!

Did you love this article? Share the love! Click to tweet below (or use the social buttons on the side).

I'm loving these content marketing tips from @thekellieadkins

How to Create Engaging Content that Attracts Your Dream Clients

Knowing how, and where, to attract your dream clients can feel elusive to most entrepreneurs. The “if you build it, they will come” philosophy doesn’t always hold up and, unfortunately, most entrepreneurs learn this the hard way! However, there is one strategy that does work when applied correctly and that strategy is: content.

Crafting the right content for your audience is critical to your overall success.

Engaging blog posts, videos, live streams and downloads can draw your potential clients in and help them feel as though they are in the right place. Aligned content can provide them with the “taste test” they need to move from prospect to customer confidently.

Let’s take a look at the steps required to take your content from boring to soaring.

Step #1 - Cozy Up to Your Customers

The first thing you need to do is understand who your prospects are and what they want. Not all people are created equal so what works in your business may not work in mine and vice versa.

The best way to figure out what people want, content-wise, is to look at your audience and do some research to figure out where they are. If you already have a content strategy, use data from your current content systems to determine which is performing the best. For some, that may be your blog or newsletter, for others, it’s social media.

Jot the following platforms down on a sheet of paper and rank them in order of most engaged to least engaged:

• Blog

• Newsletters / Monthly Content or Broadcasts

• Videos

• Podcasts

• Audiobooks

• Social Media platforms

The second best way to figure out what works is to survey your audience. You can use a survey tool to send a questionnaire to your list and your social media networks. Keep the survey short and sweet and ask questions like, “Where do you do most of your online content consumption?” or “Where do you spend most of your time online?”

Understanding your prospect’s behaviors, and their preferred consumption style, will help you to narrow your efforts in on what works.

Step #2 - Determine Your Own Level of Commitment

Creating content is hard work and is incredibly time consuming. Since we can’t create content for every platform, every day and maintain a high degree of quality, we need to be much more selective about where we spend our time.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How many hours can I, realistically speaking, put into content creation?

• Which mediums are the easiest for me to create content for?

• What am I willing, and able, to create on a regular schedule?

Because consistency is key in content marketing, the most effective content to share is the one that you will consistently create. Consistency is how you build trust with your potential clients and generate the connections necessary for business.

Step #3 - Figure Out Your Posting Schedule

Once you know the platform you’re going to create for, based on your prospect’s preferences, and you’ve created a schedule that you can easily commit to, the next step is to jot down a posting schedule so that you can stick to it.

In most cases, a weekly schedule works best for most people (i.e.: 1 blog post per week, 1 newsletter per week, 5 social media updates per week, etc.) but you need to find the balance that works for you.

Also remember that different platforms have a shorter shelf-life for content. Choose the platforms where you are able to remain consistent in order to gain traction.

Prioritize your content schedule so your potential clients get in the habit of hearing from you — and get excited about what you are sharing!

One of the ways to get them excited is to ensure that your content is valuable, inspiring, relevant, actionable and specific (VIRAS). Read more about the VIRAS approach to content marketing here.

Step #4 - Determine Your Content Focus

What are the top struggles your perfect-fit clients have right now? Those solutions are a great place to start with content creation.

What are the problems people are coming into your practice with —and how do they feel after they’re resolved? That’s a great way to feature the transformation your services provide.

What are the results that your clients and customers have received from your signature offers? Divide those results into how-to articles and create content that walks them through the process of getting those results.

If you are just beginning to create a content strategy, you may need to get a high level overview of your existing content. Run everything through the VIRAS test and eliminate anything that is off-brand or irrelevant to your current work.

Questions + Taking It Further

If you have any questions about the first four steps, please leave them as a comment below or pop on over to join the discussion in the Kula, an incredible group of Conscious Female Entrepreneurs. 

Ready for more? Head over here for 5 tips to improve your content marketing strategy for Coaches, Healers, and Helpers who want to attract more clients …with integrity.

Screw Marketing. Connect Instead

Let me guess: you're a conscious entrepreneur on a mission.

You love —and believe in —The Work.

But it'd sure be nice to have a few more clients.

The thing is...marketing yourself sucks.

You do The Work you do because it's your purpose, your passion and your mission.

You have a burning desire to help people heal, transform, and —overall —to suffer a little less.

Maybe that work is massage therapy. Or yoga therapy. Or acupuncture. Or soul healing. Or reiki.

Whatever it is —it's bigger than you.

You can talk a blue streak about The Work itself, am I right? You know the benefits, the methods, the techniques. 

And while that is a good thing, it's also why you sometimes have difficulty explaining to potential clients and customers WHY they need The Work.

Do you know WHY your clients need The Work?

Of course you know the surface-level reasons: less pain in movement, more ease in the physical body, deep releases at the energetic level, more health and wellbeing. 

But as a conscious entrepreneur, you have to take the next step —and connect with your clients about the deeper reasons The Work will change their lives.

And that?

That's marketing.

I know, I know: marketing doesn't exactly light your fire.

Rightly so. 

The Work —healing, helping, changing the world, making a difference in people's lives —that's what truly motivates you. The Work is why you get out of bed in the morning. The Work is your passion, your purpose, and your mission in the world.

But you can't heal, help, change the world or make a difference in people's lives if you are your own best kept secret.

You have to reach people to serve people.

Reaching (the right) people means marketing. Marketing. Even the word feels icky!

But what if I told you that there is a better way to "market" yourself —and your business?

What if I told you to screw marketing — and instead, focus on connection.

When you focus on connecting with the people you can actually help —the people who NEED and WANT what you have —you're merging mindfulness with marketing. 

Connecting in this way, is what I call Authentic Marketing.

Authentic Marketing is about making a conscious effort to find the right people (the people who need and want what you have), to connect with those people, and to communicate to those people exactly why The Work you do is a solution to a problem they have. 

Simple enough, right?

Actually, it is. So if you need more clients, I invite you to get started right now....

1) Who are your people?

Your people are the ones you can (and want to) serve with your work. They're the ones with whom you have dreams, desires, values, and goals in common. They're the people you'd probably be friends with under different circumstances. Your people is a specific group, with specific problems, with specific needs. NOT "everyone." Sure, "Everyone" could benefit from massage, yoga, soul healing or reiki. But it's not your job to convert the world. It's your job to connect to YOUR people.

You/your business solve/s a particular problem for a particular group of people —your Target Market (Dream Clients in my lingo). The right people.

Ask yourself ....

• Who MOST needs what I have?

• Whose problems can I solve?

• Who do I most want to serve?

• Who benefits most from your work?

Be as specific as possible: Male / female? Young / old? Married / Single? What are their worldviews? Political views? Income level? Education level? Children / no children?Likes/dislikes? Hobbies?

2) Where are those people?

Are they working on their novel in the local coffee shop? Hitting the streets with the local running club? Are they stretching and bending in a yoga class? Are they homeschooling their three kids? Working a 9-to-5? Figure out where they actually hang out —then go the extra mile and reach them online, too.

• Are they sharing on Facebook?

• Are they pinning on Pinterest?

• Are they insta-obssessed on Instagram?

• Are they watching How-To videos on YouTube?

• Are they listening to Podcasts?

Figure out where they are, then figure out ways to get in front of them (i.e., to connect with them!).

3) Why do they need you —and your Work? 

This is the toughest part of the equation for most conscious entrepreneurs and heart-centered business owners. You know why you love The Work. You know why you need The Work. But your people? That's a little trickier to discern.

I'm guessing with a little prompting, though, that you'll come up with a handful of stellar reasons your people need you —and your Work.

Let's start at the beginning ....

What is the #1 result you can promise from your work?

Be specific and reasonable. If that's more ease in movement or more balanced emotions or less pain, then start there.

Now ask yourself: WHY do my people want and need this?

Let's look at a specific example....

Jane is a yoga therapist who can absolutely promise more body awareness as the #1 result of her work. 

Joe is her client. He's in his mid-60s and started yoga therapy to reduce the risk factors associated with his mostly sedentary life. As a result of the greater body awareness from his yoga therapy sessions with Jane, Joe feels more confident in his body and movement is more fun —he's able to keep up with his grandkids, has improved his golf game, and is now experiencing less pain in his body. All of these effects are are a direct result of his greater body awareness and are improving his quality of life.  

So how can Jane reach more people like Joe? 

Talking about "body awareness" is likely to fall on deaf ears. 

But talking about playing catch with the grandkids, taking walks with loved ones, and experiencing fewer age-related losses in function —that's going to hit home with Jane's potential clients, who, like Joe, want to reduce the risks of age-related decline.

That's the WHY that Jane can use to connect with more clients like Joe.

4) How can you best connect with those right people?

What are some real, tangible ways to actually get in front of the right people? Keep in mind that you don't serve everyone—so you don't need to be everywhere. There is no need to be at every networking event —or in every Facebook group —sharing and promoting your Work. Give focus to the spaces (real life and virtual) populated by lots of the right people.

Choose the method of connecting with your Dream Clients that actually suits your strengths and skills, too. If you hate writing but love sharing helpful videos, skip the blog in favor of Webinars, Livestream and video tutorials.

Here are some examples of ways you can connect with more of the right people:

• Lead / participate in live events —workshops, speaking events, meet ups, local events, networking groups. Grab emails from attendees whenever possible.

• Write and share Blog posts. Related to their problems —and how you can solve them. Include an email opt-in at the end of each post or in your website sidebar or footer.

• Create and share Videos. Related to their problems and interests and your unique solutions

• Create and share Podcasts / audio teachings. Related to their problems and interests and your unique solutions

• Create and offer E-books / guides. Help them (you guessed it) solve a problem. Bonus: offer this is as a "free gift" when people sign up for your email list! Here's my free Guide

• Social Media / Status Updates —Choose 1-2 platforms where those right people are hanging out. Show up and share every day. At a loss for what to share? Start here: ask questions, be helpful, inspire.

• Create a helpful forum where you can answer questions, be available for on-the-spot support, and connect with more of the right people. Like this one here.

5) When will you show up and connect?

Connection works best when you can count on it. That means you need to continue to show up for your people in a regular way. Because if you truly want to connect with the right people (and eventually, turn those right people into raving clients and customers), you must first build a foundation of trust.

The easiest way to do that is by showing up —consistently. Connect, educate, elevate and inspire regularly. Consistency is key here! Not only will this build your credibility in your field, it will also deepen the connection with your clients-to-be. This doesn't mean that you're pushing your amazing products or services down their throats —it does mean that you're showing up, being helpful, and inspiring about 80% of the time. The other 20% percent of the time, you'll be sharing how you can solve their problems, how you can help them get what they want, how you can help them heal...you get the idea.

Listed below are sample schedules for maximum efficiency and engagement. If all of this is new to you, choose only one Action Item from the list below and commit to creating some helpful, inspiring, and engaging content that you can share with your community.

Sample Schedule #1

• 1 blog post / video / podcast each week

• 1 daily update on a Facebook page

• 10 Tweets per day

Sample Schedule #2

• 2 daily images on Instagram

• 1 LinkedIn post each day

• Once weekly newsletter

Sample Schedule #3

• 1 daily Livestream 

• 3 Facebook Posts daily

• or some combination of the above

Still at a loss for what to share that will encourage connection with your people? Here are some helpful guidelines for crafting delightful, helpful and inspiring content

• Video is the best way to attract and engage attention. Keep it simple. Record on your smartphone and upload directly to Facebook. Stream live on Facebook. Start a Vlog on YouTube. The sky is the limit.

• Create stunning images. Ensure they have a "branded" feel —use all the same fonts, similar color scheme, follow the style of your website whenever possible. Use this free tool to easily design and share effective images.

• Share your wisdom and experience. Remember those problems your Dream Clients have? Solve them and share away. Example: The "What I Know / What I've Learned" Post / Blog / Update. The "How to Post."

• Ask questions and/or Poll for opinions. What's your favorite podcast / Coffee or tea? /  Do you hang out in your yoga clothes all day, too?

• Share others people's content. It's totally cool to share, retweet and re-post others' work as long as a) you give appropriate credit and b) it will resonate with your own community

• Educate! What does your Dream Client need to know that they don't know already? Teach them. Tell them. Show them.

• Share lists. List Top Tips for the outcomes your Dream Client wants or needs

• Share tidbits of your personal life. Caution: this can backfire! Consider if what you're sharing is relevant to your Dream Client. Also: never talk about the shit when you're in the shit. Sit with it first —share the lesson later.

Liked this post? You'll love the Conscious Entrepreneurs kula —a (free) community of healers, helpers and conscious entrepreneurs committed to creating whole health, wise wealth and balanced business. Plus: me! I show up and share —you guessed it— helpful, inspiring and relevant content everyday.

With boundless gratitude for the opportunity to connect, 

Kellie

xoxo

Do you want more clients and more authentic connection in your business? Then I made the Business Energy Cleanse just for you. 7 soulful lessons to guide you back to the truth of your business mission —and provide a solid foundation for attracting more perfect-fit clients with authentic connection and sacred strategy. Buy the Business Energy Cleanse now.

Still at a loss for what to share? Here are some helpful guidelines for crafting delightful, helpful and inspiring content

• Video is the best way to attract and engage attention. Keep it simple. Record on your smartphone and upload directly to Facebook. Stream live on Periscope (and come say "hi!" I'm just getting started over there: I'm @kellie_adkins). Start a Vlog on YouTube. The sky is the limit.

• Create stunning images. Ensure they have a "branded" feel —use all the same fonts, similar color scheme, follow the style of your website whenever possible. Use this free tool to easily design and share effective images.

• Share your wisdom and experience. Remember those problems your Dream Clients have? Solve them and share away. Example: The "What I Know / What I've Learned" Post / Blog / Update. The "How to Post."

• Ask questions and/or Poll for opinions. What's your favorite podcast / Coffee or tea? /  Do you hang out in your yoga clothes all day, too?

• Share others people's content. It's totally cool to share, retweet and re-post others' work as long as a) you give appropriate credit and b) it will resonate with your own community

• Educate! What does your Dream Client need to know that they don't know already? Teach them. Tell them. Show them.

• Share lists. List Top Tips for the outcomes your Dream Client wants or needs

• Share tidbits of your personal life. Caution: this can backfire! Consider if what you're sharing is relevant to your Dream Client. Also: never talk about the shit when you're in the shit. Sit with it first —share the lesson later.

Liked this post? You'll love the Conscious Entrepreneurs kula —a (free) community of healers, helpers and conscious entrepreneurs committed to creating whole health, wise wealth and balanced business. Plus: me! I show up and share —you guessed it— helpful, inspiring and relevant content everyday.

Even More Resources

• Love to organize? Here's a resource for organizing your content ALL YEAR long. (No opt-in required) Sweet!

• Statistics on Social Media use in the US (spoiler alert: everyone is on Facebook)

• Is your Dream Client a Millenial or a Gen Y?  They're definitely hanging out online -and oversharing.

• Think your Dream Client isn't using Social Networks? Wrong. (and if they aren't yet, they will be soon)

Show-Your-Colors-Brave-Blogging-Makeness-Badge-300x300

This post is part of the Bravery Blogging project, hosted by the delightful folks over at Makeness Media. Read more brave blogs by searching #braveblogging on all social channels.